Kiko

Amazon.com essential recording

After their hit remake of "La Bamba," Los Lobos could easily have settled into the lazy, provincial groove of hometown heroes. But with producer Mitchell Froom's encouragement, the pride of East L.A. exploded all conventions on their one true masterwork. Their Latin roots are obvious, and so is their encyclopedic knowledge of American blues, rock, and soul. But they don't stop there, tossing South African mbaqanga into the mix of "Wake Up Delores," and fearlessly experimenting every step along the way. The more you listen, the more you marvel that the band fit so many weird, wonderful sounds into songs with deep roots in the past but perfectly suited for the future. --Keith Moerer