Album Description
Since their worldwide breakout in 2004, Texican trio Los Lonely Boys - brothers Henry, JoJo and Ringo Garza - have achieved multi-platinum album sales, a Grammy Award (their monster hit 'Heaven' won Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group in 2005), and widespread acclaim from critics, fans and other musicians. All those experiences and more inform their commanding, propulsive new album, 'Sacred,'. 'Sacred' finds the Boys writing and playing with a new confidence, stretching their subject matter and arrangements on the album's thirteen songs, all of which they wrote or co-wrote. 'Sacred' opens with the killer one-two punch of "Diamonds," the album's anthemic first single, and "My Way," a defiant guitar shuffle that reminds listeners why Guitar World magazine named Henry Garza the Breakthrough Artist of the Year in a 2005 cover story. "My Way" also finds LLBs adding a horn section to their signature mix for the first time. Elsewhere on the album, they add other new colors to their arrangements including button accordion, Hammond B3 and Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer electric piano and Henry's virtuosic Harmonica playing.
Other highlights on 'Sacred' include "I Never Met A Woman," the Boys' most soulful ballad to date, the impossibly catchy lament of "Roses," and "Outlaws," a song which features two distinguished guest vocalists: LLBs mentor Willie Nelson, and their father, Enrique Garza Sr. Mr. Garza - a talented Tejano and country musician in his own right - taught his sons to play their instruments, and enlisted them to be his backing band from an early age. His appearance on 'Sacred' brings the first family of Texican rock n' roll full circle.
One of the few contemporary bands to land a decidedly roots-rock song on the charts with 2004's Grammy-winning "Heaven," Los Lonely Boys solidified their status as youngsters with an established sound on their first disc. On this highly anticipated studio followup, all talk of the sophomore jinx dissipates with the opening soul-drenched riff rocker "My Way." Although horns are added for extra drama, the three Garza brothers nail this groove as Henry's Stevie Ray Vaughan-fortified guitar powers one of the boys' most fiery performances. Supporter and mentor Willie Nelson joins on the wah-wah driven, Waylon Jennings-styled "Outlaws," as does the brothers' musician father Enrique Sr. Tough midtempo ballads such as "Home" and the very Santana-ish "I Never Met a Woman" follow in the footsteps of "Heaven" as candidates for slow dance song of the year.
Anyone entranced by the Garzas' debut will be thrilled by this classy followup that tightens some of the loose ends but displays additional confidence resulting from two years of nearly nonstop road work. The band spotlights its Tex-Mex roots on the accordion-driven "Texican Style," where near-perfect vocal harmonies drive an irresistible bluesy shuffle. Most encouraging is that Los Lonely Boys haven't succumbed to commercial pressure since their surprise hit debut. Rather, they have refined and organically expanded their approach, and crafted another classy, committed, radio-friendly Americana gem that meshes blues, Mexican, and soul with a spicy topping of hot-sauce musicianship. --Hal Horowitz Mรกs Lonely Boys
Live at Blue Cat Blues
Los Lonely Boys
Live at the Fillmore