ALBUM REVIEW: Los Lonely Boys Stage a Solid Comeback With ‘Resurrection’
Cillea Houghton
Posted On July 31, 2024
Los Lonely Boys merge their Texas rock sound with meaningful messages on their new album, Resurrection.
You likely know the band for their hit debut single “Heaven,” which elevated them from the Texas rock n’ roll landscape into the mainstream 2004. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and won them a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal. Over the course of a career that’s now in its fourth decade, this band of brothers — Henry, Jojo, and Ringo Garza — has established a loyal fanbase with their electrically charged melodies and familiar voices.
Los Lonely Boys (photo by Matt Lankes)
Los Lonely Boys took an extended hiatus when Jojo left the band in 2019. On Resurrection, their first album since reuniting in 2022 and since the release of Revelation in 2013, Los Lonely Boys deliver breezy beats and light-hearted tunes with a few sobering messages weaved in that will likely satisfy the palate of longtime fans.
The album opens with a dose of wisdom on the lead single, “Wish You Would.” “If you want to be rock and roll / You gotta learn to let things go … To escape the hold / You have to disconnect your soul / And then you’ll find a truth that sets you free,” Jojo sings with earnest vocals. Henry and Jojo then dish out some blues-infused guitar riffs on “I Let You Think That You Do” and mix in some flamenco flair on “Dance With Me,” while the latter track and “Can’t Get No Love” are dance-floor ready.
The band pleads for a more compassionate world on “Send More Love,” with lyrics that reference broken hearts and tear-filled eyes. “Nobody tells the truth / Because it’s easier to lie” and “This world is going crazy / Can you send more love?” Henry sings with heartfelt vocals.
Henry and Jojo exhibit fine guitar work throughout the album, whether on the tender ballad “Natural Thing” or the bluesy “Bloodwater.” A standout track on the album arrives with the nostalgic “See Your Face,” offering a melody that evokes the feeling of a warm breeze matched with comforting lyrics like, “It’s been a while since I’ve seen your smile / And you fill my cup with joy / I’m overjoyed / You make things bright.” The song speaks to knowing that you have to part ways with someone while reflecting on the joy they’ve brought into your life.
The album comes to a stellar finish with the smoldering “Bloodwater.” The guitar riffs, coupled with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Reese Wynans’ haunting organ playing, make for a simmering close that captures the band’s exquisite musicianship.
Arriving 20 years after their major-label debut album, Resurrection is a strong, well-rounded album from a beloved band whose musical stamina is still going strong, a legacy that is likely to keep growing for decades to come.
Los Lonely Boys’ Resurrection is out Aug. 2 on BMG.
