.com After variously celebrating their 30th anniversary with the star-studded The Ride, documenting their bracing live shows on Live at the Fillmore and doing a little intimate musical retrenchment on the self-released Acoustic En Vivo, Los Lobos returned to the studio with creative exploration on their minds. The result is their most sonically adventurous, thematically taut collection since the heady days of Kiko and Colossal Head. With lyrics penned mostly by multi-instrumentalist Louis Perez, the album's first-person narrative views a myriad of larger issues through slices of local life, from the immigrants' physical and spiritual travails of "The Valley" and "Hold On" to the liturgical grace of "Little Things" and the haunting impressionism of "The City." The musical tack is even more adventurous, a melange of diverse flavors that ranges from the infectious calo Spanglish patois of Cesar Rosa's "Chuco's Cumbia" and neo-norteno "The Road to Gila Bend" to the chunky r&b groove of "Don't Ask Why," the Caribbean-Latin fusion of "No Pueda Mas" and the shadowy, jazz reflectiveness of the "The Town." The Lobos blend it all into a compelling sonic landscape, one that's tamed the playful, psychedelic spirit of Perez and David Hidalgo's free-spirited Latin Playboys side project and focused it into a band context with rich rewards at every turn. -- Jerry McCulley
C**S
East LA Sgt Peppers
This is the deal. I'd only amplify the previous positive reviews, which I admire: great, great recording, and I'd also mention that the atmospherics, as my music pals call them, are more integrated here than on about any CD I've heard in a very long while, maybe ever. There is just stuff here that continually surprises you, and not in some obnoxious, "clever" way. It's all part of the portrait they're painting, the immigrant life In California. Like the dab of yellow on a great painting that makes you see everything, except the dab of yellow. It's the trigger.The Playing is explosive when necessary, subtle when appropriate. Probably their strongest lyrics yet. (I'm picky, because I have a book out that deals with immigrant LA, the source of my own writer's inspiration. They kick me real bad here, and for that I'm grateful.)The guitar performances are especially unbelievably fine. Anyone who has heard "Tomorrow Never Knows" on the box set know that these guys can sound as if George Martin had run the guitar track backwards. But they can run it real time.Man, what an accomplishment from los veteranos del Norte. And, I say this as a listener for many years, there is NO BAND better than Los Lobos. Nobody. Nowhere. The Beatles of East LA. Not a small accomplishment. Amigos siempre. Amigos de mi corazon.My Spanish sucks. Forgive me, amigos. Your record is the best of this and many years.
G**E
Colossal band, one of their finest records
Best band in the land and I need to correct my initial impression of this record. I still don't care for a couple songs (Little Things, Hold On) but otherwise this is mostly top shelf Lobos. No, it isn't quite the monster Kiko was but it's comparable to Colossal Head, another standout. Where Colossal Head pushed the best tracks to the front Town & City is weighted at the back, almost everything from Gila Bend on. There's the usual rich lyrics and the usual tasteful guitar playing. The Lobos are superb blues purveyors with many different approaches, several of which grace this disk. Rosas even dips into a little reggae. One of the top albums of the aughts and one any Lobos fan should hear.
C**S
An outstanding piece of musical composition
Again, I am just getting into this band and discovering music that I ignored when it first came out. When I bought this i put it in my truck and listened as i went up to Oregon and back. Listened to this one over and over. These guys are writing very interesting music. It almost always rocks, usually rolls and always, always blows me away. My favorites are The Town,The City , the Valley, Road to Gila Bend - but they are all great. (Now I know why God invited diminished chords). People probably think it is weird to see this white guy geezer in a pick up truck blasting "Mexican" music, but i am into these days.
B**.
Yet another CD purchased to further reduce the size of my 'music to get' list.
It's a list that I've been adding to for over 10 years - this was another title on the list.
G**.
why 5 stars?
because this is a great album, and because this band has the upmost integrity, musical talent, soul, heart, very interesting arrangements, and any other element you can think of - they have it in spades...they are musically unique, yet have roots, and a body of work that is nothing short of ASTOUNDING...Viva Los Lobos!!
T**3
You'll love it….it's timeless and diverse.
This is a great record. It sounds timeless, just like all their albums. If you have any of their albums, this should be a no brainer….get it.
D**Y
Loved Kiko, love them in concert
Loved Kiko, love them in concert, just can't seem to get into the other albums. Probably just need to listen a few times on a road trip.
S**T
The Valley
Ordered it for one song and ended up liking 95% of the CD. Will have to listen to more Los Lobos and get other CDs.
P**R
Experienced Musicians post C/D of depth
Good Concept Idea Away from my normal routes of Blues/Rock and prog. Musicians excellent and song writing of depth about struggles of migrants A general relaxing album worth consideration from a somewhat unrecognised Latino Band
J**G
In good condition as advertised and timely delivery
In good condition as advertised, reasonable price and good delivery time.
M**T
A must have
Great album, what a creative band
ペ**ン
（ラテン＋ブルース）×音響、かな
ロス・ロボスなんだから、もちろんラテン。ただし、前作『THE RIDE』がルーツ・ミュージックに根ざしつつも、ラテン・ロックの作品だとすると、この作品は、ロックよりはゆったりとした、どちらかというと、ブルース調の音楽を表現していますね。ロック・チューンは3ぐらい。あと、ミッチェル・フルームによるプロデュースではなく、セルフ・プロデュースなのですが、前作『THE RIDE』にはなかった音響が復活しています。解説者もメンバーも『キコ』に似ている、と言っていますが、たしかにそのとおりです。日本盤ボーナストラックはアコースティック・ヴァージョンで、やはりとてもブルージー。オリジナルと比べてみると、このアコースティック・ヴァージョンからどのように音響をかぶせていったのかがわかって、おもしろいです。もちろん歌詞・対訳つき。ブルースが嫌いというわけではないのですが、多彩なゲスト、30年のキャリアを投じて作った前作『THE RIDE』のロックンロールがぼくにとっては大のお気に入りだったので、星四つです。
き**ド
ジャケットと中身が完全一致
とにかく、このジャケットのアートワークにやられました。早く家に帰りたくなるような街の風景。家々の灯りがそれぞれの家族の物語を紡いでいるようで・・・もちろん1曲、1曲もこの家々の灯りのように、心に沁みる物語を綴ってました。年末の寒い時期に購入したせいか、今、気分は「こたつ」・「みかん」・「ロスロボス」って感じです。心の底から温まる作品です。
