Native Sons

Chronique

A covers project like Native Sons would under most circumstances be little more than a placeholder. But standard assumptions do not apply when talking about Los Lobos, perhaps the finest and longest-lived American roots assemblage in popular music history. From their big hit cover of Ritchie Valens's immortal, "La Bamba" (recorded for the 1987 Valens biopic of the same name) to the exquisite art rock of their 1992 masterpiece Kiko, this quintet (four of the five members been playing together since high school), are seasoned interpreters who can, cliched as it sounds, literally master any tune from any genre and best of all—still find a lot of joy in doing it. Six years after their last album, Gates of Gold, David Hidalgo, Cesar Rosas, Conrad Lozano, Louie Pérez, Jr., and Steve Berlin decided to pay tribute to the Southern California musical roots that have influenced their journey. Sounding revitalized by the experience, they look all the way back to when they played weddings and closed out long nights with the sentimental Chicano soul classic, "Where Lovers Go." Being city boys, they were also attuned to garage rock and here give a rousing rendition of "Farmer John" an early guitar band classic written by Don Terry and Dewey Harris but made famous in 1964 by L.A. garage band, The Premiers. After Rosas makes a flavorful pass through "Dichoso," first done by Willie Bobo in 1966, the '70s are represented by two of Stephen Stills' Buffalo Springfield compositions: "Bluebird" and the emblematic "For What It's Worth." A strummy, dreamy take of "Jamaica Say You Will" with David Hidalgo's amazing vocals leading the way pays tribute to singer/songwriter Jackson Browne. The band finds a creative way to deal with the unavoidable legacy of The Beach Boys by covering "Sail On, Sailor," where David Hidalgo, Jr. plays drums and his father delivers a typical knockout vocal performance. The other looming presence for a band from East L.A. is War, and "The World is a Ghetto," with Conrad's son Jason Lozano on drums, highlights fresh angles thanks to vocals by Rosas, Hidalgo and special guest Little Willie G who was the singer on the original. Finally, in the album's only original, Perez and Hidalgo, the band's longtime songwriting team, salute their Los Angeles home in the easygoing title track. Although it's a term that should be used judiciously if at all, Los Lobos are truly an American treasure, a band whose enduring chemistry, multi-dimensional musical talents and heartfelt instincts are unfailing and irreplaceable. © Robert Baird/Qobuz