Episode 97: Summer Spectacular feat. Quetzal (redux)

Episode notes

The Albums:

• Alé Kumá: Cantaoras (Alé Kumá, 2002)
• Mary J. Blige: What’s the 411? (Uptown, 1992)
• The Smiths: Louder Than Bombs (Rough Trade, 1987)
• Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly (TDE, 2015)

Note: This is a rerun of an episode from 2018 that has been re-edited and remastered.

We wanted to dedicate an episode to talking about the music of summer, easily the one season that people have the deepest sonic associations with. To that aim, we invited the two founding members of L.A.’s Quetzal, Martha Gonzalez and Quetzal Flores. Since 1992, the group has melded the son jarocho tradition into all manners of other genres, resulting in seven albums (and counting), including 2017’s The Eternal Getdown.

Together, each of our quartet got to pick an album that we associate with the summer and as you see above, we covered a whirlwind of styles and eras that bring up all manners of thoughts and feelings for us. Summer love may be fleeting but it lingers, always.

More on Quetzal

• Tiny Desk Concert (NPR’s All Songs Considered)
• “The Fiery Music of Quetzal” (KCET’s Artbound)
• Website | Facebook

Show Tracklisting:

• Quetzal: Olokun y Yemayá
• Alé Kumá: Las Olas De La Mar
• Alé Kumá: Volá Pajarito
• Alé Kumá: ¿Por Qué Me Pegá?
• Alé Kumá:Oiaymeló
• Mary J Blige: Love No Limit
• Mary J Blige: Slow Down
• Mary J Blige: Reminisce
• Mary J Blige: Sweet Thing
• Mary J Blige: What’s the 411?
• Mary J Blige: Leave a Message
• Mary J Blige: I’ll Do 4 U
• Mary J Blige: You’re All I Need
• Mary J Blige: I Don’t Want to Do Anything
• The Smiths: Sheila Take a Bow
• The Smiths: Shoplifters of the World Unite
• The Smiths: Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want
• The Smiths: Half a Person
• The Smiths: Panic
• Kendrick Lamar: Momma
• Kendrick Lamar: You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Momma Said)
• Kendrick Lamar: Alright
• Kendrick Lamar: These Walls
• Kendrick Lamar: i

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!