Amazon.com California's Los Lobos are the reigning kings of Tex-Mex/Rock Espanol. But this debut CD by the San Angelo, Texas band Los Lonely Boys might herald a changing of the guard. This is truly a band of brothers, led by guitarist/vocalist Henry Garza and his younger, bass-and-drum-playing siblings Jojo and Ringo. Like a lot of groups, they had to move away to achieve fame--in their case, to Nashville. But after the release of their EP, Willie Nelson heard them, put them on tour as his opening act, and recorded them at his studio. Stylistically, the Garza brothers' bilingual songs about love and life combine Stevie Ray Vaughan blues, Santana-style guitar licks and R&B. Nelson helps out on guitar, with Reese Wynans on keyboards. Produced by Keb Mo and B.B. King producer John Porter, the music is honest, driving, and down home, especially on the organ-filled uptempo tracks "Senorita" and "Tell Me Why." The stinging guitar solo on the Afro-anthemic "Onda" recalls the '70s grooves Santana built his chops on, while "The Answer" and "More than Love" are raw power ballads that show off this group's dynamism and diversity. --Eugene Holley, Jr.
Customer Reviews:
Los Lonely BoysOctober 30, 2008 Frances Larson(Wheaton, MN USA) I like the CD a lot, a whole lot. The more I listen to it, the more I like it. Am anxious to receive the other one I ordered.
"The unlonely Boys"June 9, 2008 Priscilla Brown(San Diego Ca) You go Boys! Love your sound. i'm an old lady and it has been a long time since i have really noticed or enjoyed music from the younger generation untill now. A fan in San Diego.
Awesome cdDecember 27, 2007 Yarra(Suffield, CT USA) This is my 2nd cd by this band and I have totally fallen in love with their music. It's got great sound, and is a nice blend of rock, latin, blues.....I can't wait until they make another cd. Most definitely my most favorite band.
Nice mix of influencesOctober 19, 2007 Dennis(Seattle, WA USA) These guys are good musicians and I like the way many of their lead lines are sung in close harmony - something I think that comes from the mariachi influence. It gives the vocals more color, their voices blend very nicely and their timing is very tight.
Los Lonely Boys - Fantastic Debut AlbumSeptember 10, 2007 Steven Sly(Kalamazoo, MI United States) I first became aware of these guys when I happened to be flicking around channels on my TV one night and came upon them playing on Austin City Limits. I had no idea who they were, but I really enjoyed the show and went out and picked up this their debut album. Since that time Los Lonely Boys have vaulted to mainstream success with the big hit "Heaven" from this album. I like this album a lot. The band mixes blues, tight vocal harmonies, searing guitar, and a regional tex mex style that blends together to form a very nice conglomeration. The bands sound is definitely influenced by Santana and I hear plenty of Stevie Ray Vaughn as well. The songwriting is all good for the most part with the lyrics sung in both English and Spanish for various songs on the disc. The guys are very good musicians and there are plenty of instrumental fireworks to show off their chops throughout the album. The three members of Los Lonely Boys are all brothers and they come by their pedigree honestly as their father was also a well respected Texas musician. The boys are a bright light on the current music scene and I recommend this album highly.
