Customer Reviews

Super Seven

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the music of my childhood listening to my grandfather and his friends on warm summer evenings play on battered instruments, some as old as they, the music of their youth; cigarette smoke hanging still over the group, a bottle of tequila passing from lip to lip.

Then, in my teenage know-it-all, I sometimes cringed and whinced at the aged men playing "that Mexican Revolution stuff," now I weep at the lost time, hoping to hear, to FEEL that music again. And here it is.

Freddie Fender has never sounded better (I swear I hear my grandfather in his voice), Flaco Jimenez has never played sweeter, Joe Ely never sounded as soulful. The same holds true for Ruben Ramos and Rick Trevino. The men from Los Lobos, David Hidalgo and Cesar Ramos never more beautiful and passionate.

This collection of traditional pieces from South of the border, coupled with original songs from the various Super Seven, will have you tapping your feet, smiling, wondering where you heard that one before and yes, crying.

This collection would make my beloved ancestors holler and sing, and play till the morning comes.

I came upon this work late and I regret that, being a long time fan of Los Lobos. I can't begin to say how wonderful this music is. It covers alot of ground and it is all done so well. If you love Latino music you'll love this. It has made me thirsty for more. I have both LS7 CD's and I suppose I like this one a little more but what I've done is burn a compilation of my favorite songs from both and I play it all the time. Buy this music!!

A rare collaboration featuring David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos, Joe Ely, Freddy Fender, Flaco Jimenez, Ruben Ramos and country star Rick Trevino, each artist contributes their unique vision to create this Mexican masterpiece. The acoustic instruments and enchanting voices take the listener back to the days when music was pure and powerful. Joe Ely's rendition of Woody Guthrie's "Deportees" reminds us of the struggles of migrant workers that we still see decades after this song was written. Hidalgo's "La Sirena" can only be described as pure magic. When combined with the talent of younger artists, Freddy Fender, Ruben Ramos, and Flaco Jimenez truely show us that this musical heritage will continue. After seeing one of two rare club appearances and a late-night television performance I feel very privileged to have experienced such an uncommon event. A portion of the proceeds from this album will go to support the National Council of La Raza.

Exciting, dynamic, rootsy and full of heart and soul, Los Super Seven deliver a gorgeous mix of traditional songs and bluesy roots music, rarely heard in today's overcommercialized, overproduced programmed music. Los Super Seven's work here seems like the musicians' attempt to reconnect again with their rich cultural past. San Antonio Express-News critic Ramiro Burr called them an "all-star Mexican-American studio band" in his incredible new encyclopedia "The Billboard Guide to Tejano and regional Mexican Music." And that's exactly what they are. They are also an American treasure. Los Super Seven band, and this CD and the Billboard book are a wonderful way for gringos and non-latinos to get to learn this rich music.

i'll keep this short and will avoid hyperboly. it's a really good album.

yes, produced, clean, but not toothless by any means. and you can hear the fun they're all having in the studio during some of the solos. whenever i hear that crystal beautiful voice on 'mi ranchito' i just have to roll down my car windows and howl along. [i've kind of half figured out a harmony where i can reach most of the notes.]

no point comparing it to 'la pistola y el corazon,' nor to their other side projects [latin playboys]. each is different and usually wonderful. but you can always count on los lobos to make their music interesting, thinking and somehow kindly. --sk

I bought this based solely on the appearance I saw of the SuperSeven on Austin City Limits. And pretty much on the basis of the total infectiousness of the song El Canero which will not get out of your head ever and is great on the car speakers particularly.

I know everybody calls this music and the artists who sing it "tex-mex"
or "conjunto music". On other occasions this may be right f.e. The Texas
Tornados, Los Lobos etc. but this wonderful CD - except for 2 songs -
is 100% traditional Mexican music varying from huapango to bolero,
from norteño to jarocho. No one would say after listening to it
that all these 7 musicians, except one, were North American born citizens
although of mexican origin.I would like to render my respects especially to
the late Freddy Fender who passed away only 3 weeks ago.
One day before he died I reviewed his "La música de Baldemar Huerta" CD and
rated it with 5 stars because you can't give 6! Quite a surprise to find out
he also participated with the Super Seven besides his incredible contribution
to the Texas Tornados.
He started out as the Be-Bop Kid, then became a C&W star and
ended up being probably the best and most important contributor to the
Mexican-American music blends.
Besides the mentioned "Baldemar Huerta" CD, this Super Seven gathering
is without any doubt one of the nicest CD's of my 45 years record buying history!

I love this CD. It combines an interesting mix of artists whose music together or individually is great. The ballads are wonderful and the whole cd is wonderful to listen to. I would recommend it highly!

I got this on the basis of the reviewers and I gotta say, this is a wonderful addition to my collection. I just want to get off my..;) and dance! I feel my Mexicana sangre just boiling and usually do end up shaking it!

I really love this CD, but I have to say that the Los Lobos album La Pistola...is the better of the two. My only beef with Los Super Seven is it seems a little over-produced, but I like the variety for the most part.

So...Buy both, just buy La Pistola first!