Latin Playboys

I felt that as a whole this a weak CD. Six of the tracks are pretty hard to listen to so I feel they throw of the feel of the album. I start to get the feel for the disc than a really bad track comes on and ruins everything for me. But Crayon sun and Forever Night Shade Mary were the best by far. I bought this disc solely for Forever Night Shade Mary. Its a beautiful subtle track that deserves a listen. the bass is present but really soft and laid back, and the guitar is incredibly mellow. All the instruments melt together so well in that song. Overall this album is very experimental, reminiscent of the Velvet Underground in some ways. a cheap used copy is all i can really justify.

Being a fan of Los Lobos I felt a nice side project could be worth
a roll of the dice. Well, this one missed the mark and even though a few weeks old, I can't get it back in the rotation. The songs/tunes are just not developed for me. But hey if the radical departure was the outlet that artist was looking for, then I just did not connect.
So if you are expecting the Los Lobos type rock feel, be advised....

Heresy? Don't mean I don't like LOS LOBOS. When I saw LOS LOBOS live about 2 years ago it was their take on a puro Mexicano song that got both me and my parents goin'. The roots rock stuff, well, just never has been as satisfying for me.

LATIN PLAYBOYS, on the other hand, this album over the second one, man oh man, I can't get enough of it. I guess two of the LOS LOBOS boys get more experimental with a coupla gringos to perfection. I saw them live about 1997 or so and it was just as enjoyable.

They use a giant tuba to great effect and generally let loose going places that LOS LOBOS never does. It's a place I prefer, basically no rootsyness at all. It's like the finest Chicano music with no musical association with SANTANA or MALO. The sophisticated musical abilities of the musicians in LATIN PLAYBOYS makes this record soar.

When these guys get experimental its not odd or strange places they go, it's a path that feels right and all I know is, this is one of my all time favorite albums. chrisbct@hotmail.com

I bought this CD back in '94 when it came out, and really enjoyed it. Then, as happens sometimes, the CD got relegated to the "infrequently played" stack for a few years.

I rediscovered this gem in the process of transferring my CDs to the ipod. And I'm here to tell you, it is a gem. Here, David and Louie get to do all the fun stuff that doesn't quite "fit" on the regular Los Lobos.

There's definitely a psilocybin glow going on here. So, if you want to find out what happens to Los Lobos after they drink a litle magic tea, check this out. Great stuff.

I felt compelled to write a short review as a corrective to the other two reviews I saw on this page that can only be described as coming form narrow-minded fools with no imagination or appreciation of genuine music. Go back to listening to Los Lonely Boize you lightweights! I've been a Los Lobos fan since their beginnings and still am one today, and the period surrounding the Latin Playboys project yielded two of their most interesting and fantastic albums (Kiko and Colossal Head) as well as the 1999 follow-up album Dose. In the mid-90's I forced this album on nearly everyone I knew -- And they ALL thanked me afterwards. It doesn't take much to convert a real music fan to this album. It literally overflows with creativity. It's simulateanously avante-garde and experimental yet also accessible, melodious and constantly intriguing. I have never, ever felt "bored" listening to this album. If you need pure testosterone to keep you awake, then I guess you might find this record beguiling. But for the rest of you, don't miss out on this amazing record. Hard to believe it's 10-years-old already. (By the way, if you were lucky enough to see the small tour that went out in support of 1999's "Dose", then you will know what a fantastic bunch of musicians these guys are.

I would say this record would appeal to a broad range of open-minded people, from fans of Tom Waits to Captain Beefheart, from Caetano Veloso to Radiohead. And yes, Los Lobos fans too!

Man, I just can't get enough of this stuff. Saw 'em live at the Belly Up in 1999 and could only wish they'd tour more. Saw LOS LOBOS 2005 and it just wasn't the same. LATIN PLAYBOYS do more of the Mexican music with American flavor that I'm craving. SANTANA hit on a gorgeous mix. These guys do their own version and much less rootsy than LOS LOBOS. LATIN PLAYBOYS have a fresh sound to my ears that bring a dash or two of experimentation in a musical style that rarely gets that treatment.

This particular album I do not find to be as strong as the first one which I just stumbled on at the swap meet and purchased due to the name of the band and its being on the Slash label. Sure enough, I hit paydirt and the band graciously created a second album. If they did more albums I'd be in pig heaven. In fact, I'm always trying to find other bands that sound something like them but have yet to do so. Got any suggestions?

If you like the rootsy general flavor of most LOS LOBOS songs, this group isn't for you. If you want crisp Latin sounds from expert musicians who are obviously digging doing some experimentation, and succeeding at it, this is the album for you. chrisbct@hotmail.com

More experimental than their first offering, it may not have the
same appeal to all. However, if your looking for something a
little different to shake up your collection a bit, this could
be just what your looking for. Very low key head music. At first
listen you may not think too much of it (I didn't),but if you
give it a chance, say four to six listens, it starts to grow on
you. If you have the capability to shuffle this one along with
either their first, or LOS LOBOS' COLOSSAL HEAD, you will be in
for a very interesting and enjoyable experience. Doesn't quite
reach the heights their debut, but very good nonetheless.
Thanks,
Tom

The Latin Playboys are a side project of two of the members of Los Lobos, one of the more seriously underappreciated rock bands of the last 20 years. Getting together with two buds, Perez and Hildago create some offbeat and atmospheric songs that are more interested in sounds than rocking. And this is just fine.

