La cultura de la basura

The título La cultura de la basura, released in 1987, presents an interesting peculiarity: there are at least two main versions. The original Chilean edition contained 14 tracks and was initially published in cassette and vinyl formats, with a later reissue on CD in the 90s. However, the version that circulated in Latin America in 1988, reaching countries like Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Venezuela, featured 10 songs. Many of these were remixes or new interpretations of the Chilean tracks and included the song «We are sudamerican rockers». In 1988, there was also a vinyl edition specifically for Ecuador, with a different tracklist. The album's name, as explained, refers to the neoliberal culture that took hold in Chile during the 1980s, tied to a discourse of economic success promoted by the dictatorship.

The music for La cultura de la basura was composed by Jorge González. This album is part of the trajectory of Los Prisioneros, a band formed in the 1980s in San Miguel, Santiago de Chile. Initially, the trio consisted of Jorge González on vocals, bass, and main composition, Claudio Narea on guitar and backing vocals, and Miguel Tapia on drums and backing vocals. The band evolved from a new wave sound with punk touches to synth pop, standing out for its lyrics with content and social critique. This aspect became a source of inspiration for a generation living under the oppression of the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, using their songs as a form of resistance. Despite facing censorship in the media until the early 90s, Los Prisioneros achieved considerable commercial success that extended to other Latin American countries, such as Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.