Los Lobos

Guests as diverse as Ruben Blades and Richard Thompson breathe new life into Los Lobos' aesthetic, but some of the best tracks ("Rita" and "Chains of Love") remind us this band doesn't need tricks or guests to sound great. Mexico City rockers Cafe Tacuba bring a welcome dose of cool to "La Venganza de Los Pelados."

On The Ride, Los Lobos veer back and forth between their two main modes: the East L.A.
band's catholic mix of rock, soul, country and Latin music, and its more recent dalliances
with experimental textures. Along the way, Los Lobos pick up guest spots from some of
their notable influences: Richard Thompson and Elvis Costello, gospel-pop queen Mavis
Staples, Mexican-American garage-rock legend Willie G., avant-folkie Tom Waits.... More >

From Chicano r&b to Chicano bricolage and most of the way back, with famous friends pointing the way ("Kitate," "Hurry Tomorrow") (Grade - **)