Customer Reviews

Wolf Tracks: Best of Los Lobos

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

 

 

Where does one start with the Los Lobos catalogue? There have been three Los Lobos "Best Of's" (a 4 disc set, a 2 disc set and this single disc) and, although they all give a fair overview of the band, I would suggest that if you are hard-core Los Lobos fan you probably own most of this material already. Los Lobos have been releasing albums now for 30 years and have gone through a number of stylistic changes in this time. They started off as a traditional Mexican music band and have moved through country, blues, atmospheric groove, rock, rock and roll, R&B and pop. What has distinguished them throughout has been superb musicianship, songwriting, lyrics and vocals and an unbending desire to release albums that satisfied the band before a record company. All this has led to many vastly different albums some of which may alienate the casual listener. For example, compare "Will The Wolf Survive" with "KIKO", "La Pistola y el Corazon" with "Colossal Head" or "Papa's Dream" (a superb children's album) with "The Town and the City" and you will see the diversity of the band. This all leads to the difficulty in compiling a definitive "best of" collection for the casual listener. One may love the traditional Mexican stuff but not the hard-core, groove based material or visa versa. Wolf Tracks does a reasonable job of condensing the Los Lobos catalogue into a one disc overview and, as such, is a pretty good place to start. If you like all the music here then I urge you to go get as many albums as you can. However if you like the more accessible material, start with "Will the Wolf Survive" and "By the Light of the Moon" then move forward with care. If you like the rock material, you can't get any better than "The Town and the City" and the previous album, "The Ride". If you like the groove based material, go for "KIKO" and move on from there, including the Latin Playboys albums. Los Lobos have been releasing some of the best American/Mexican roots music available for nye on 30 years and the journey, from start to now, has been exhilirating, if frustrating at times. "Wolf Tracks" is as good a place to start as anywhere and if you do decide to go the journey you will be richly rewarded with some of the finest roots music of the last 30 years.

... but, essentially this is the third retread of the same canon - Live at The Fillmore, Acoustic en vivos, and now this. It's a slightly better compilation than the other two, but, the wolves have a bit of Costello-itis: retread the same stuff ad nauseum. It doesn't sound particularly remastered.
I, for one, wish they would release some of the really amazing sets I have heard from them (The Fillmore doesn't make the cut). For example, their set at the Philadelphia Folk Festival some years back was maybe the best 45 minutes of live music I have ever heard, and closed with an incendiary take on Neil Young's "Cowgirl In the Sand," over the protestations of the numb-skull mc of that festival. I'm sure you would find it interesting hearing an audience boo a moron who was intruding off the stage - it just leant an extra edge to the whole set. Best part was they wound it up with a segue into "Cinnamon Girl" that exceeded their alotted time considerably. It's great to see control freaks swallow their tongues and reenforces the delicious subversiveness that rock can foster.
None of that is on offer here. Still, if you have not purchased either of the last two live discs, then skip them and buy this, and hope that if LL can't figure out what to do next, perhaps they'll mine their live catalogue for some remarkable shows.

Isn't this the spirit of what America should be? Understanding, tolerance and melding, not building fences, work cards and vigilante militias. Isn't that what America was supposed to be to begin with? Los Lobos have always embodied that ideal musically. Tejano, Norteno, folk music (both American and Mexican), Blues, Rock and Roll, R&B, Country etc. etc.
This "Best Of" is a pretty good grouping, but, as many people have said, it's hard to really compile a best of by a band that so prolifically releases quality music like Los Lobos. I've never heard a "filler" track by this band on any album. It shows that they take a lot of pride and musicianship in what they release. I suppose that "Wolf Tracks" should be considered an "Intro", rather than "Best Of". It's a good place for anyone interested to start. A lot of good music, and only a taste really. The new track, "Border Town Girl" is really a great, high energy, blues/boogie, worth buying the album for alone, one of my favorite Los Lobos songs ever.
I suspect if you're interested in the band at all, you'll love pretty much everything they've done, and so, wont regret spending the dollars for this. Buy it, download it, burn it for your friends. Enjoy.

La Bamba...fabulous!! One time one night in AMerica...Love this cd...if you like old Los Lobos original songs get this cd!

to help us see just how good these guys are. Makes the miles fly away. What better recommendation can there be?

These guys have always been one of my favorite live acts and have yet to disappoint me with their albums. To appreciate this CD you have to enjoy their mix of styles which is why I give them a 5. Tthis covers their entire career.

I had a Los Lobos cassette awhile ago and I misplaced it, so when I saw this disc on Amazon I thought I'd order it to replace it! Boy did I forget how happy their music made me feel! Great music and service, I received my delivery promptly and without any hitch,AND in perfect condition...Thank You all for making this Grandma smile

Really good music, but also get their new stuff. It's so much better.