Typical weekend music reviews...

Coldplay was on Austin City Limits, and while I'll admit that I'd heard of and about them in the past, I didn't have the foggiest idea what they sang or what they sounded like before that night. But their performance was impressive - very playful stuff from their lead singer, nice choice of covers with a pretty acoustic "Ring of Fire" and a Michael Stipe-sung "Nightswimming" - and I thought I should give some of their music a try.

So I started with X&Y which didn't grab me - I'll give it another try - and moved on to Parachutes - their debut album. It's a knockout. Good from start to finish with very tuneful cuts throughout. Certainly one to put into heavy rotation - especially the tune that you probably know already "Yellow". Good stuff...certainly worth going through at least once.

The week before Coldplay, Cafe Tecuba were on Austin City Limits, as well. Playing entirely in Spanish, they rocked the place like few other bands have. Their lead singer was dressed in capri pants and Chucks - singing in a somewhat high-pitched scratchy voice, but he bounced like a punk/pop maniac. The rest of the band was spot on with their musical accompaniement. This double album Reves/Yosoy has a single of acoustic/instrumental music and a second disc of rockin' pop/punk tunes entirely in Spanish. It's a high quality release and one that I'm sure isn't getting the airplay north of the border that it deserves.

Give 'em a chance, boyos...