On this fine solo-album debut, it comes as no surprise to find veteran Los Lobos singer-songwriter-guitarist Cesar Rosas revisiting the R&B, soul, roots-rock, and norteño ingredients that made his East L.A. band's... more » musical stew so compelling. What's revealing is Rosas's willingness to deconstruct his Grammy-winning band's sound back to its constituent components, making Soul Disguise play like a loving journey across borders both musical and national. Rosas largely eschews the slick production values of '90s-vintage Los Lobos for considerably more grit and funk. Here he tackles with playful abandon everything from traditional Tex-Mex (his own "Angelito" and a cover of "Adios Mi Vida," both with legend Flaco Jiminez adding his distinctive accordion flourishes) to a swampy version of Ike Turner's "You've Got to Lose." Rosas stubs his toe only once, on the '70s-ish acoustic utopian ballad "Better Way." Similar journeys have been made by everyone from Steve Miller and Ry Cooder to precliché ZZ Top; it's Rosas's excursions into Stax and New Orleans R&B territory (like the delicious "Struck" and the funky "Shack and Shambles"), along with his sharp border-music and blues-roots sense, that makes Soul Disguise so distinct and satisfying. --Jerry McCulley« less
On this fine solo-album debut, it comes as no surprise to find veteran Los Lobos singer-songwriter-guitarist Cesar Rosas revisiting the R&B, soul, roots-rock, and norteño ingredients that made his East L.A. band's musical stew so compelling. What's revealing is Rosas's willingness to deconstruct his Grammy-winning band's sound back to its constituent components, making Soul Disguise play like a loving journey across borders both musical and national. Rosas largely eschews the slick production values of '90s-vintage Los Lobos for considerably more grit and funk. Here he tackles with playful abandon everything from traditional Tex-Mex (his own "Angelito" and a cover of "Adios Mi Vida," both with legend Flaco Jiminez adding his distinctive accordion flourishes) to a swampy version of Ike Turner's "You've Got to Lose." Rosas stubs his toe only once, on the '70s-ish acoustic utopian ballad "Better Way." Similar journeys have been made by everyone from Steve Miller and Ry Cooder to precliché ZZ Top; it's Rosas's excursions into Stax and New Orleans R&B territory (like the delicious "Struck" and the funky "Shack and Shambles"), along with his sharp border-music and blues-roots sense, that makes Soul Disguise so distinct and satisfying. --Jerry McCulley
"When Soul Disguise came out, I flipped out in sheer delight! Great tunes covering many musical styles! Having a party? Put it on and watch the house start rockin! Every song on the cd is great. Even Cesar Rosas' Soul Disguise concert in Seattle was awesome! I gotta tell you the man plays his heart out. It was great to hear the cd's songs played out loud, rockin' and raunchy. Obviously, the crowd also got off on the musica norteña part of the show. A real jammer, he also mixed it up on a medley featuring Don't Worry Baby and Pipeline! Cesar's coolness was confirmed when he greeted me and others afterwards and signed our cds. His solo effort solidifies him as one of the best singer/songwriter/guitarists of our time. I will see him with his band or with his "carnales" anytime, anywhere. He's keeping real music alive, ese."
Great roots music CD
William H. Maruca | Wexford, PA USA | 12/20/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Rosas steps out in front on this CD with great songwriting, hot guitar work and powerful singing. Very much like the early Lobos sound. I pulled this out to play the other day and had forgotten how good it was. Was curious to read the other reviews. If you like the bluesy, rootsy side of Los Lobos, check it out. There's some tex-mex and norteno too, and a nod in the direction of New Orleans, but mostly R&B in the style of "Don't Worry Baby." Lyrically the CD doesn't stray far from the "she done me wrong" blues tradition - I think David Hidalgo may be the stronger lyricist of the two, but it's got plenty of grit."
The great Los Lobos album Los Lobos never made...
William H. Maruca | 04/16/1999
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Fans of Los Lobos' rhythm and blues and rock tracks (Don't Worry Baby, Rosalie) will love this album from start to finish. Rosas' best work since Los Lobos' "How Will The Wolf Survive". Has a unfinished, loose quality to it that listeners will find they either love or hate."
Cesar or Los Lobos
John Lippman | Media, PA USA | 08/22/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"First ask yourself: do you like Los Lobos? If the answer is yes, then you will like this album. I like Los Lobos. I even saw them at a small taping for a radio station (WXPN's World Cafe). Cesar's voice carries well in these tunes, and the musical styles are all over the Los Lobos map. Again, if you enjoy Los Lobos, you will enjoy this CD. I never missed "the band" of regulars, and was quite surprised how much of the Los Lobos sound and style comes through in Cesar's disc."
Well worth the bucks
Andy Arenz | Idaho | 01/18/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"While Los Lobos continue to explore, expand and amaze, Cesar's solo is just a lot of fun. It reminds one of old Lobos, old ZZ Top. It's hard not to crank this one up and dance like nobody is watching. When is the next one coming, Cesar?"