Los Lobos

Although entitled "Guitar Masterpieces" the music is MOSTLY big band with some guitar lead. This CD does not feature the guitar. Very disappointing.....

This has been one of my favorite CD's for a long time. So much so, I bought a copy for my new boyfriend [I was afraid he might want to borrow my copy and not give it back ;-) ]

And the most special little nugget on this CD is the Theme from the Deer Hunter. This nearly brings me to tears every time I hear it. So moving and powerful.

If you enjoy classical guitar, You will love this collection.

While I always prefer CDs featuring a few composers, having a focus, this CD does a great job at going from all the medley of essential guitar pieces. It's got all the ones I'd like to have, in that sense "Essential" is correct. The recordings are good, I knew about half/two thirds of the pieces, and I'm not always wowed but never disappointed by the performances, in some cases very pleasantly surprised, esp. those by Eduardo Fernandez, Nicola Hall, and Pepe Romero. A discovery: the Estudio Brilliante, by Allard (end of CD2). I really like to put this CD in the background at work (on iPod), at home. My wife is a professional musician (violin) and cringes at bad performances and isn't interested in average usually, so it's telling that she also likes this CD. In fact, it's soothing and relaxing enough that it's actually put her to sleep once! Overall, I really like two thirds of the pieces on this CD, the other ones are nice enough (I'll play through, but won't select them expressly), and there are a few great ones. And the price is great. What's not to like?

This may be the best money I've ever spent. I got 2-1/2 hours of bliss for less than what I'd usually pay for one CD -- and you know how it is with music. You buy an album because of a song or two that you love, and you find that you like maybe half the songs on it. There's not a single selection in this one that I would've left out. It includes Joaquin Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez, performed by Pepe Romero on the guitar with the Acadamy of St. Martin in the Fields. I needed to replace my old LP recording of that. But I also get 30 other classical compositions and traditional Spanish pieces, each special in its own way.

Have you ever heard music that you wanted to last forever, maybe even to dive inside and live there for a while, immersing yourself in sound? That's how I feel about this collection. The only problem I have with it is that I bought it thinking it might be nice to listen to while I write. Not so. It's terrible for that. I'll sit with my hands poised above the laptop keyboard, assuring myself I'll get some work done while I listen. The music takes hold and carries me away.

I'm not expert at describing this or any type of music. I just know what I love. You might too, if you enjoy classical or Spanish guitar -- unless you have absurd expectations about combining listening with work.

This CD for me was a waste of money. Its just not what i thought it would be. Others may enjoy it but for me..it wasnt what i was hoping to hear.

Los Lobos are a national treasure. No one has ever combined so many strains of American music so successfully. "Kiko" expanded the band's reach into new areas, as they tried out sampled percussion and vintage wind sounds. Producer Mitchell Froom pointed the way for them, but no matter how far they got from their classic guitar-based style, upon listening, the imprint of Los Lobos is still unmistakable -- the voices and guitars, and the lyrics that describe or allude to the Chicano experience in the U.S.

This album may be something of an excursion from Los Lobos' expected sound, but those who know the band's music also know that almost any sound they decide to try will be melded into what they already posess. Los Lobos stand as giants above the others, mostly midgets, of American popular music.

This is such a great album. Great rhythms, message and production. Buy it, you'll like it.

Here is the perfume and visuals of the South-west.'Kiko' is to Los Lobos what the Brown album was for The Band. And it has a generosity, a scale, a warmth of compable magnitude, doing for their region what the aforementioned Band disc did for the East coast. The music is at once old and progressive. It's the perfect soundtrack to Sayles,'Lone Star' film,'Three Burials'(though Doug Sham's there and no argument with that), or even,'Big Lebowski'. The side project, Latin Playboys, is for me their only other set of similar impact. But, to continue the Band affinities, it's like 'Stagefright' after those 60s works of genius.

