Music

“Giant” has a good rock and roll feel to it and doesn’t sound too polished, with a grit that adds personality to the song. Singers Chris Mulvey and Lisa Libera pair well together on the lyrics and the band’s new drummer, Jon Ulman, propels things along with a driving beat. Like the other tracks on the album, there is a strong indie feel to “Giant” but it still remains accessible to listeners. The album’s title track is a little less rock and roll, but just as good as “Giant.” The chorus has a nice, catchy sound to it and it comes across as the sort of song The Shins might have written if they had a female vocalist in their group.

It doesn’t take but a moment to see that Mulvey was influenced by Bob Dylan on “Not About A Girl.” Though the style isn’t 100% Dylan, Mulvey’s vocals are right on par with the man himself. Libera’s backing vocals on the chorus add a little something extra to the track and it is a good example of being inspired by another artist but not copying them completely. “Sharpshooter” maintains a little of that folk feel but has slightly more of a country style to it. The verses lack a little of the fire that is found on some of the other tracks, but the energy on the chorus more than makes up for this. Again, Libera’s backing vocals pair well with Mulvey, and at times their style is similar to that of The Hard Lessons.

The EP goes by quickly and with only four songs, that won’t come as much of a surprise. However, one has to give credit to Muy Cansado since each one of those tracks has a lot of strengths. It’s an easy album to listen to but it has some underlying complexity that makes it a satisfying choice. With the band beginning to think about a full-length album, Love & Fear acts as a nice appetizer for the time being.

Boston band Muy Cansado's name means "very tired" in Spanish, but don't take that to mean Chris Mulvey (vocals, guitar), Lisa Libera (vocals, bass) and Jon Ulman (drums) are a bunch of whiny slackers. On the contrary, this wily trio specializes in effervescent pop-rock with a punky undercurrent that practically demands repeated spins.   

Muy Cansado's new EP, "Love and Fear," was released Sept. 14 by Brooklyn-based Goodnight Records. The four new songs expand and improve on the Pixies-inspired template established on the group's 2008 full-length "Stars & Garters." 

"We've been playing since 2006 so I think a lot of it is just that Lisa and I continued to play and grow," Mulvey said. "We wanted to make some different sounds than we'd made before. On the previous LP there's a decent amount of aggressive vocal stuff. On this EP there's some shouty stuff but there's not really any screaming."The EP is Muy Cansado's first release with Ulman, who replaced original drummer Dave Fine in mid-2009. 

"Having a new drummer definitely changed us some," Mulvey said. "We're a trio, so every member in the band has a pretty big imprint on it." 

Ulman is working from a broader rhythmic palette, which offers more dynamic opportunities for the band. Some of the punk edges also have been polished, and there is a greater emphasis on melodies, but Muy Cansado hasn't radically changed its sound on the new EP. 

"So far, the feedback has been pretty positive," Mulvey said. "Even big fans of the previous album, for the most part, have liked the new stuff a lot. I think for now we're in a good spot. We've had a real good time with the band thus far and we continue to have a good time. We're really excited for getting this EP out there and getting back out on the road." 

Muy Cansado performs at South Park Tavern on Tuesday, Oct. 5. 

"I'd heard good things about South Park Tavern before we booked it so I was pretty excited we ended up playing there," Mulvey said. "It wasn't necessarily planned. We had someone booking the tour for us so I was excitedly surprised to see that date and club pop up on there. Literally two weeks before that someone I met from Dayton was telling me it was a great place. 

"They said if we played there a bunch of people would come out," he added. "Hopefully they were right and everyone comes out and has a good time."

There is nothing very tired or wavering about the music or the members of Muy Cansado.

Eclectic mix that brings together elements of surf and garage rock as well as a variety of vocal styles…. Muy Cansado gets points for originality and fresh-thinking. It isn’t often that a band truly finds a sound to call their own.

Muy Cansado has put together an album with all sorts of influences, but what is encouraging is that the band has figured out a way to make these sounds their own.

Driving rock filled with hook after hook....a lot of different influences, but you really should judge for yourself.

My High School Spanish tells me muy cansado means very tired, but there's nothing remotely worn out at all about Boston's Muy Cansado. The threesome have released one hell of a debut album in Stars + Garters (highly recommended) released just last week. The album is rife with great guitars, counter basslines and strong drums. In other words it's just damn good rock!

Chris Mulvey's locals on this record are pretty insane - calling to mind vintage Frank Black. His notes elongate into a stage scream while bassist Lisa Libera's harmony softens the blow. All the while, drummer David Fine sharply punctuates the beat. I am soooo glad that this one appeared in my mailbox - seriously one of the better debut albums we have heard for some time! 

Muy Cansado thrives on the dueling vocals of Chris Mulvey and Lisa Libera making their sound very reminiscent of the Pixies. Their debut Stars & Garters is a raw rock sounding, bar ready and intense experience from beginning to end. It is full of straight ahead indie punk explosions that will take you by surprise and reaching for the repeat button when it's over. 

The album as a whole is an exciting debut from a local band - just straight forward guitar rock.

Well worth a listen. 

While the band’s sound occasionally wanders down dusty roads and past cacti and tumbleweeds, they are perfectly average-looking people completely opening themselves on the stage.

Vocalist/guitarist Chris Mulvey is one figurehead of the three-pronged attack, with his big, and seemingly never falling out of shape coif. Mulvey’s laid back, gentle and generally affable demeanor changes however as he picks up the guitar and steps up the microphone. He closes his eyes, tilts his head slightly to the side and doesn’t so much sing, as he lets the sound somehow escape his body. Mulvey’s vocals, sometimes tortured, sometimes violent, sometimes beaten-down, always begs the question “What’s going on with these people?”

Theatrical vocals and scattershot guitar aside, Muy Cansado is rounded out with bassist Lisa Libera. Libera has the girl-next-door look down pat. One might expect her to have an excellent record collection or somehow know everyone on her block. It’s obvious, however, that she works the bass guitar with such proficiency and style as to be possibly one of the best bassists in town. Libera’s expressive bass parts often state the melody of the song and with melodies so thoughtful and expressive as any “lead” instrument could sound. The real highlight of Libera’s playing is not her technical wizardry, but her near-angelic smile that crosses her face as her fingers spider out seemingly impossible sounding bass parts. Watching her play bass could make the entire world want to play bass…..

Muy Cansado is here to play and only asks that everyone listen.

Lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Mulvey rails on the microphone like a modern day, not-so-stoned Bob Dylan and bassist Lisa Libera chimes in with a decidedly more melodic counterpoint on back-up vocals…..

Glimmering guitar hooks, dreamy melodies, and snarling vocals with ostensible angst.....

Muy Cansado is certainly a local band to keep you eye (or ear, whichever is applicable here) on.