Unlike most bands in their second decade of recording,
Los Lobos gets more daring and diverse as they get older, creating sonic landscapes that are based in their justly celebrated
roots rock but twisting off into wild, unexpected directions. Colossal Head is their most adventurous work to date, building on the moody, atmospheric Kiko without losing sight of their gritty
blues roots. While it certainly shows signs of
David Hidalgo's
lo-fi,
experimental Latin Playboys project, the album isn't merely an exercise in sound.
Los Lobos applies their broad musical palette to a set of tightly written, inventive songs that may not be as immediate as their past work, but are no less melodic and rewarding. Instead of running through a number of different genres on each individual song, they make a dream-like sonic collage that draws from
jazz,
funk, and
avant-garde as much as their traditional rock,
r&b,
latin, and
blues. What keeps Colossal Head from drifting off into space is
Los Lobos' love of American musical traditions. Not only have they mastered their influences, they have fully assimilated them into their sound, creating their own, unique music. And that's far more interesting than simply regurgitating the same
blues, rock, Mexican, and
country licks. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
