Bajo el Azul de Tu Misterio

At the time of its release, Bajo el Azul de Tu Misterio was the highest debuting alternative rock album on the Billboard Latin charts, an accomplishment that is given more weight by the fact that it is a double album. Jaguares, playing upon their rapidly expanding popularity in Mexico, recorded this mixture of live and studio tracks with an almost orchestra-sized group of supporting players, resulting in an incredibly ambitious album. Their greatest Mexican influences seem to come from their Spanish lyrics, largely written by Saul Hernández, that often deal with the issues of social justice and culture -- otherwise, this album sounds like a mixture of Metallica, Def Leppard, and early U2. Overall, though, the mix works and the legion of supporting producers and players have made a slick, professional album that should please fans on both sides of the border.