This week Buena Suerte has re-released new masters of a pair of tracks from the last few years as part of a new EP, appropriately titled Neuvos Viejos. Buena Suerta is a Spanish speaking Latin Ska band out of San Jose, Costa Rica that is bringing a clean, powerful, positive and uplifting version of Latin Ska to the Ska Punk International lineup. To be clear, I do not speak Spanish, so my review is about the music and the way it feels, not about the lyrics. This is due to my own shortcomings.
Their first songs were released in 2020 during the pandemic and that shaped a few of their earliest tracks, including Two-Tone-Ke-Mon on this re-release. This song features some solid keyboard laying a nice rhythm, outstanding percussion and plenty of guitar rhythms to keep a really upbeat, optimistic sounding ska track that feels largely joyous until the end of the track, where it takes a slightly more introspective and serious tone.
The second track, “Domingo” feels a little more upbeat and danceable with more backing vocals. Both songs are an upbeat Latin Ska that feature some Caribbean vibes that are lacking from most modern American ska and make you want to move and dance. For anyone needing an introduction to Latin Ska, Buena Suerte is a great launching off point. If you just want to jam to some good, happy music that lifts your spirits, this is the album for you. The gang vocals at the end of Domingo feel joyous in a way that begs to lift your spirits as you listen.
Written by Gimp Leg
