LOS LOBOS
Colossal Head

Oh my God! What are they and how do we market them? This is what I imagine record company execs say about Los Lobos, a difficult band to peg. Are they a bar band, a traditional Mexican folk band, a Dead-styled hippie band, a Motown r&b band, or something so different that there is no category? What's so amazing is that they are so comfortable and believable in all their manifestations.

Their new album, Colossal Head on Warner Bros. was recorded in six weeks. "We were working really fast," says Louie Perez. "We couldn't second guess ourselves. I would be writing something in the studio lounge, and it was like, 'are you ready to record that yet'? It was a lot like live TV. But I really think that the first thought is the best thought." The record definitely uses a less technical approach and is more down home than their last studio record, Kiko. The songs are less layered and use fewer affects. The compositions reflect a more traditional sensibility that I think is closest to their early album, How Will The Wolf Survive. Although with Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake at the helm there are bound to be a few curves thrown. As usual the quality of the sounds produced (especially percussion sounds) are quirky and come at you from all over the mix.

After listening to Kiko and The Latin Playboys I expected, and was hoping for something more in that experimental direction, but apparently they forgot to call me to get my opinion. Or maybe they were too busy working on soundtracks for the films Desperado and Feeling Minnesota. The boys have mouths to feed and I think getting off the road to be with la familia is a priority that soundtrack work makes possible.

If you want to get a guitar lesson tough love style, listen to David Hidalgo kick all the rest of the boys to the curb on Mas y Mas [326k .wav|326k .au] Hidalgo has so many great guitar sounds and styles. He is totally underrated as a singer/songwriter and the guy is no slouch on accordion and violin. Everybody Loves a Train [321k .wav|321k .au] crawls under a snake's belly with the baritone sax, dobro and super round bass sound. You've gotta love the title, Buddy Ebsen Loves The Night Time, [321k .wav|321k .au] a number that displays the band's instrumental prowess. Other wondrous cuts are Can't Stop The Rain [328k .wav|328k .au] and the loping, feel happy vibe of Life Is Good. [328k .wav|328k .au]

Los Lobos is a unique force in American music; a meeting place for many different styles that have been appropriated into the American pop scene. Their Mexican background infuses their music and words with the magical realism so often present in Latino literature and film - the weirdness of daily life, when the familiar some how becomes bizarre.

The band has been living and playing together for 20 years and their musical ease and camaraderie is transferred to the listener. I feel these guys are total originals who pay no mind to the record industry or pop culture. They take their cues from a higher authority. Yes, there is something higher than the recording industry. So get with it you trendoids. Take this disc and love it