Its hard to say that any album could be the quintessential Los Lobos Album. They have so many different aspects and nuances, it would be impossible to capture them in one album. Kiko comes pretty close to capturing the Lobos' essence though. Songs like Dream In Blue, Angels With Dirty Faces, & Peace showcase the basic Los Lobos "East LA Roots Rock" sound. One of my favorites, Saint Behind The Glass, is a nod to traditional Mexican Music while still maintaining approachability to the non-Latino listener. Rio de Tenampa showcases the band's ability to seamlessly meld Mexican and Country sounds together in one unique package. Every song on here is written and played with great depth and feeling, but none more than the melancholy When The Circus Comes, which I find so emotionally stirring. While this CD has a certain Hispanic flavor, it is a great introductory album to a band that appeals to lovers of all different genres of music including, Latin, Country, Blues, Rock and more!

I've got a half dozen of these guys' albums, most of which are great in their own right, but this is hands down, their absolute best. It got all kinds of accolades when it came out back in 1992. Sometimes, critics go goo-goo-ga-ga over some record, and later you wonder why. That's not the case here. This album has stood the test of time.

They're doing this album live in its entirety in a few cities right now, but there's a chance they'll expand the tour. Not to be missed.

Everyone knows Los Lobos know how to rock, but this album shows their outstanding musicianship in the totally different context of traditional Mexican music. Using only acoustic instruments, they have produced an eminently listenable, smoothly produced and accessible entry point for the everyday listener to get into this rich musical tradition. Whether you are a serious or casual listener, or just want terrific background music for a dinner party, you can't go wrong with this album.

Buy it! Listen to it and love it! Orale!

The first time i heard los lobos was "will the wolf survive" and i thought it was ok, but later i heard "la pistola y el corazon" and thought, "my damn, that is a fine album!" Los Lobos is the tightest band (like they've been together since birth) i've ever heard and this album exhibits their superb musicianship. There is absolutely no filler on this album, every song is beautiful and complements the other songs very well. It is a wonderful blend of up and slow tempo tunes and, personally, the best comes last. The track "la pistola y el corazon," tugs at my emotions everytime i hear it, and even though i don't have command of spanish, the vocals and instrumentation are so expressive that i can easily feel the despair of the singer. The band also did a great job of getting the listener involved in the music by creating an impromptu party experience in some of the songs like when one of the band members shouts "hoi!" in "el canaler" to keep the pace hot. One of the best albums you will ever hear!

In all honesty (and with much regret), it seems that traditional Mexican music is dying out--it is with this in mind that I speak on behalf of this wonderful collection of traditional Mexican music. Los Lobos have certainly outdone themselves with La Pistola y El Corazon, which is an excellent introduction to the traditional sounds of Mexico. Quite a variety of styles are represented on this album, such as the lively "son jarocho" as well as the melancholic "huapango" and the beautifully melodic "vals," all of which are native to Mexico. The Spanish guitar seems to be the main instrument present in the majority of the songs, which is a lovely departure from the popular accordion-dominated "nortena" and "ranchera por accordeon" (little more than nortena with a slight folk influence), both of which are strongly associated with Mexico; interestingly enough, these are relatively new additions to the vast variety of music native to Mexico. The band's version of "Si Yo Quisiera" fits this fold quite nicely and will sound very familiar to perhaps the majority of listeners; I, on the other hand, am not a fan of polka, particularly Mexican polka, marking this song as my least favorite. Even then, there is still much beauty to be found on this release, particularly with the huapango "Amarillas," a very haunting number. The lively and joyful-sounding "Guacamaya" makes the perfect intro, as it invites the listener in to a world of beautiful music. "(Sonajas) Mananitas Michoacanas" bears a striking resembling to Cajun fiddling, and it is genuinely pleasing to listen to. Other than the songs "Si Yo Quisiera" and "Estoy Sentado Aqui" (not a particularly great track, really), every one of these compositions is a masterpiece. The Spanish-influenced guitar solos are also an asset to the album, proving that the members of Los Lobos are extremely talented musicians. To all who read this: this is true Mexican music. Please add this to your collection; you will not regret it.

This album is a must have for the Los Lobos fan. Wonderfully produced and arranged with music from various regions of mexico. Strongly recommended.

