Armed with blissed-out noise toys and roots pop galore, the howling This Time by Los Lobos merges U.S.-made heartland rock while paying homage to Latin folk traditions. The swinging doo-wop of “Why We Wish” honours their idol Ritchie Valens’ rockabilly approach. A feat of versatility, the nylon guitar staccato of “La Playa”—accentuated by offbeat, distorted strums over psych-leaning pan flutes—is a trance-inducing Caribbean-style beach party, while the smouldering son Cubano of “Corazón” is built for seduction on the dance floor.
- 2021