Any thoughts on the new Los Lobos album? hal? I'm curious what you all think. I like it plenty, though not so much as I loved 2002's _Good Morning Aztlan_.

I never cease to be amazed at their staying power. From 1988's _How Will The Wolf Survive?_ to 1992's _Kiko_ to today, we're talking about over twenty years of great work with a pretty consistent line up.

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LinnTate, now this is scary, and maybe I'm too out of it to know, but i turned hal on to Los Lobos (si o no, mania?) We have this setup where I buy things, and he buys things, and we get together periodically, so although I've gotten every Los Lobos album before up front, I haven't heard this. Can't wait until June 28. If you haven't done so, LinnTate, please check out my Plugz comments after your response to favorite rock soundtracks. Later, Gator

The other thing, LT, is that to discuss a super-cool band like Los Lobos, we have to go to some un-hip place like "mainstream rock", although they're really more roots/ neoclassic (ooh, I like the sound of that) rock, but no such place exists. There was a time during your, mine and hal's life when a band this awesome would be mainstream, but now all the sell-out radio- and tv-stations have to appeal to the lowest-common denominator, aka shi-i-ite, no offense to any non-violent Muslims. L,G.

In a weird and wonderful parallel universe, Los Lobos occupy an honored place in everybody's hearts and radios, instead of bumping along from label to label.

In the same weird and wonderful parallel universe, the Alvin brothers get along better and The Blasters never broke up.

Have you heard the Los Lonely Boys album from last year? Sony picked it up this year, so it's getting some big money promotion along the lines of "a fresh, new sound." I gave it a shot, but it doesn't do much for me. It would be too harsh to call them a second rate Los Lobos, but I am a bit puzzled as to why it's received some critical accolades for being such a stunning debut, when Los Lobos is already doing the same thing, better.

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