REVIEW: Los Lobos, This Time (Hollywood)
- Tracey Bleile
The members of Los Lobos are closing in on a major anniversary, somewhere in the neighborhood of twenty-five years as a group. And like any long-term relationship, the Lobos have learned the secret lesson of making it work - over the past year and a half, the various members have taken the time to do their "own thing". Sometimes that is the ultimate key to how you approach the original relationship, and infuse it with new life - don't be afraid to have separate interests. The added change of a new label for the first time in a very long time may also have something to do with this.
This Time takes this cue beautifully, exploring all the different avenues the various members have ventured recently. The Lobos have always been way ahead of the curve when it comes to defying genres (or is it defining their own?). The more traditional R&B and blues foray by Cesar Rosas (who released his first ever solo record this year) lends a new aggressive touch to the proceedings. "That's Why We Wish" has that same dance party feel that some of the great tracks featured on the Rosas release.
So take your good ol' R&B groove. Now link it in a jaw-dropping seamless fashion to the percussive, experimental twists of the Latin Playboys (David Hidalgo and Louie Perez, joined by their longtime producer friend, Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake, who are on board with this release as producers as well). This end result with this record melds into some of the most buzzy, funky blues these guys have slung yet. The wah-wah's turned up high on "Viking", and "High Places" smokes just right with that sharp plucked guitar punctuating every beat.
Toss in the spice of many of Los Lobos' members participating in the Cali-Texas Latin supergroup Los Super Seven, and it makes the traditional Latin/Nortena stripe of Los Lobos' nature a little more tigerish. The mariachi snap of "Cumbia Raza" is pure summer pleasure, and "La Playa" has a punchy, loping beat that will indeed have you dreaming of sun, sand and dancing outside. Even the ballad this time (no pun intended) 'round, "Corazon" gives you visions of torrid tangos, not longing or bereft lovers.
Saying too much more seems almost excessive. This is a tough, cool, tight record by a bunch of guys who know what the hell they are doing, and make it easy to buy what they're selling. After the stylized beauty of Kiko and the over-the-top smeary mess of Colossal Head, Los Lobos shows once again their knack for death-defying twists and turns musically. They know each other well, and here's hoping the honeymoon never ends for this relationship.
