You gotta wonder what Los Lobos thinks of this whole Latin music explosion, since they've been recording Spanish music since the early '80s. "Cumbia Raza," "Corazon," and "La Playa" all have a Latin sound...but This Time also marks the third collaboration between the band and producers Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake, so you know you're in for some sonic experimentation here. And something a lot darker than "Livin' La Vida Loca."
Blues and soul, the other forms Lobos have always delivered so well, get the same weird studio tweakings. The title track opens the CD with a strange mutated variation on a Marvin Gaye groove, before "Oh, Yeah" gives us blues with a nod to the way Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart gave us blues. "Viking" and "High Plains" then up the ante with the same approach melded into a hard rock psychedelia. Think: Hendrix guitars.
This Time is true eclectic magic--and only seemingly less brilliant than the beautiful Kiko 'cause after Colossal Head, it's now not as surprising coming from this terrific crew.
