vä·go - adj, n. - shadowy, vagrant, mischeiver, vague, lazy. Writer interpretations of song meanings may not reflect the actual intent of the artist :) Midwestbands.com: Mariachi EP Review Musicianship – 9 out of 10 As I may have mentioned before, I am a big fan of three-piece bands! They tend to create a consistent quality sound, and exhibit a wealth of musical ability. Add to the list of favorite bands <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Omaha’s Vago! Guitarist/singer Danny Burns joins with bassist Thomas Burns and drummer Lee Gambrel to build a dynamic, unique sound that stands out in a world of Hard Rock blandness. They avoid the heavy sounds of their counterparts, instead opting for an interesting sound that uses natural instrumental sounds - clean electric guitar, drumming that is not overly burdened by electronics, and solid, unaffected bass work. Their Rock and Roll depends on things like backbeat and attitude in the hook to give a song ‘Oomph’; put a different way, their sound is fundamental, and very, very catchy! They create a feel within each song that ultimately serves to sell that song’s idea to the listener. Judging from the reaction I had, I’d say that a lot of listeners will be buying! Songwriting – 9 out of 10 All but one of the songs on this EP, The Mariachi, were written by the band; additionally, all of the lyrics, except those for the song (Cancion Del Mariachi) were written by the band’s guitarist/vocalist Daniel Burns. They all vary in style and theme, but also have a common feeling of desperate romanticism. The song (November & December) speaks of the deep feelings that exist between lovers, while (Speedy’s Lament) puts forth the romantic notion of a sidekick who longs to share the spotlight with his hero. (Benjamin) is about the fear that many feel for loved ones when they leave home, while (California Girl) is a celebration of the Modern International Woman! The songs all speak of emotion, and communicate that emotion very well. As a listener, I felt those emotions, and identified quite well with the singer! Good songwriters are able to make that sort of connection with their audience. I really like the way Vago writes their songs, and assemble those songs into a collection! Both of their projects have been very good, and I think their ability to create interesting material is a big part of their success. When you listen to this album, be sure to pay very careful attention to all of the details! Sound Quality/Professionalism – 10 out of 10 I tend to repeat myself when I comment on the quality (or lack thereof) of a CD’s sound. In an effort not to do that, I’m going to keep my words to a minimum here, because I think that there are a few things that will speak for themselves when you listen. Put simply, the instrumentation and vocals sound great! Everything is crystal clear, and has a nice even tone that is pleasant to the ear! Credit goes to Vago and their recording/production partner Jim Homan. I was also impressed with the fact that Ty Tabor (of King’s X fame) mastered the CD for them. To have someone that talented assist in this manner is very cool! One other comment: I loved the way the acoustic version of (Benjamin) sounds! It is one of our favorite songs from the Demo that we reviewed last, and the treatment it’s been given on this disc is nothing short of superb! Again, much credit goes to the band and in this case recording/production partner Galen Keith. Some acoustic versions do nothing to add to the original version; in this case, that is not so! I love the way they did the song! Packaging – 8.5 out of 10 I was impressed with the color scheme, theme, artwork and lettering for The Mariachi EP. Every aspect, from the cover art, to the song listing and the credits looks great! The one drawback, for me, is the lack of published lyrics in the liner notes. Not to fret, though! The lyrics are available on the band’s website, which also follows the same color/art theme! Put simply, the packaging for this new CD looks low-frills, but it’s really not. It is packaging that makes the CD more appealing to listener, and that’s exactly what the packaging should do! Favorite Tracks Cancion Del Mariachi Speedy’s Lament Benjamin November and December Overall Rating – 9 out of 10 This isn’t the first time that we’ve reviewed a CD for Vago, and I’m certain that it won’t be the last. They are a band that seem to have a lot of the basics established, so that they are free to concentrate on writing and playing great material! The Mariachi EP is solid from beginning to end. The songs styles are varied, and each individual song is good in and of itself. Listening is like riding a good theme park ride; the CD has just the right twists and turns to make the experience exciting, but not so many that you are overwhelmed at the end of it all. And, like that theme park ride, when you pull back into the station after hearing the last strains of (Benjamin), you’re ready to go again! I definitely recommend that you get a copy of Vago’s latest project, The Mariachi EP. It is great Indie Rock from another great Omaha band that seem destined for greatness! Fans of several genres will find the solid sound appealing, I’m sure! Great job, guys! —Mark Lush *Listen to Vago on MWB Radio! Omaha City Weekly: An upbeat and catchy EP sounds like (Vago) took bits and pieces from Tom Petty's "Wildflowers" album and combined them with Refreshments/Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers songs and added Canción Del Mariachi to keep it diverse, - Zach Scoville, The Iowa Entertainer: This CD by the three-piece Omaha band Vago is a lively little number. Song two, CanciónDel Mariachi... who knows what this song's about, it's in Spanish! and it rocks in Spanish. I think he's rippen it up. Yi Yi Yi he does some fine guitar work. When you hear this one, you will be stomping your feet and doing the Mariachi, what ever that is. It does keep the CD rockin out so I say, "Keep it". Omaha Pulp Magazine: Let me just leave you with this one piece of advice. Go see Vago. They are a fun band, and yet they can be oddly dark and brooding at the same time. They put on one heck of a show, for I have now learned to listen to music in new ways. I know what happened to me the other night and the boys from Vago can take the credit for that. -David Williams The Reader: They don't have that skinny, tortured frailty on stage that's so popular these days, Omaha band Vago none the less have a handle on dark lyrics set to fast paced, guitar driven, in your face alt.rock. - Leslie Prisbell Garagebands.com: "Good powerful sound, I like the lyrics." "Speedy's Lament is one of the best songs I've heard in a while. The lead guitar kicked the crap out of my head - Amazing! - Vago is great!"