Los Super Seven: Los Super Seven

Before regulation at the hands of the U.S. government kicked in, some Mexican radio stations once broadcast at the unholy power of 500,000 watts, a signal strong enough to be picked up nearly anywhere in America. This so-called border music was essential to the rise of country music and especially country's Tex-Mex cousins. Produced by Steve Berlin (of Los Lobos) under the eye of executive producer Dan Goodman—and featuring liner notes by none other than John Sayles—Los Super Seven is a ridiculously good tribute to the border music and traditional Mexican ballads with which all of the band's principles grew up. The members of Los Super Seven surely had sus lenguas pressed firmly in sus mejillas when they came up with such a snazzy sobriquet, but there is an element of accuracy to their chosen title. A Tex-Mex super session convened over the course of one productive week, Los Super Seven features seven phenomenal talents—David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos, accordion legend Flaco Jimenez, bassist Freddy Fender of Texas Tornados, guitarist Rick Trevino, Flatlander Joe Ely, and singer Ruben Ramos—doing what they all do best: playing music. Only two of the twelve songs are sung in English, including Ely's take on Woody Guthrie's "Plane Wreck At Los Gatos (Deportee)" and "Rio de Tenampa," a song originally written for Los Lobos' Kiko. In fact, much of this music is reminiscent of Los Lobos' return-to-their-roots album, La Pistola y El Corazon, itself a refreshing respite from modern pop music. With its variously festive and relaxed mood and superb singing, the soulful Los Super Seven is the perfect soundtrack to your daily siesta or nightly fiesta.