Los Lobos La Pistola Y El Corazon CD

Live Recording

Los Lobos: David Hidalgo (vocals, nylon-string guitar, guitarra, violin, accordion); Cesar Rosas (vocals, nylon-string guitar); Conrad Lozano (guitarron, upright bass); Steve Berlin (saxophone); Louie Perez (drums, percussion).
Los Lobos used the commercial breakthrough represented by La Bamba to turn to their first love, Mexican folk music, and recorded this excellent collection of norteño songs. If this is a band that seems to do too many things well, in a sense they are at their best when they narrow their focus, and they are certainly masters of their style here. ~ William Ruhlmann
The surprise success of the LA BAMBA soundtrack and Los Lobos' version of the title song threw the band for a bit of a loop. Faced with the prospect of becoming known for only one facet of their much broader-based work, they took an important turn with LA PISTOLA Y EL CORAZON. The collection draws heavily upon the group's heritage of traditional Mexican music. Far from being a staid museum-piece, this album rocks with the same verve Los Lobos brought to their more traditionally rock & roll-based releases (all of which were an intriguing hybrid of the band's deep cultural past and their American upbringing). Played on acoustic instruments, their love and understanding of this music is complete and infectious. Even if for those who don't understand Spanish, the effect is by turns evocative, celebratory and romantic.

Spin (1/89, pp.68-69) - "...Their approach is nominally folkloric....they use what they have to evoke the heart of this music of their parent's immigrant experience..."
Stereo Review - Performance "Exquisite" / Recording "Very good"