aaamusic | On 29, Jun 2010

The multi-platinum selling Los Lobos return with Tin Can Trust, a typically unique and brilliantly accomplished album of Mexican-influenced rock, country and blues recorded in East L.A. during the spring of 2010.  Featuring ten new original compositions and a track co-written with the Grateful Dead’s Robert Hunter, Tin Can Trust sees Los Lobos at the top of their game, sounding revitalized and better than ever.

Los Lobos reached global fame with their 1987 smash hit La Bamba, a track that is still hugely popular today, and the band’s fearless combination of genres led them to become known as one of the most experimental mainstream bands of the ‘80s.  Over the course of their career they have shared the studio and stage with acts as varied as Dylan, Bobby Womack, Tom Waits, The Clash, Elvis Costello and U2, winning three Grammy awards along the way, including Best Instrumental Pop Performance for their evocative soundtrack to Robert Rodriguez’s film Desperado.

The songs on Tin Can Trust were all recorded together by the full band in the studio, giving the album a cohesive, live feel and capturing the vibrant essence that has made Los Lobos so popular over the years.  Most of the tracks were written by Louie Perez and David Hidalgo, but again, the shared input of the whole band resulted in a united sound that ties the album together; Yo Canto and Mujer Ingrata were written by Cesar Rosas, and All My Bridges Burning was co-written by Rosas and the Grateful Dead’s Robert Hunter.  Los Lobos go back a long way with the Grateful Dead, having appeared with them on stage, and Hunter and Rosas have written together before.  The Dead’s West L.A. Fadeaway is a band favourite, and after playing it live over time, the band felt it was the right time to put it down on tape.

Tin Can Trust shows Los Lobos doing what they do best, performing a solid set of well-structured numbers that take in a range of influences without ever losing sight of the band’s essential identity – rootsy, gutsy tunes are infused with a heavy dose of authentic Chicano flavour, and in keeping with both their musical and cultural heritage the album includes two new Spanish language songs, Yo Canto (a Columbian cumbia tune), and Mujer Ingrata (a traditionally Mexican norteño).

A huge part of Los Lobos’ appeal is their song writing – Burn It Down’s driving bluesy feel, complimented by Susan Tedeschi’s vocals, kicks off the album with a bang, The Lady Of The Rose and Jupiter Or The Moon pull sweetly on the heartstrings, On Main Street offers an homage to the simple pleasures of life, and the album’s title track deals with the hard times faced by people all over the world but reminds us that ultimately, love triumphs over money.

Los Lobos have undoubtedly retained the edge that has endeared them to millions of fans across the world, but Tin Can Trust shows us a band that have put their years of experience into reinvigorating and refining their winning sound.  “We’re blessed to have had this career and been doing this as long as we have,” says Steve Berlin, summing up.  “Every record feels like the first one, we’re starting from zero and trying to do the best we can…always trying to break new ground.”

Tin Can trust will be released on Proper Records on August 9^th 2010. CD PRPCD065 and 2LP Set (on 180 gm vinyl) PRPLP065.

Los Lobos are:

David Hidalgo – vocals, guitar, accordion, fiddle, requinto jarocho
Louie Perez – vocals, guitar, drums, jarana huasteca
Cesar Rosas – vocals, guitar, bajo sexton
Conrad Lozano – vocals, bass, guitarrón
Steve Berlin – vocals, sax, keyboards, percussion

Tin Can Trust

Track Listing:

1 – Burn It Down
2 – On Main Street
3 – Yo Canto
4 – Tin Can Trust
5 – Jupiter Or The Moon
6 – Do The Murray
7 – All My Bridges Burning
8 – West L.A. Fadeaway
9 – The Lady Of The Rose
10 – Mujer Ingrata
11 – 27 Spanishes

UK Dates

2^nd July – Hop Farm Festival