Review Summary: Good but predictable debut album by one of the most muccessful spanish rock bands of the last decades!
Marea is a band born in Spain, specifically in Navarra, in the year 1997, under the initiative of the singer and lyricist Kutxi Romero.
The band's debut album, whose members have remained unchanged over time, was recorded at the Sonido XXI studio in Navarra and released in 1999, marking the beginning of the band's professional journey, performing concerts throughout Spain.
"La Patera" offers a certainly conventional urban rock without surprises, but it is enhanced by well-crafted lyrics by Kutxi Romero. Listening to Marea's debut album, the first thing that comes to mind is Extremoduro, due to Kutxi's voice and the lyrics loaded with suffering love, the dilemma of being a poet, and a significant emotional and sexual charge. Influences from other great Spanish bands such as Los Suaves and Barricada are also noticeable.
Unfortunately, despite its short duration, the album fails to maintain consistent quality throughout, resulting in only three or four truly notable tracks in the overall collection. Additionally, there is a noticeable tendency towards easy choruses, making it more predictable and less interesting than some of the bands that inspired them.
Top songs: "Ya lo Dijo Camaron" (I really like the sound achieved at the beginning and the chorus), "Trasegando" (a classic from the band), and "No Quiero Ser un Poeta."
Special mentions: "Marea" (a strong and direct start to the album) and "Quejios" (I particularly like the verses in this track, considering the album's overall lack of originality).
Conclusion: "La Patera" is a solid debut album by Marea, urban hard rock with a poetic touch. While somewhat monotonous and predictable, it is saved by Kutxi's excellent lyrics and its brevity prevents it from becoming boring.
However, I miss more variety in the songs and more memorable tracks, so I would stick with the aforementioned songs and little else.
