Native Sons
New West, 2021
8/10
The veteran and eclectic rockers Los Lobos pay tribute to their Los Angeles home with 13 tracks of covers that are run through their inimitable filter of rock’n’roll that has been consistently great and with the same line up since the ‘70s.
“Love Special Delivery” gets the listen off to an energetic start with acrobatic drumming from guests Aaron Ballesteros and Dannie Ramirez’s bright trombone as the band bring a loud, soulful rocker, and “Misery” follows with a calmer pace that welcomes Jason Lozano on drums and Barrence Whitfield’s strategic backing vocals.
Deeper into the listen, “Jamaica Say You Will” benefits from Phil Parlapiano’s precise keys in the breezy Jackson Browne tune, while “Never No More” shuffles with a contagious energy of bouncy bass lines, Steve Berlin’s sax prowess and a timeless rockabilly spirit. “Sail On Sailor”, one of the record’s best, then captures the spirit of California in the sunny and melodic Beach Boys cover.
The pace picks up considerably with the jumpy and busy retro rock’n’roll climate of “Flat Top Joint”, and “Where Lovers Go” exits the listen with a sublime instrumental that emits an exceptional dreaminess.
A collection of tunes that Los Lobos grew up listening to and that served to document the fertile Los Angeles scene, this isn’t the first time the band have released a covers record, and hopefully it won’t be the last, cause their Chicano rock, Tex Mex, and diverse variations of Americana make for interpretations that parallel the greatness of the originals.
Travels well with: Dave Alvin- From An Old Guitar: Rare And Unreleased Recordings; The Long Ryders- Psychedelic Country Soul