These guys have always been one of my favorite live acts and have yet to disappoint me with their albums. To appreciate this CD you have to enjoy their mix of styles which is why I give them a 5. Tthis covers their entire career.

Where does one start with the Los Lobos catalogue? There have been three Los Lobos "Best Of's" (a 4 disc set, a 2 disc set and this single disc) and, although they all give a fair overview of the band, I would suggest that if you are hard-core Los Lobos fan you probably own most of this material already. Los Lobos have been releasing albums now for 30 years and have gone through a number of stylistic changes in this time. They started off as a traditional Mexican music band and have moved through country, blues, atmospheric groove, rock, rock and roll, R&B and pop. What has distinguished them throughout has been superb musicianship, songwriting, lyrics and vocals and an unbending desire to release albums that satisfied the band before a record company. All this has led to many vastly different albums some of which may alienate the casual listener. For example, compare "Will The Wolf Survive" with "KIKO", "La Pistola y el Corazon" with "Colossal Head" or "Papa's Dream" (a superb children's album) with "The Town and the City" and you will see the diversity of the band. This all leads to the difficulty in compiling a definitive "best of" collection for the casual listener. One may love the traditional Mexican stuff but not the hard-core, groove based material or visa versa. Wolf Tracks does a reasonable job of condensing the Los Lobos catalogue into a one disc overview and, as such, is a pretty good place to start. If you like all the music here then I urge you to go get as many albums as you can. However if you like the more accessible material, start with "Will the Wolf Survive" and "By the Light of the Moon" then move forward with care. If you like the rock material, you can't get any better than "The Town and the City" and the previous album, "The Ride". If you like the groove based material, go for "KIKO" and move on from there, including the Latin Playboys albums. Los Lobos have been releasing some of the best American/Mexican roots music available for nye on 30 years and the journey, from start to now, has been exhilirating, if frustrating at times. "Wolf Tracks" is as good a place to start as anywhere and if you do decide to go the journey you will be richly rewarded with some of the finest roots music of the last 30 years.

Really good music, but also get their new stuff. It's so much better.

I had a Los Lobos cassette awhile ago and I misplaced it, so when I saw this disc on Amazon I thought I'd order it to replace it! Boy did I forget how happy their music made me feel! Great music and service, I received my delivery promptly and without any hitch,AND in perfect condition...Thank You all for making this Grandma smile

to help us see just how good these guys are. Makes the miles fly away. What better recommendation can there be?

For everything I would have said, see the review by P. Baker-he literally said everything the way I would have said it.

Buy the album, the songs that are good are worth the price.

The only songs I can stand listening to on this album are Rooney's amazing "Death on Two Legs" and Sum 41's surprisingly good "Killer Queen."

Joss Stone's "Under Pressure" makes me sick.

Hardly the best Queen tribute album out there but some songs are worth listening... I might even dare to say that, in some cases, I enjoyed the cover versions more than the originals. Anyway, here's my 2 cents:

ONE STAR
We are the Champions, Under pressure
To me, the worst songs on the album. The whole soulish innuendos didn't do it to me. The chorus on 'Champions' is supposed to be inspiring, a tour de force if you will. Instead we get a poor, sluggish delivery and that just destroyed the whole vibe. As for, under pressure I skip it everytime it comes up; simply annoying.

TWO STARS
Sleeping on the sidewalk, Stone cold crazy
Didn't care too much for both these songs. Although the vibe on 'Sleeping' is entertaining at best, the song as a whole feels weak. 'Stone' should've been a no-brainer but instead these guys deliver a sluggish and boring version; the stripped the vibe of the original song!

THREE STARS
B.R. by Constantine, Good old fashioned lover boy
Watered down versions of the original songs and too much on the copy-paste side. They sould've taken more chances but it seems that they're lacking in the creativity department. Enjoyable at best.

FOUR STARS
Killer Queen: I was expecting a punk version or a major bomb but instead we get a reigned-in Sum 41. I liked the vibe and my only objection would be that the lack of pre-bends on the guitar solo.

'39: I liked this version better than the original and I think the production was right on the money. A nostalgic song with good vocal arrangements.

