a must-have for anyone who loves the sound of unaffected, basic guitar rock reminiscent of the Ventures and your favorite garage rock band. Adventurous, ambitious, and totally satisfying, the band takes on "Jingle Bell Rock" (making its guitars ring like a Byrds-fest) and a host of other chestnuts from "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" to the "La Bamba"-framed workout of "Feliz Navidad." Even the band's own "Christmas in Las Vegas" has those classic jingle-jangle guitar hooks that make this record a perennial holiday hit. -- Martin Keller  (less)

past albums, handled mixing duties. The album partially reflects the East Los Angeles roots-rockers' experience as de facto immigrants in their own country, as well as unease with the current political situation in the land. The band is currently on an open-ended touring schedule, which is typical of their roadwork.  (less)

Diaz , this unit lights it up with a fiery, Earth, Wind and Fire-style horn section, rap-friendly vocals, and killer Afro-Cuban percussion. Aside from a spirited update of the Aldalberto Alvarez classic cha cha cha , "A Bayamo en Coche," the selections are original compositions with a dancing agenda, including the title track, the infectious descarga "Manos Pa'rriba," and the Weather Report-like sound of "Ven a Bailar." All told, this disc is an excellent follow-up to their 2005 effort, Arroz Con Mango . With larger recording budgets and even more expansive musical vistas, who knows how far this band will go. -- Eugene Holley, Jr.  (less)

signed the band to his label Luaka Bop, which in turned opened international doors for the group, helped them expand their sound, and helped establish them in the dance music scene. On this album, they enlisted a variety of special guests from Jorge Gonzalez (of Chilean rock legends Los Prisioneros) to Mexican songstress Natalia Lafourcade. Their most accessible work yet.  (less)

their most remarkable albums to date. Features 13 tracks of future vintage sounds straight from planet Straitjacket. Each CD package includes exclusive trading cards featuring the secret identities of Los Straitjackets along with information on their superhuman characteristics. Comic book panels detailing the adventures of LS provide clues to how the heroes acquired their now legendary powers. With well over a decade of experience under their utility belts, the instrumental rockers 14th album finds the band in classic form. Do not succumb to the evil temptations of mediocrity and check out Los Straitjackets' amazing journey to save the world one riff at a time!  (less)

succeeds by pairing the group with a string of collaborators similar to Carlos Santana's Supernatural . Only instead of the young hit-makers that propelled Santana's comeback, The Ride matches Los Lobos with early influences (Bobby Womack, Little Willie G) and long-time friends (Dave Alvin, Elvis Costello). The experimentalism that fueled 1992's Kiko can be found here on a couple of tracks--most notably "Kitate," a deliriously wiggy collaboration with Tom Waits and Martha Gonzales of Quetzal--but generally the focus is on blues, soul, and roots rock. Surprisingly, some of the strongest performances are new versions of songs previously recorded by Lobos: Costello helps the band re-invent "Matter of Time" as a piano and pedal-steel guitar ballad; Mavis Staples turns...  (less)

album is perfectly suited to Top 40, Spanish and adult-contemporary radio--all at the same time. At times tracks such as "Onda" and "Dime Mi Amor" recall 1970s-era Santana, but the Boys are at their best on "Heaven," the feel-good first single, and "La Contestacion," a yearning ballad matched by pleading instrumentation. As a bonus, this Special Edition includes Spanish versions of "Heaven" and "More Than Love," but the real highlight is a Southern-fried take on Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line." That the boys manage to make the classic song their own is no small feat. There's also a DVD featuring thoughtful live performances and music videos that offer a glimpse of the Boys in action. --Joey Guerra  (less)