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 guitaris... more »t/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.« less
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.
Jessa G. from EAGLE MTN, UT Reviewed on 8/17/2009...
Great CD, love the sound!
0 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Shaley H. from TOOELE, UT Reviewed on 12/26/2006...
the songs are:
senorita
heaven
crazy dream
dime mi amor
hollywood
more than love
nobody else
onda
real emotions
tell me why
velvet sky
la contestacion
0 of 4 member(s) found this review helpful.
CD Reviews
They May Be Compared to Many Artists, but...
Armando M. Mesa | Chandler, AZ | 07/10/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I can't recall when the last time was that I actually just let a new cd play all the way through without skipping a track on the first play due to boredom or the track's lack of power to hold my interest...Los Lonely Boys debut is that extremely rare album. From the awesome guitar work to the melodic sounds such as found in the track Heaven this is the kind of music I'm always open to and crave; this is the kind of real artistry that is set apart from the kiddie music heard on pop-junk radio and video stations !From previous reviews they have been compared to everyone from Stevie Ray Vaughan (LLB even give him a thankful nod in the liner notes of the cd) to (as one reviewer said) Los Lobos. Hints of Santana? Maybe. What matters is that the music and lyrics are infectious from track one to the last track.Are there many musical influential styles? Absolutely. Everything from Texan blues, some country, to good ol' rock and roll from the days of Richie Valens and Elvis Presley. Plenty of Southwestern and some Californian (almost a la Dwight Yoakam) feel...The mixture of so many different influences is done to create such a unique and colorful panoramic style of their own that I do believe these boys stand out ! So what if these guys do become very famous. It won't mean that they are necessarily sell outs but that the commercial music industry has finally opened up it's eyes and ears to something that does not have a rap, hip hop beat or head banging trash-like influence on young cd buyers..."
These Guys are How Old?
Veronica M | Chicago, IL | 05/23/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this CD because of "Heaven" and to support my fellow Texan musicians. I expected to get stuck with a one-hit wonder CD. Not the case at all!!! These guys are incredible! You can definitely hear the SRV and Santana influences. But rather than just copying and combining sounds, the boys take their influences and build them into something fresh and highly addictive. I've owned this CD for 4 days and I'm already annoying my neighbor with it, playing it over, and over, and over.Can't believe the boys are all under the age of 25. They've got a unity that can only come from walking out of the same womb with instrument in hand and immediately joining the family band. Tight vocals. Even tighter riffs. If they sound this great now, can't wait to hear them in 10 years!"
Los Lonely Boys kick major a**
Christopher | Harrison, Arkansas | 06/23/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Los Lonely Boys consist of the three Garza brothers: Henry on guitar, JoJo on bass, and Ringo on drums. This cd that they have made is one of the best cds to come out in a long time. It appeals to everyone. Just look at all of the positive reviews this album is getting on this site. They can't be pegged. When someone describes them, you'll get "Well, they sound like Stevie Ray, Santana, Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and Willie Nelson all combined." That is the sign of a great band, when you can't paint them into a corner. From rockers like "Senorita" and "Real Emotions", to slower numbers like "More Than Love" and "Velvet Sky", this band mixes it up in a way that hasn't been done in years. The scary thing is, their hit single, "Heaven", is not even the best on the cd. That falls to either "Senorita", "Crazy Dream", or "Real Emotions." Just think what the Garza bros. have in store for us. It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it."
I love it!
Amy Liz | 04/06/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I heard the song "Heaven" on the radio and ran right out to buy the CD. I was not disappointed. This CD is absolutely amazing and gets better every time I listen to it. Well worth picking up for your collection."