Sacred

Finally! After three years, four different editions of their self-titled debut, a couple of live outings, a handful of singles, and the radio smash hit "Heaven," San Angelo, TX, wunderkinds Los Lonely Boys drop Sacred, their second studio album. The Garza brothers — Henry (guitar), JoJo (bass), and Ringo (drums) — up the ante on this slab; it's a big production number that includes additional keyboards, horns, and extra percussion muscle. Does it take away from the immediacy of their debut? Nope. This is not the ill-fated sophomore slump. Sacred is, for the most part, an uptempo, rollicking, streetwise Texas rock record with many surprises. The Garza brothers' lyric writing is still developing, but the tightknit arrangements, popping grooves, and focused musicianship more than balance. The album's first single is "Diamonds," and true to corporate rock standards, it's an utterly catchy, infectious little track, but it's far from the best thing here. Henry's blistering guitar offers a beautiful hook for the trio to sing off of; it's a simple, hooky midtempo love ballad, played on stun, with two organs (played by Reese Wynans and Mike Finnegan) and producer John Porter lending a second guitar. All mixed up, it creates a big swirling danceable pop noise that will be instantly memorable to anyone who encounters it. That said, there are other cuts here that reveal the depths of the bandmembers' musical knowledge and ideas that they are capable of pulling off. Take "Roses" as an example. Henry's Jimi Hendrix-cum-Stevie Ray Vaughan-cum-Albert Collins guitar style flat out creates a groove for the trio to sing from — its melody is sophisticated, entrancing, and layered through with B-3 fills. Ringo's polyrhythmic drum style and Carl Perazza's hand drums, the shimmering acoustic guitars, and the guitar solo make this the best driving track of 2006 so far.

The deeper Latin flavor of this record enters on "Oye Mamacita." Henry's ear-popping funk riff is complemented by the organ and a large rhythm section laying down the floor. It's a loose, orgiastic stinger where riffs, vocals, hooks, and rhythms collide and then slip into place, stacking on top of one another. The wah-wah guitar solo in this cut is to die for, and truth be told, it's these guys who are creating a new mainstream Tex-Mex-driven Latin rock & roll that even gringos can cut a rug to. "Texican Style" (which is the best description of the music Los Lonely Boys play) features the button accordion of Michael Guerra right alongside Henry's guitar. The Texas Horns contribute to a couple of cuts, including the anthemic opener, "My Way" (no, not that one), and "Outlaws," which also showcases Willie Nelson and Los Lonely Boys' father, Enrique Garza, Sr., on vocals. The latter cut puts Henry front and center with his wah-wahed, "Voodoo Chile"-esque opening. Here is the one-two stomp of Texas outlaw country music updated for the 21st century. The Texas Horns play a funky, gritty mariachi style introducing Enrique's swaggering verse, which introduces Nelson. One might mistakenly perceive this as a nod to novelty, but it kicks ass. Period. The set closes with "Living My Life," a slippery, beautifully constructed Tex-Mex son in English. The three-part harmony is impeccable; the passion in the tune is balanced by its Sonoran desert feel. It's tempting to single out Henry for his fluid, intuitive, and imaginative guitar playing, but that would be a mistake, as his brothers' rhythm section is simply one of the best in the business. They add imagination, grit, and tough grooves to everything they touch. Add the fact that they co-write their songs — and they all sing — and you have a unit that is an entire thing unto itself. Sacred is an exciting, even wonderful second step for one of the truly unique bands on the scene.