Los Lobos 鈥� Gates of Gold
Whenever a band reaches a pinnacle of lasting for over 40 years, one may think their best years are behind them. One would be wrong here. Los Lobos released Gates Of Gold this month and it鈥檚 a winner.
It鈥檚 been five years since their last album and this 11-song behemoth does nothing but satisfy.
The band is as tight as ever. The core lineup is here, with David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas blazing the way with their familiar singing and raunchy guitar sound. This is revealed in the rocker 鈥淢is-Treater Boogie鈥�. A song that will get you off the couch and moving like you never have in years.
As with most Los Lobos albums, this one contains a few Spanish numbers, 鈥淧oquito Para Aqui鈥� is a verdadero tesoro (real treasure).
鈥淟a Tumba Sera el Final鈥� features Hidalgo鈥檚 virtuoso accordion playing, Rosas鈥� accompanying guitar, and singing in spanish. It鈥檚 more than enough to get most to turn off Dancing with the Stars and cut a waltz in the kitchen.
鈥淪ong Of The Sun鈥� is the perfect Los Lobos tune. It鈥檚 all here, exquisite musicianship, hard hitting lyrics and the driving beat that will stick in your brain.
鈥淚 Believed You So鈥�, a delta blues tune with a killer slide guitar, is executed very believably.
The song I鈥檝e spun the most is the brilliant 鈥淢agdalena鈥�.聽 With it鈥檚 slow tempo crossed聽 the Animal from the Muppets like drumming from Enrique Gonzalez, it鈥檚 one of their best songs ever.
Of all the Los Lobos albums, Gate Of Gold comes the closest to their live sound. I鈥檝e seen them twice and this album soars as high as the Sierra Madres.
If you haven鈥檛 listened to Los Lobos in a while, or never have. I recommend picking up or downloading this album. It won鈥檛 dissapoint.
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