Professor and Author Carmelo Esterrich Puts His Spin on Café Tacvba’s Album ‘Re’
When author Carmelo Esterrich, a professor at Columbia College Chicago’s School of Communication and Culture, first heard the Spanish-language album “Re” by the Mexican band Café Tacvba’s back in 1994, he reacted the same way as many fans. He was struck by both its originality and familiarity, transfixed by just how good it was.
Esterrich’s curiosity and appreciation for the album has since spanned decades; he has even incorporated the album into the curriculum for a class about Latin American culture. And now, he’s turned his passion for the music into the book “Café Tacvba’s ‘Re,’” which is set to publish November 13 in the renowned 33 1/3 book series.
“I’ve listened to this album, I don’t know, a thousand times, and every time I hear it, I still get so excited,” Esterrich says.
Turning a Beloved Album Into a Book
Esterrich, who is from Puerto Rico and speaks Spanish, pitched the book idea to the publisher Bloomsbury as part of their 33 1/3 series, in which every volume zeroes in on an album or artist. While the publisher only focused on English-language albums at the time, the editors gave an enthusiastic thumbs up to Esterrich’s concept.
“I’ve written it for readers who might adore the music but don’t speak Spanish, or know the references baked into the lyrics,” Esterrich says.
In his book, Esterrich shows how Café Tacvba’s humor and stylistic leaps make the record a classic; it’s often referred to as Mexico’s White Album, a reference to the Beatles’ masterpiece.
As part of his research for the book, Esterrich travelled to Mexico City on a faculty development grant, tracking down the meaning behind lyrical references and gaining a deeper understanding of the album’s allure. While there, he saw how the album reflected the ways people in Mexico listen to music: across genres and eras.
To make the album’s richness and depth more accessible to readers, Esterrich collaborated with graphic designer Jacqueline King-Tran ‘24, a Columbia alum, to create bilingual infographics. The visuals include Spanish on one side, English on the other, and “bubbles” that call out cultural, musical, and historical touchpoints.
“She let me dream,” Esterrich says. “But she was also my reality check to make my dreams come true.”
A Deepened Connection to a Classroom Resource
In the classroom, Esterrich has long included the album in his course on Latin America, but writing the book deepened that connection.
“Now I can bring in everything I learned through research to my students,” he says. “That includes how each song ties to Mexico City’s history, how the band plays with humor and identity, and how their sound reflects the music people in Mexico listen to.”
“Café Tacvba’s ‘Re’” will be available online and in major bookstores Nov. 13.
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