Play the game: Nice tune with some tweaks here and there. Didn't depart too much from the original. I liked the guitar-strummed parts at different parts of the song.

Death on two legs: These guys managed to capture the vibe of the original, cleaned it up and added a bit here and there for good measure. A cool song with the right delivery and attitude. Good work!

Tie your mother: A no-brainer vibe-wise and one of the most enjoyable songs of the album.

Crazy little thing called love: Ever wonder what this song would sound if The Cars covered it? Well, this song is not the best answer but there's a definite Cars vibe to it. It starts out slow but then picks up the pace. Thumbs up!

FIVE STARS
B.R. by Flaming Lips: Wow! I really liked the whole Strawberry-fields- forever-kinda-vibe and the arrangements as a whole. Makes the other coer version pale in comparison as far as arrangement and creativity goes. Amazing work!

Fat Bottomed girls: Excellent version! Arguably the best song on the whole album. These girls deliver a cheeky version with some folk vibes and take the song all the way home!

Who wants to live forever: This is a great example on how a cover should be done. These guys adapted the song to suit their style and a result we have a honest, bold and inspired tune. Excellent rendition!

UNDECIDED
Bycicle race: Hmmm... I don't know what to make of this one! It's either a bold, gutsy gem or a bomb. Quite a departure from the original and either the lyrics inspired them to play the cover this unkempt way or they were listening to a lot of Sonic Youth. Listen and decide!

Constantine's version of Bohemian Rhapsody is way too "paint-by-numbers" and dare I say weaker than the original. Just like most of the American Idol covers on TV. The Flaming Lips version is not for the faint of heart. The track could be on any of their albums from the mid-eighties to 1995. It's the Lips doing what they always do.
Joss Stone's cover of Under Pressure on one hand sounds great. On the other hand, the problem in my opinion is her vocals. She doesn't sing the lyrics with the urgency that Freddie did. She glosses right over the lyrics.

If ANYONE can cover a Queen song with the spirit of Freddie Mercury remaining intact, I say more power to them. Having said that, every copy of this absolutely excruciating album should be fired into the sun.

To dignify it with any more extensive kind of review would mean having to subject myself to Jason Mraz's "Limp-Wristed Lover Boy" and Joss Stone's HORRIBLE attempt of "Under Pressure" one more time, and I won't do it.

I have met the Wolves twice, once during a break between shows in Birmingham, and another, longer conversation in Louisville this last July 4, after a ridiculously short set which was part of a riverfront Independence Day festival. This later meeting lasted two plus hours. My family sat in the hotel bar with Conrad, David, and their manager and had some serious heart to heart. My wife and three teenagers all love Los Lobos. My kids are not fans just because I am, they know good stuff, and they know Los Lobos is as good as it gets. Hidalgo chatted with my fiddle-playing daughter, horn playing oldest son, and nascent guitar virtuoso middle boy, sharing space like only musicians do. I was beside myself. I got to buy Los Lobos a beer while my kids and wife enjoyed a long, intimate discussion with them, which ranged wildly. As I would have expected.
I could go on for many pages about the conversation in Louisville. Suffice: they are normal guys who had the luck to have met each other a few decades ago and formed one of the strongest, longest lasting, most productive partnerships in music history. Most brothers do not enjoy such a relationship.

The Town and the City was an enormous effort. Cesar has managed to deal with the loss of his wife, which has restored the band's equilibrium. They put everything into this record, and they are deeply disappointed in the record's reception. Critical response has been almost uniformly positive, but the things has not sold like they hoped. Not that they need the dinero, but they wanted a lot of people to embrace this work. And it has not happened.
This collection is no better than several other Los Lobos records. Which is another way of saying that it is nonpareil American beauty, expressed at the highest possible level of achievement.
So, for God's sake, buy it, and get everyone you know and care about to buy it. We need Los Lobos more than they need us.

This is a great American rock recording. American music is after all a confluence of influences. Among others, think jazz, blues, zydeco, soul and of course rock and roll. Roots music. Here Los Lobos provide us with an extraordinary example of the confluence of influences. The musicianship, song writing and arrangements are beyond reproach.

