Mexicali Brass

Closely related to the mod sound of the 1960s is Mexicali Brass. Herb Alpert's sound, however suspect, had as much of an impact on record history as any type of music. In fact, the notorious jacket for Whipped Cream & Other Delights probably gave that album more inadvertant listeners than any other. In any case, every budget label had to cash in on the trend, and hundreds of mostly awful imitation acts sprang up over night.

Ray Martin's Living Brass series has its moments on nearly every LP, and Ruben Rodriguez & his Guadalajara Kings sometimes reached the point of hipness. Mexicali brass at its best is loose and brash, like a great mariachi band toward the end of a wedding reception. Built on the same "big beat" as mod, Mexicali brass sometimes goes the extra mile with fuzz-tone guitar, car honks, and boisterous interjections ("Tequila!"). Latin rock at a beach party with margaritas is the idea.

Buying: Collecting Mexicali Brass LPs is the surest way to lose all respect, even in irony. If you must indulge this guilty pleasure, at least stick to the ones that look funny.