The Last Bandoleros are making the most of a new year with an anthem for all the broke music lovers out there with “Más Dinero,” and take it from me, one listen to this track will have you feeling like you have all the money in the world.
“Más Dinero” makes being broke fun, telling a story about going broke, selling all your belongings, and saving all your money in the name of moving to the city for a better life. Despite the threat of bankruptcy, it feels hopeful, and truthfully, it’s a really nice sentiment for a graduate student like me who doesn’t make much money!
I was lucky enough to hear “Más Dinero” live three times last year, so I thought I knew what to expect from this studio release, but nothing could have prepared me for this track. It feels like a refreshed version of their sound on classic Bandos jams like “Maria” and “Dancing with Irene.” It has that Beatle-esque catchiness they’re known for that makes their songs so addicting, but with something a little extra. It’s funkier than their older stuff, with the heavy bass and groovy percussion at the forefront as opposed to guitar, but their classic sound still shines through with their tight harmonies and catchy melody.
One of the best things about this group is how they can all take the lead in their own unique ways, and “Más Dinero” falls right in line as Diego Navaira and Jerry Fuentes take turns providing lead vocals with their powerful voices that lend a sense of strength and security to the track despite the subject matter.
They’ve employed some new sounds on this track, with some ever-so-subtle keyboard riffs, some spacey synth sounds, Navaira’s echo-y gritos interspersed throughout the track, and a crunchy bit of percussion that follows the song from start to finish. It’s clear that this is a new era for The Last Bandoleros, and if this is just the tip of the iceberg of what they have up their sleeves, what a hell of an era it’s going to be.
If ever you needed an excuse to finally get into this group and their phenomenal catalogue of music, now’s your chance. “Más Dinero” seems to blend all of TLB’s influences together simultaneously to create an absolutely irresistible track. It’s full of energy, it’s catchy, and let’s be real, it’ll make you feel better when you inevitably spend all your money again. Who could ask for more?