Wolf Tracks: The Best of Los Lobos

Performer: Los Lobos
Producer: T-Bone Burnett; Steve Berlin; James Austin (Compilation)
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Los Lobos: David Hidalgo (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, lap steel guitar, guitarron, requinto, tiple, tres, bajo sexto, banjo, koto, violin, accordion, keyboards, 6-string bass, drums, percussion); Cesar Rosas (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, cuatro, bajo sexto, mandolin, vihuela); Conrad Lozano (vocals, guitarron, acoustic bass, electric bass, fretless bass); Louie P�rez (vocals, quinto, jarana, drums, percussion); Steve Berlin (flute, harmonica, melodica, sopranino saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, piano, Clavinet, organ, percussion). Additional personnel: John Hiatt, T Bone Burnett (vocals); Jim Keltner (drums). The first single-disc Los Lobos anthology, 2006's WOLF TRACKS is a well-selected overview of the seminal East L.A. band's 1983-2002 output. Arranged in semi-chronological order, these 20 songs chart the group's fascinating and eclectic musical journey, from their early Norteno-influenced sound (the accordion-driven numbers "Let's Say Goodnight" and "Anselma") to the Ritchie Valens rock-&-roll hits from the LA BAMBA soundtrack (the eminently catchy classics "Come On, Let's Go" and "La Bamba") to more sonically adventurous later outings (the fantastical "Kiko and the Lavender Moon" and the restless "Oh Yeah"). Although 1996's quirky COLOSSAL HEAD and 2004's THE RIDE aren't represented here, the collection does feature a previously unreleased outtake from sessions for THE NEIGHBORHOOD (the rockabilly-tinged "Border Town Girl"). While diehard fans may opt for the earlier multi-disc collections JUST ANOTHER BAND FROM EAST L.A. and MAS Y MAS, WOLF TRACKS is ideal as a concise introduction to this pioneering Mexican-American ensemble.

Uncut (p.111) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]hey tackle jazzy noir on the likes of 'Kiko And The Lavendar Moon' while staying capable of the rock crunch of 'Good Morning Aztlan'." Dirty Linen (p.91) - "This is one of the 'can't-go-wrong' party albums."

They began playing traditional Mexican music in their native East L.A. in the mid-'70s, but Los Lobos were galvanized by the California punk movement. By the early '80s they were a rock band to be reckoned with, purveying a highly charged brand of roots-rock distinctively colored by conjunto and Latin shadings. Their '90s work with producer Mitchell Froom found them heading into new worlds of textural sonic exploration.

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