Hispanic-influenced Rock: Mexico and Mariachis

Desperado was the first in a double feature at the drive-in theater. We hadn’t gone that night to see Desperado, so we weren’t concerned about pulling in a little late, tuning in the movie sound on the car radio a full 10 minutes into the film. But then I was hooked on Robert Rodriguez’s second part of the Mariachi triology—quirky, gritty, bloody action films with comedic, political, and satirical themes. I was hooked, and it had everything to do with the music.

In the DVD Special Edition era, where you can hear the director’s commentary, learning so much about the vision and craft behind a film, now Rodriguez and Milan Records give us that same kind of education about the Mariachi soundtracks.


Mexico and Mariachis pulls selections from all three films (El Mariachi, Desperado, and Once Upon a Time in Mexico) plus other songs that inspired Rodriguez’s writing. The tracks include songs that inspired Rodriguez’s vision even if not in the films (i.e.: Tito Larriva’s “Just Like Roses” and Cruzados’ “Flor de Mal”), and alternate recordings done post-film in the way Rodriguez would’ve wanted to record if he had had the budget or time (i.e.: “Alcarn y Pistolero” by Tito Larriva; “Malaguena Salerosa” and “Once Upon a Time in Mexico (Main Titles)” both recorded by Rodriguez’s band, Chignon). In fact, the CD’s subtitle is “Music From and Inspired by Robert Rodriguez’s El Mariachi Trilogy.” However, it would be more appropriate to say, “Music that Inspired” the trilogy.

What makes this CD such an education are the liner notes. Written by Rodriguez, they help me realize why it is the soundtrack that captured my attention watching Desperado at that drive-in. Rodriguez’s story is built around the music. The music doesn’t serve the film, as much as the film serves the music. The film unlocks the visual already contained in the mariachi-tinged score; the violence, romance, desperation, humor, poverty, history, crime, drugs, sex, corruption, and heroics in the guitar.

This collection doesn’t quite blaze with the intensity of the Desperado soundtrack itself, but Mexico and Mariachis is intense for the way you see how the music really opens up Rodriguez’s story. At one point, Rodriguez says in the liner notes that he was attempting to create a sound for the trilogy that was “south of the border rock meets epic movie score.” Listen to the Desperado soundtrack, and Rodriguez has achieved this. Mexico and Mariachis is the south of the border rock and folk roots, the sound that would be epic-fied.

The CD comes with a bonus DVD of performances and interviews that was not available for review.

Thanks to Milan Records for the review CD.