Tommy Guerrero: Soul Food Taqueria (180g) Vinyl 2LP Tommy Guerrero

Back in print after more than a decade! Tommy Guerrero’s music has always had its idiosyncrasies. In the early aughts the skateboarding legend was on a tear, releasing a slew of albums and singles. Soul Food Taqueria was a step forward in the prolific guitarist’s sound, with more polished production and more intricate instrumentation. Long out of print, Be With Records has done us all a favor in reissuing this album, along with Guerrero’s A Little Bit Of Somethin’. Here’s what we had to say when Soul Food Taqueria was first released: It took a weekend outside of New York City, lying in the sun, kicking it in a row boat, for me to begin understanding where Tommy Guerrero was coming from. Tommy’s debut, Loose Grooves & Bastard Blues, played over and over that weekend providing an excellent soundtrack for some serious relaxing. Soul Food Taqueria proves, even at first listen, that his albums are getting even better. Tommy has become a master of his music; the song structures are deeper, the production a little thicker. Laid back drums, straight guitar and bass- simple compositions prove to be the best. Layer upon layer of guitar is all over this in tracks like “Tatanka.” Although Tommy seems a specialist at instrumentals like “Abierto,” the vocal tracks also shine here with “It Gets Heavy.” Lyrics Born delivers a strong message over a nice laid back, small-drum-kit groove in “Gettin It Together.” The overall vibe is refreshingly similar to Tommy’s previous efforts and it’s nice to know he’s not gone all freaky on us. Cover art by Espo. Album dedicated to Margaret Kilgallen, r.i.p. Seventeen tracks in all. Released by Be With Records ‎on 180 gram double vinyl housed in a gatefold sleeve. Recommended.

• first ever repress
• 180 gram double vinyl pressing
• gatefold sleeve
• music label: Be With Records 2017

reviewed by Bay City Roller 02/2018