I spend a fair amount of time looking for the "perfect record." This qualifies. Every time I listen I hear something new--The Town and the Country is a deeply satisfying, beautiful musical experience and the most listenable recording I have heard in many years. Thanks guys.

This is not Los Lobos's best album since Kiko, By the Light of the Moon, Colossal Head, or any other album you care to name. It's their best album ever.

It's similar to Kiko, displaying their mastery of rock'n'roll, blues, Mexican folk music, country, and psychedelia. It differs from Kiko in that the styles are even more melded together, and every track is so sharp and strong my mind is simply boggled.

I had started thinking Los Lobos would never write a song that would relentlessly haunt me (like When The Circus Comes) again. I am gloriously wrong. I've listened to the album four times in two days and I can't tell you which track is the finest. Let me listen to it a couple of hundred times, and I'll get back to you.

After a couple of pretty disappointing albums released in the 1990's Los Lobos returned to form with fine albums such as "Good Morning Aztlan" and "The Ride". The band continues the positive direction with 2006 release "The Town and the City". Though never as adventurous and consistent as their two greatest albums "Kiko" and "The Neighborhood", the album contains lots of great music.

More room is given to the soft melodic side of the band which suits the voice of David Hidalgo so well. Highlights for me are the two Hidalgo ballads "If You Were Only Here Tonight" and "Little Things". Among the harder up-beat track "The Road to Gila Bend" stands out - this song would have fitted nicely into the "Kiko" album.

Key songs, of course, are the two title tracks, "The City" and "The Town". "The City" is both rhytmic and grandiose, lyrically dealing with the alluring night-life of the city. "The Town" deals with the darker side of city life. A great bluesy song that makes a perfect ending to another fine Los Lobos album.

This is their best work yet. Saw them last summer and loved them. They got better with age.

I discovered Los Lobos when I borrowed this album from the library years ago. "will the Wolf Survive" is unforgettable.

I guess one of the main reasons you're reading the reviews is to try and gauge whether or not to buy the album so I'll try make this as brief as possible. THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST ALBUMS EVER MADE. Los Lobos cover many different styles with total excellence. The opener Don't Worry Baby is still probably my favourite Los Lobos track but the rest of the songs are magnificent and brilliantly played. Take the opening to Evangeline and the sax solo on the fantastic I Got Loaded - just great music. Buy this you will never regret it.

I bought this on vinyl in 1985 and it was an instant classic , one of the best albums i'd ever heard.That slab of plastic soon wore out and i've bought it again three times on CD ( friends who loved it got two of them as gifts ).The reason i'm writing this however is to appeal to whoever owns the rights to get this superb album re -released. It's a disgrace that such a brilliant classic has not been Remastered and put out with new sleevenotes , extra tracks etc and given the respect that so many inferior releases by other artists seem to get. Someone sort it out and let this wondrous release have a new lease of life , please !

HOW WILL THE WOLF SURIVE? is the full length debut by LOS LOBOS and boy did they hit the mark here. This album has a full range of music which helps to showcase the bands amazing talents. DONT WORRY BABY and I GOT LOADED have that R&B, slightly bluesy sound to them that makes these some rocking songs. CORRIDO #1 and SERENATA NORTENA have that Tex-Mex rhythms to them that help to showcase the bands Mexican roots. I also suggest that you give a listen to A MATTER OF TIME, WILL THE WOLF SURVIE?, OUR LAST NIGHT, and THE BREAKDOWN. I am really hard pressed to find any weak spots on this album. This is a truly amazing debut album for any type of band, and LOS LOBOS has continued to this day to make great music, which might not sound like what is popular at anytime, but it blows everything else out of the water. I highly suggest to any serious music fan to buy this album. I dont think you will be disappointed, I wasnt. I also recommend that you pick up GOOD MORNING AZTLAN, and THIS TIME. PEACE ESE!!

This terrific mid-80s release is a great place to start if you have not sampled the work of Los Lobos, one of this country's most essential bands. From traditional Mexican folk music to straight-ahead rockers, to outright country the band sounds fresh and free of musical preconceptions.

