Haciendo Bulla (Delanuca, 2005)

I must admit that I'm not qualified to review this album.  I don't really care for the whole modern ska/rock hybrid, which is exactly what Argentina's Karamelo Santo is all about.  This band has an undeniable energy, lending a likeability to their freewheeling sound, but the extent to which you'll enjoy Haciendo Bulla really depends more on how much rock and punk attitude you like in your reggae.  On this album, reggae mostly takes a backseat to rock -- and sometimes Latin music (as on "Cangrejos") -- so strict reggae fans should be wary.  Only three of the tracks are straightforward reggae (and thus these are probably the most likeable to reggae fans): the ska of "Recuerdo Tu Futuro Hoy," the lovers-inclined "Tu Pa' Mi," and the best track here, the mid-tempo "Vivo en Una Isla."  The rest is a mix of punk, hard rock, pop, traditional Latin, modern ska, and even a bit of hip-hop.  So, if you like this type of genre-splicing music, you'll probably find Haciendo Bulla readily enjoyable, and you should take this review with a grain of salt.  Certainly, they've gained quite an international following, so they must be doing something right.