When San Antonio’s SNOWBYRD debuted with its self-titled record a couple of years ago, its attempt to combine the 60s acid folk rock of the BYRDS with the energy of bandleader CHRIS LUTZ*’s garage punk outfit the *DROPOUTS hadn’t quite gelled yet, but it was full of promise. In tribute to drummer MANNY CASTILLO, who passed away from cancer after recording his parts, Diosdado goes a long way toward seeing that promise fulfilled. Fielding a mixture of new songs and tracks recorded in 2005, the band cranks everything up: the volume, the jangle, the crunch and, most importantly, the melodies. “In My Blood,” “Light It Up” and “Is It On?” (a tribute to the slain RAM AYALA, owner of iconoclastic San Antonio rock club Taco Land) blend the band’s influences better than anything they’ve yet created, and the rest of the tunes aren’t far behind. A masterpiece is around the corner.
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