One of the attractions of "How Will the Wolf Survive" is that it keeps the listener pleasantly off balance throughout. In the first three cuts, for example, they deliver a steaming rocker ("Don't Worry Baby"), a poigant but topical ballad on the hopes and dreams of migrant workers ("Matter of Time") and the Hispanic roots piece "Corrido #1."

Los Lobos pulls off this musical diversity because whatever the play, they remain true to the spirit of the tune. For example, when they take on the C&W tune "Our Last Night," they take you back to the honkey tonk, but they are not mocking the song.

Best of all, the band just sounds like they are having a great time playing. Listen to the sly rocker "The Breakdown" (complete with accordian breaks) and the drinking tune "I Got Loaded" for examples of their exuberant tone and attitude.

Los Lobos continues to this day to show that when you remain open to the musical sources and ideas, you never lack for inspiration. Messrs. Hidalgo, Rosas and company deserve a big round of applause for the tasty smorgasbord they offer up on "How Will the Wolf Survive?"

This set is absolutely blistering! An incredible collection that displays the electric side of the band, with major nods to Jimi as well as many other brilliant artists of the last 60 years. These guys roots are so deep it's scary. On top of it all, they are some of the greatest songwriters around. Sorry to hold back on the praise but this is a set I didn't know I was waiting for.

It's easy with today's technology to do all sorts of studio tricks like overdubbing or fixing mistakes and spending hours on effects to make any hack musician or vocalist sound great. The sign of a REAL good band is a band that can put all the pieces together live at the same time and sound great.
Los Lobos shows in this great, sometimes raw (like Mas y Mas) CD that they really know how to tear a stage up!
Los Lobos has been rocking out for over twenty years and their experience shows in this recording.
This CD really captures the energy The Wolves radiate from the stage during their shows!

Taste and opinion are all relative. I love this band and the sound they produce. Los Lobos digging into the archives is a plus. This is nice hot live set. Enjoy it, if I had to campare to live at the fillmore and chuys tape box, I'd say not as good as Fillmore only because Fillmore has a bit of hard edge and I that's m preference only. I like more than Chuy's but for different reasons. Chuys is great historical Los Lobos but the songs clock a bit fast for me. So this is right in the middle.
All 3 are great choices.

These guys get better and better all the time. The latest in a string of self-released treats for the fans, hot on the heals of "Chuy's Tape Box" and "Acoustic En Vivo".

This is a very diverse selection of live tunes that feature the tasty licks of a top-notch group of musicians. If you've never seen them live, this is a VERY nice representation of the Los Lobos live experience. Buy it now!

My students sing along to this CD as they do art projects. Great versions of Cielito Lindo and others. I love this CD.

In 1987 Los Lobos became worldwide known thanks to the title song
of the movie "la Bamba" inspired in the life of the first hispanic
Rock & Roll star Ritchie Valens who had a big hit with it in 1958/59.
It was Ritchie's idea to record a typical Mexican folk song from Veracruz
and launch it on the market against the will of everybody. It would
become one of the most popular songs ever and recorded by hundreds of
different artists in the past fifty years. Los Lobos' version made it to
number 1 for 3 consecutive weeks. Ten years earlier these guys recorded
a number of traditional Mexican songs like La Bamba called "Just another band
from East L.A." whose original tapes have been recuperated in 2000.
What a treasure! Beautiful songs from ranchera to bolero and from
jarocho to a traditional Bolivian and Cuban song. An incredible band
still making great music today as Los Lobos or taking part in projects or groups
like the wonderful Los Super Seven.

This album consists of all tradional-style songs, which were recorded before the band's rise to fame. Songs showcase the incredible talent of Los Lobos, making what is kinda cheesy music sound really cool. I also recomend "This Time", a little more garage rock influenced, but also with some folk-songs on it.

Without a doubt this collection of Los Lobos
songs are fabulous. I have given this CD to family and friends
and their reaction was the same as mine.
If you grew up in or near a Mexican neighborhood this
music will touch your soul!!!

