High Bias Review of T&C

That Los Lobos has been a functioning band for over three decades is remarkable in itself. That the East L.A. combo continues to put out quality music after so long is nothing short of miraculous, especially in rock & roll. (Just ask the Rolling Stones, who’ve been creatively bankrupt for as long as Lobos has been around.) A song cycle of sorts concerning the immigrant experience in a democracy in turmoil, The Town and the City is a typically eclectic journey through the band’s artistic vision. Blues (“Two Dogs and a Bone”), frontier rock (“The Road to Gila Bend”), Latin excursions (“No Puedo Mas,” “Chuco’s Cumbia”), quirky R&B (“Free Up,” “Don’t Ask Why”) and ethereal avant-garde pop (“The Town,” “The City”) fit comfortably side-by-side, held together by the force of the group’s distinct personality. The band’s self-production strikes a balance between earthy and ambient, reminiscent of the group’s experimental masterpiece Kiko, though there’s a less risky vibe here. There’s none of the band’s ass-kicking rock & roll, alas, but otherwise The Town and the City deftly showcases the many strengths of Los Lobos.
Michael Toland