Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Los Lobos, New West records 2021.
Evergreen West Coast USA rock band Los Lobos are still going strong after forty plus years.
If there was ever a band that epitomised the Los Angeles sound Los Lobos is that band.
Their sound is a blend of rock’n’roll, country, R&B, Tex-Mex, blues, zydeco, folk and soul and reflects the ethnic make-up of the band.
Native Sons is an album of covers of songs from Los Angeles bands given the Los Lobos treatment.
It really is a love letter in music to their hometown.
The 13 tracks feature songs from well-known bands such as Buffalo Springfield, WAR, Jackson Browne and The Beach Boys, as well as less well-known acts such as Jaguars, The Basters and The Premiers.
The sole original track is the title track.
Although Los Lobos has been around for a long time their line-up has been stable for many years.
Founding member David Hidalgo is still there on lead vocals and guitar along with Louie Perez also on vocal and guitars (these two met at high school).
Cesar Rosas is also still there on vocals, guitars, bass and keyboards along with Conrad Lozano on vocals and bass (both of these guys also went to the same high school), Steve Berlin is on sax, and keyboards.
This multi-ethnic line-up goes a long way to explain Los Lobos’ affinity with mixing Latin inspired rhythms into their music.
It’s interesting to note that several the children of the original band members appear as guest musicians on the recording.
David Hidalgo Jr appears on drums as does Jason Lozano, so the family tradition continues.
Native Sons is a delightful album and shows us that Los Lobos still has what it takes.
Their chemistry still exists after all these years and their interpretations of these west Coast classics are fantastic.
Native Sons is a great feel-good album.
