I don't listen to much instrumental music except when I'm doing something that requires concentration such as reading.  Sure, I appreciate jazz, electronic, classical, and many other types of wordless music, but I usually go for songs with lyrics.  I find lyrics make songs more engrossing and energetic. Occassionally, however, an instrumental album comes along that is so energetic, so moving, that I don't need a single word to help me rock out.  Rodrigo y Gabriela is one such album.

The duo of lead guitarist Rodrigo Sánchez and rhythm guitarist Gabriela Quintero, both from Mexico City, have an odd history but one that explains their appeal to rock fans.  They met while playing in a thrash metal band calledTierra Acida , but they eventually grew tired of the limitations of Mexico City's music scene.  That's when they packed their axes for Dublin, Ireland, and began recording and touring the United Kingdom.  The move paid off as their self-titled album, 2006's Rodrigo y Gabriela entered the Irish charts at number one, ahead of the Arctic Monkeys and Johnny Cash.   

They also have a surprising list of influences for a guitar duo: Megadeth, Slayer, Testamant, Metallica.  But it's that metal influence that gives the two their fire.  These songs may be acoustic, but they are delivered intensely enough to make you bang your head.  The album even contains a Metallica cover - "Orion" - as well as one of Led Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven."  The latter may be abbreviated, but it's still very cool and has the band providing their own unique take, making "Stairway" nearlyunrecognizable at times due to nifty bits of jazzy improvisation.  

The original tunes are excellent as well, and despite being wordless, contain meaning as shown in the liner notes that explain each song's inspiration.  Hip-shaking opener "Tamacun" was inspired by a Mexican man who cares for crocodiles and other animals that have been left homeless due to industrial expansion (apparently this was also the inspiration for the very cool cover, which features a close-up of acroc's eye reflecting Rodrigo y Gabriela).  "Diablo Rojo" is about a roller coaster (and has a matching up-and-down rhythm), "PPA" is an ireful jab at record industry know-it-alls, and "Viking Man" has a humorous back story about an encounter with a large homeless man.  All song descriptions are well worth reading, and of course even more worth hearing.

You might be tempted to label Rodrigo y Gabriela's music as "flamenco," but be warned: they take great offense to that.  Their music is hard to pin down, but that's what makes it so enjoyable anddistinguishable from other such acts.  They are clearly influenced by their homeland of Mexico, but but traces of Irish influence creep in as well.  Their songs are acousticinstrumentals , but they still allow their heavy metal background to reveal itself through the intensity of their playing.  Simply put, this is fine music made by talented and energetic artists.  It's fitting that their music is wordless because it's so hard to put into words

Recommended: Yes