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Colossal Head
Los Lobos
Colossal Head
Genres: Pop, R&B, Rock, Latin Music
 
  •  Track Listings (11) - Disc #1

If Kiko was Los Lobos' unanticipated definitive statement, as in "You've got to hear this!" Colossal Head is its less focused addendum. It says: "Oh, yeah, and furthermore. The title track, a multi-textured grinder with a ...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Los Lobos
Title: Colossal Head
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Warner Bros / Wea
Original Release Date: 3/19/1996
Release Date: 3/19/1996
Genres: Pop, R&B, Rock, Latin Music
Styles: Adult Alternative, Funk, Jam Bands, Rock Jam Bands, Roots Rock
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 093624617228

Synopsis

Amazon.com
If Kiko was Los Lobos' unanticipated definitive statement, as in "You've got to hear this!" Colossal Head is its less focused addendum. It says: "Oh, yeah, and furthermore. The title track, a multi-textured grinder with a Middle Eastern string arrangement mixed in with baritone sax and blues guitar. "Life Is Good" is lazy, infectious '70s pop funk à la War and Sly & the Family Stone "Más y más" is an old-fashioned guitar wank that puts one in mind of the other crucial name in Latin rock--Santana. Los Lobos are known for their ensemble work, but this is just unstrained look-at-me showboating. When you've got David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas, why not flaunt 'em? The occasional missteps ("This Bird's Gonna Fly," "Can't Stop the Rain") are just bland songs the band and coproducers Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake dress up with the kind of offbeat production touches that worked so well with Kiko. --Steven Stolder

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CD Reviews

Vastly Underrated
Jeffrey Belcher | East Hartford, CT United States | 05/04/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Colossal Head is Los Lobos' "Look how far we can go and still sound great" declaration. "Revolution" is permeated by the tar bubbles of bass and drums and David Hidalgo's effortless vocal style...great stuff. "Maricela" is enough to make the dullest person get up and dance, with it's latin piano and accordian intermingling perfectly in the songs sparse texture. "Can't stop the Rain" is a butt-shaker that really comes alive in headphones. Experimentation is everywhere here, loosening the snare to an ingenious rattle in "Little Japan" and looping the drums in a live-sounding "Life is Good". "Colossal Head" is as gentle as "This Bird's Got to Fly " is bombastic, blaring through with unapolagetic saxaphones that compliment a mean, delay-ridden vocal. "Buddy Ebson Loves the Night Time" closes the album like a meditation, as a lilting lead guitar slinks lazily over a looped bass drum. The music is under-produced, allowing for a difficult to achieve, live sound. A must have for music lovers of all kinds."
EXTRAORDINARY BAND
greg s. | Minnetonka, MN United States | 05/31/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anyone who is a TRUE music lover, will either know, or would want to know, about the true Los Lobos. They are so very, VERY much more than most people recognize. They are true artists in every sense, and have a dignity (musically, and personally) that few bands have, or could even understand.



Their entire body of work is very worthwhile, and this record ranks near, or at the top, along with KIKO."
A colossal achievement
David Bonesteel | Fresno, CA United States | 02/13/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I haven't kept up with Los Lobos since back in the beginning, when I owned a cassette of "How Will the Wolf Survive." Some time ago I decided to rectify that situation and picked up "Colossal Head." Judging from the reviews on this page, "Kiko" is the disc I really should have picked up. Whether they like "Colossal Head" or not, everyone seems to agree that "Kiko" is better. It must be a really spectacular recording, because I thought CH is excellent. The songwriting is mostly outstanding and there are lots of surprises and interesting choices in the production and mixing. Good work."