The album includes four instrumentals, one of which is very short, but the others are quite enjoyable. The balance of the songs are somewhat inconsequential in terms of lyrics, at least in relation to their best work, but a soundscape is created that is always interesting. I enjoy putting this disc into my changer as I drive around, and each time the changer picks one of these songs, my ears stand at attention. So that tells me the songs are sonically interesting.

Buy this album or not? If you like Los Lobos, definitely. If you like offbeat music that doesn't sound like much else, yes. If you like NSYNC, how did you even find this review in the first place?

Like a Pinata with bits of everything you've ever heard in your whole life. (And some that you've never.) Oye! Deme Dose!

i was shocked to read the (mostly) harsh reviews for this set. i had no idea lobos fans were so conservative. but i'll take this difficult-yet-rewarding work over, say. "this time", which is easily los lobos' most souless offering to date. "dose" recalls "colossal head" in its brave, funky experimentation; this sort of thing should be encouraged -- otherwise, we should all just listen to bryan adams, you know?

I felt that as a whole this a weak CD. Six of the tracks are pretty hard to listen to so I feel they throw of the feel of the album. I start to get the feel for the disc than a really bad track comes on and ruins everything for me. But Crayon sun and Forever Night Shade Mary were the best by far. I bought this disc solely for Forever Night Shade Mary. Its a beautiful subtle track that deserves a listen. the bass is present but really soft and laid back, and the guitar is incredibly mellow. All the instruments melt together so well in that song. Overall this album is very experimental, reminiscent of the Velvet Underground in some ways. a cheap used copy is all i can really justify.

Being a fan of Los Lobos I felt a nice side project could be worth
a roll of the dice. Well, this one missed the mark and even though a few weeks old, I can't get it back in the rotation. The songs/tunes are just not developed for me. But hey if the radical departure was the outlet that artist was looking for, then I just did not connect.
So if you are expecting the Los Lobos type rock feel, be advised....

Heresy? Don't mean I don't like LOS LOBOS. When I saw LOS LOBOS live about 2 years ago it was their take on a puro Mexicano song that got both me and my parents goin'. The roots rock stuff, well, just never has been as satisfying for me.

LATIN PLAYBOYS, on the other hand, this album over the second one, man oh man, I can't get enough of it. I guess two of the LOS LOBOS boys get more experimental with a coupla gringos to perfection. I saw them live about 1997 or so and it was just as enjoyable.

They use a giant tuba to great effect and generally let loose going places that LOS LOBOS never does. It's a place I prefer, basically no rootsyness at all. It's like the finest Chicano music with no musical association with SANTANA or MALO. The sophisticated musical abilities of the musicians in LATIN PLAYBOYS makes this record soar.

When these guys get experimental its not odd or strange places they go, it's a path that feels right and all I know is, this is one of my all time favorite albums. chrisbct@hotmail.com

I bought this CD back in '94 when it came out, and really enjoyed it. Then, as happens sometimes, the CD got relegated to the "infrequently played" stack for a few years.

I rediscovered this gem in the process of transferring my CDs to the ipod. And I'm here to tell you, it is a gem. Here, David and Louie get to do all the fun stuff that doesn't quite "fit" on the regular Los Lobos.

There's definitely a psilocybin glow going on here. So, if you want to find out what happens to Los Lobos after they drink a litle magic tea, check this out. Great stuff.

I felt compelled to write a short review as a corrective to the other two reviews I saw on this page that can only be described as coming form narrow-minded fools with no imagination or appreciation of genuine music. Go back to listening to Los Lonely Boize you lightweights! I've been a Los Lobos fan since their beginnings and still am one today, and the period surrounding the Latin Playboys project yielded two of their most interesting and fantastic albums (Kiko and Colossal Head) as well as the 1999 follow-up album Dose. In the mid-90's I forced this album on nearly everyone I knew -- And they ALL thanked me afterwards. It doesn't take much to convert a real music fan to this album. It literally overflows with creativity. It's simulateanously avante-garde and experimental yet also accessible, melodious and constantly intriguing. I have never, ever felt "bored" listening to this album. If you need pure testosterone to keep you awake, then I guess you might find this record beguiling. But for the rest of you, don't miss out on this amazing record. Hard to believe it's 10-years-old already. (By the way, if you were lucky enough to see the small tour that went out in support of 1999's "Dose", then you will know what a fantastic bunch of musicians these guys are.

I would say this record would appeal to a broad range of open-minded people, from fans of Tom Waits to Captain Beefheart, from Caetano Veloso to Radiohead. And yes, Los Lobos fans too!