POP MUSIC REVIEW : Energy and Attitude Fuel Revolutionary Tijuana No

In the angry new wave of Mexican rock that trumpets revolutionary ideals, no group is as forceful and confrontational as Tijuana No. Tackling targets ranging from corrupt politics to racism, the Baja California combo fuels its music with enough energy and attitude to interest even those fans who don’t care about the issues outlined in such provocative songs as “Gringos Ku Klux Klanes.”

Playing before a capacity crowd Sunday at the Whisky, the sextet showed that its association with Spain’s Negu Gorriak--a radical Basque separatist group that produced Tijuana No’s latest album--has paid off.

Always known as a stirring live act, Tijuana No is even more electrifying now, jumping from ska to reggae and from rap to World Beat collages without sacrificing its punk foundation. The group fills each song with so much color that it sometimes seems as if the band is trying to put everything it knows into every number.

“Transgresores de la ley” (Transgressors of the Law), the group’s new album, is a bold hymn of youth anger that may not show a lot of subtleties lyrically, but asserts a strong, winning feel for melodies. That’s especially true of “Pobre de ti” (Poor You), the group’s 1993 hit.

Percussionists Luis Guereno and Teca Garcia, as well as keyboardist Cecilia Bastida, share lead vocals, thus giving the group a wide range of vocal shading. It’s now clear that this isn’t just one of the most popular bands in Mexican rock, but also one of the best.