Manic Hispanic

Mijo Goes to Jr. College is the third collection of fun punk rock send-ups from the California collective Manic Hispanic. Consisting of members from such straight-ahead acts as Cadillac Tramps, the Adolescents, and the Grabbers, Manic Hispanic reworks well-known punk anthems with humorous lyrics that poke fun at Hispanic culture in California, as well as punk rock itself. For example, the Ramones' "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" becomes "Creeper Is a Lowrider" and "Drinking About My Baby" by the Damned has been reimagined as "Trippin on Mi Ruca." While its title is a good-hearted swipe at the Descendents' Milo Goes to College, literate punk fans will really get a kick out of Mijo's Latino caricature of that album's classic cover art -- as well as the fictional, fanciful Manic Hispanic gig history that appears via fake fliers inside the CD booklet. While it's certainly a one-dimensional bit, Manic Hispanic's act succeeds largely because the outfit knows how hokey its act is, and lays the vato act on appropriately thick. Brief spoken interludes introduce most tracks and are peppered with goofs on the sometimes-much-too-serious Latino male community. At the same time, the outfit's spot-on musical chops make Mijo Goes to Jr. College an entertaining run through some classic punk rock riffing. Standouts include a remake of NOFX's "The Brews" -- "Cruise" -- celebrating chingas and jailhouse tattoos in the barrio, and "Brand New Impala," which installs hydraulics on Vince Taylor and the Clash's "Brand New Cadillac." ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide