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Review: ‘Music vs. Music’ album by NSM PSM

July 15, 2009 By Sarah Vasquez

I have to admit, I’m not a fan of electronica music. I prefer the traditional song format: verse, chorus, verse, chorus, etc. But sometimes the job requires me to branch out of my conformity and listen to albums such as Music vs. Music. It’s not always a bad thing, such as this case.

No Somos Machos Pero Somos Muchos (NSM PSM), which translate to “We’re not macho but there’s a lot of us,” performed as the backing band for Mexican Institute of Sound during this past Coachella and Pachanga Fest.

The album kicks off with opening track “Assembly Part 1” to gradually prepare the listeners with the energetic musical experience they are about to endeavor. Using various samples and effects throughout the album, these guys are able to initiate an emotional response or convey a theme without using lyrics to accentuate the message.

My personal favorite “Five Years Ago” includes samples varying from funky guitar riffs and saxophones to the old school NES video game “Super Mario Brothers.” This may sound like it wouldn’t work, but NSM PSM pulls it off nicely. However, there are some tracks that were too experimental for my liking. I had to restrain myself from pressing the forward button.

With the album being 33 minutes long total, half of the songs are actual music tracks as they each clock in at more than 3 minutes. The rest are used for introductions or connectors to seam each song together as one long dance party.

Even though this album is not something I would normally listen to, I can appreciate the overall brilliantness. There’s a difference between not liking something because it’s not your thing and not liking something because it sucks and NSM PSM does not suck. They definitely possess the talent to create danceable electronica tunes without driving away conventional listeners.

Sarah Vasquez

Writer - Sarah Vasquez has been writing about the music scene for 8 years with her website SoManyBands.net and for various other publications such as Austin Community College’s The Accent, Austin Sound and whoever else will take her. When she’s not writing, she’s studying at Texas State to finish up her journalism degree. At live shows, she may seem standoffish but really, she’s just shy. So if you see her, just say hello.

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