According to their website, Prime Ministers is Ecuador’s first all English-speaking rock band. Comprised of four members- Ernesto Estrada (vocals, guitar, piano), Pedro Arguello (bass,vocals), Chimo Solorzano (drums), and Shaggy Lopez (guitar, vocals)- Prime Ministers’ latest album, Now, features noisy (in a good way!), upbeat, in-your-face music that impresses and leaves the listener eager to hear what the next track has to offer.
Each member of Prime Ministers acknowledges that many English-speaking bands had a huge influence on them while growing up in Ecuador, and the effect that bands like The Beatles, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and artists like Jimmy Hendrix is definitely apparent in the music that they make today. They remind me of a sort of less-matured, more pop-heavy version of bands like The Stooges or even U2. I immediately found myself comparing Prime Ministers to bands like New Politics, if only for the more pop-influenced and upbeat sound that I kept hearing in their music.
Many of the songs on Now are fast-paced- almost aggressive- with booming percussion and loud vocals. Prime Ministers certainly don’t hold back and give it their all with their music, especially on the track “From Me” that opens the album and is an immediately fast, loud track that grabs your attention. Another notable track, and also the longest on the album, is “Bottomless High” that starts off in a much more slow, dreamy way, and has a lead guitar that seems to be somewhat Jimi Hendrix-influenced.
I think one of my favorites off of the album is the single and second song on the album, “Take It Back,” that features a nice, almost constant kick drum beat, blaring guitar riffs, and sweet, intense vocals. Another song that I enjoyed was “Never Leave Again.” It’s another one of the less aggressive songs on the album, but Ernesto’s vocals really sound especially impressive on this track, and I love the background vocals that mix beautifully with Ernesto’s lead, as well as the lead guitar.
The feel of Now certainly lives up to its name- it’s an album for the here and now. It’s an impressive album by the Ecuadorian quartet, and is set to release in the US on October 7th. Their single, “Take It Back” can be bought on iTunes now.