This is a must have for not only Los Lobos fans but those somewhat interested in their music. This album contains truly classic Mexican traditional songs that I used to hear as a child at family gatherings and continue to hear to this day with much pride and honor ! The guitar/acoustical arrangements are truly flawless and crisp. The rhythms are highly infectious and the melodies will stay with the listener long after the fiesta is over or the cd player stops ! Sabor A Mi is a timeless romantic bolero interpreted over the decades by other Latino artists (Trio Los Panchos come to mind). Here The Lobos do the song much justice with their perfect rendition. Guitars never sounded so awesome ! Yes, the Spanish language is beautiful (even if some listeners don't understand it). It's the music and harmonic vocals tht should captivate (and do) regardless of any language...

I always thought Los Lobos peaked relatively early with Kiko, but after a binge of relistening, I now believe the even earlier "By the Light of the Moon" is their true masterpiece. It's beautiful, it's funny, it rocks, it makes you cry. The guitar work on the cinematic numbers "One Time One Night" and "Tears of God" is exquisite. They give us tight-rocking blues in songs like "Shakin' Shakin' Shakes" and "Set Me Free Rosa Lee." This album exudes the confidence of a band with nothing to prove, no hipster rock critics to placate, a clear sense of its identity as a unique melder of Latino, rock, blues and folk sounds. The lyrics are miniature portraits that expand in the mind to represent America in microcosm. As Los Lobos progressed, they continued and continue to make great music, but I think "Kiko" made them self-conscious, made them strive for sounds and meanings that sometimes eluded them. But on "By the Light of the Moon," Los Lobos lets the music come to them. That's why it endures.

This album came out right before "La Bamba" made Los Lobos a household name briefly in 1987. Unfortunately, in all the hubbub over that #1 song, their album got lost along the way, and underperformed commercially. Thus, many people missed a brilliant album with no weak spots anywhere. I have had this cassette since 1987, and am patiently waiting for the band to have Rhino remaster their first few albums. The originals sound pretty good still, but hearing amazing songs like "River of Fools" and "One Time One Night" in glorious Rhinophonic sound would be to die for. For those who want to get this now, find a used CD copy at your local store and hear the sound of a band that has few rivals in American music history.

Mixing a bit of Tex-Mex with that Old-Time Rock & Roll, Los Lobos keep you tapping your toes, singing along or getting out of your chair to dance. Even the potentially somber "Is This All There Is" is a real sing-along cheerful number. "Shakin' Shakin' Shakes" delivers exactly what the title promises. "All I Wanted to Do Was Dance" moves you to do just that, dance with the guys. "The Hardest Time," nominally a sad ballad, is a tuneful cut that'll get your fingers moving. You'd expect a song called "Tears of God" to be mournful, but you'll find yourself humming harmonies along with its optimistic energy. When they sing "My Baby's Gone," an up-tempo blues, they sound HAPPY about it! In fact, that's the main thing about this whole album: it's got a HAPPY mood. Not a downer on it. There aren't many albums that are just plain good-time music, fun to listen to. This is one of them. These guys are enjoying themselves, and it's infectious. I love it.

BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON by LOS LOBOS is another gem that this group has turned out. LOS LOBOS are a great band that has the ability to combine all of their musical influences together and make great sounding songs. PRENDA DEL ALMA shows the band digging into their Mexican heritage and belting out a traditional song, which is just a beautiful song. This album is a good rocking song that has some standout tunes on it. Listen to the songs ONE TIME ONE NIGHT, SHAKIN SHAKIN SHAKES, ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS DANCE, ROSA LEE(SET ME FREE), THE HARDEST TIME, RIVER OF FOOLS, THE MESS WE'RE IN, and TEARS OF GOD. Actually every song on the album is good, I cant think of any low points. All of the songs have some killer melodies to them and I think that you will enjoy this album. PEACE, ESE

I am listening to "BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON" right now.This CD is probably my favorite by Los Lobos.What a great band they are!I'm not gonna go through their songs one by one.I'm just gonna tell people they will not be disappointed in any CD by Los Lobos.I don't listen to words very much.Just the music.And the music is awesome!