It would be stretching credulity beyond breaking point to conceive of the idea that anyone reading this present music website does not know who Los Lobos are. Forty eight years into their career the band return with a new album ‘Native Sons‘ which is out on July 30th. It brings their usual mix of rock-and-roll and R&B, surf music and soul, mariachi and música norteña, punk rock and country to make a musical blend that could only come together in the bands hometown LA. ‘Native Sons‘ serves to emphasize this, as the title track is the only original on the album – the rest of the tracks are covers, like ‘Misery‘, which was originally recorded by Motown Maestro Barrett Strong. What’s the LA connection there? Well, Los Lobos commented on the song that “Los Lobos carries the straightforward minor blues romp into a new era, navigating its howling plea to heartbreak with shuffling guitars and smooth, warm rhythms, as only they can.” Whilst Los Lobos frontman David Hidalgo has stated that “this is probably one of my favourite songs on the album. Barrett moved to L.A. when Motown did.”
