Native Sons
Studio album by
Los Lobos
Released2021
LabelNew West[1]
ProducerSteve Berlin
Los Lobos chronology
Llegó Navidad
(2019) 		Native Sons
(2021)

Native Sons is an album by the American band Los Lobos, released in 2021.[2][3] Except for one track, it is a covers album, dedicated to music from Los Angeles.[4]

The album peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's Americana/Folk Albums chart.[5] It won a 2022 Grammy Award in the Best Americana Album category.[6][7]

Production

The album was produced by Steve Berlin.[8] It was recorded during the band's longest break from touring in 20 years.[9] The title track is the only original composition.[10] "Love Special Delivery" was originally by Thee Midniters, and was one of the first hit rock songs by a Chicano band.[11] "The World Is a Ghetto", by War, was the band's favorite cover to record.[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Philadelphia Daily News[4]
Pitchfork7.2/10[14]
Winnipeg Free Press

AllMusic deemed the album "essential listening from one of America's greatest bands," writing that Los Lobos make the songs their own "with the imagination, spirit, and commitment of their performances, not to mention their impressive chops and the incredible feel that comes from more than four decades of working together."[13] The Star Tribune concluded that it "is a testament to how Los Lobos themselves are as richly varied as the city and borderland territory that birthed them."[15] The Mercury News praised the cover of "Sail On, Sailor".[16]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
1."Love Special Delivery"Jimmy Espinoza / William GarciaThee Midniters (1966)2:22
2."Misery"Barrett StrongBarrett Strong (1961)2:32
3."Bluebird"Stephen StillsBuffalo Springfield (1967)3:07
4."For What It's Worth"Stephen StillsBuffalo Springfield (1966)3:29
5."Los Chucos Suaves"Lalo GuerreroLalo Guerrero (1940s)3:26
6."Jamaica Say You Will"Jackson BrowneJackson Browne (1972)3:16
7."Never No More"Percy Mayfield / Don MalonePercy Mayfield (1962)2:36
8."Native Son"David Hidalgo / Louie PérezLos Lobos3:10
9."Farmer John"Don Harris / Dewey TerryDon and Dewey (1959)2:29
10."Dichoso"Nick JimenezWillie Bobo (1966)3:36
11."Sail On, Sailor"
The Beach Boys (1972)3:20
12."The World Is a Ghetto"War
  • Papa Dee Allen
  • Harold Brown
  • B.B. Dickerson
  • Lonnie Jordan
  • Charles Miller
  • Lee Oskar
  • Howard Scott
War (1972)8:33
13."Flat Top Joint"Dave AlvinThe Blasters (1980)2:51
14."Where Lovers Go"Mario PaniaguaThe Jaguars (1965)4:32

References

  1. ^ Meagher, John (August 14, 2021). "Los Lobos Native Sons". Belfast Telegraph. Review. p. 13.
  2. ^ "Los Lobos Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Robinson, Lynne (June 30, 2021). "Summer music is back!". Taos News. Music.
  4. ^ a b Cristiano, Nick (August 15, 2021). "New Recordings". Philadelphia Daily News. p. D5.
  5. ^ "Los Lobos". Billboard.
  6. ^ "2022 Grammys Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominations List". grammy.com. April 3, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  7. ^ "Los Lobos". grammy.com. Recording Academy. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  8. ^ Sculley, Alan (September 17, 2021). "Keep rolling on". The Morning Call. p. A21.
  9. ^ Roberts, Randall (August 22, 2021). "Instead of calling it quits, they made an album". The Baltimore Sun. Los Angeles Times. p. E5.
  10. ^ Junior, Chris M. (September 2021). "Los Angeles State of Mind". Goldmine. 47 (9): 22–24.
  11. ^ Corn, David (July 8, 2021). "Los Lobos Celebrates Its LA Roots With a Tribute to Jackson Browne". Mother Jones. Music.
  12. ^ Ruggiero, Bob (July 23, 2021). "Los Lobos Pay Tribute to Hometown Music on Native Sons". Houston Press. Concerts.
  13. ^ a b "Native Sons - Los Lobos | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  14. ^ "Los Lobos: Native Sons". Pitchfork.
  15. ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (February 7, 2022). "The wolves survive". Star Tribune. p. E1.
  16. ^ Harrington, Jim (July 1, 2021). "Good Times". The Mercury News. p. G3.
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