Los Lobos is such a great band.  They can do just about anything, and do it well.  I'm not even going to try to pigeonhole them by throwing around labels like "Tex-Mex" or "Chicano rock" or whatever.  They could be friggin' Amish for all I care.  They are just a seriously talented and musically diverse group and I adore them as players and artists.

1987's By the Light of the Moon is much beloved by me.  I could (and may yet still) pick a whole slew of cuts from it.  The lead track, "One Time One Night", is one of those "seedier side of Americana" songs that bands do when they want to project some blue collar "everyman" type of vibe.  But I think this one does it the right way - observant yet still subtle and even hopeful, without a hint of cynicism or vitriol.  Plus, I just love the arrangement and the playing on it.

And I just discovered that Los Lobos is playing in one of my hometown casinos on New Year's Eve.  I am so there.

Click here to watch the video for "One Time One Night" on YouTube.