Los Lonely Boys

Few artists in any genre have inspired as many uninspired imitators as Stevie Ray Vaughan. But among the innumerable knockoffs to come along in the Texas blues icon's wake, Los Lonely Boys distinguish themselves by merit of tight blood-brother harmonies, a pinch of Latin spice, and an infectious enthusiasm for the form. The pride of sleepy San Angelo, TX, Garza brothers Henry (guitar), JoJo (bass), and Ringo (drums, natch) didn't have anything new to say (sample lyric: "Our love is deeper than any ocean/My heart is pounding with real emotions") on their self-titled, bilingual debut, but the passion at play is as undeniable as their vocal and instrumental chops. Predictably, the most reverent Vaughan facsimiles ("Crazy Dream") are the least interesting -- a little more Mex in their Tex-Mex would help -- but "Real Emotions" makes up for the aforementioned duff lyrics with a snarling, hooky riff, while the sprawling, nine-minute "Onda" channels Santana at his organic best. The ballads "Hollywood," "More Than Love," and "La Contestacion" (the last sung in Spanish, with outspoken fan Willie Nelson pitching in on guitar), meanwhile, showcase the kind of sweetly melodic pop smarts that with further refinement should distance Los Lonely Boys even more from the rest of the blues-brothers crowd. – Richard Skanse

From 2004's The New Rolling Stone Album Guide