Forgiven

Los Lonely Boys out did themselves - again! "Forgiven" represents the stellar performance that the Garza Brothers are born with. The composition and lyrics of each song is amazing. "Heart Won't Tell A Lie", "Forgiven" and "Staying With Me" are beyond my expectations.

If you haven't had a chance to hear any of the songs, you are really missing out on probably the best cd ever compared to what is out there in the music market.

DON'T MISS OUT - GET SOME 'TEXICAN' ROCK & ROLL.

I love this CD, as all my other Los Lonely Boys material. I encourage you too see them live, its a whole other experience altogether. It will stir your soul like no recording ever could. Thank you again Henry, Jojo and Ringo for adding even more for your fans to love.

For what?

Well, fellow Los Lonely Boys follower, one reviewer asked if maybe Forgiven meant to be forgiven for this album.

No Possible Way.

Maybe the boys are asking to be Forgiven for being on the road so much? Forgiven for missing lots of the special family moments that can never be captured? Forgiven for being able to be successful and still outside the mold? Perhaps.

The boys are back, well rested and engaged in the production of this CD in a way that might not have been true of Sacred.

In Forgiven, look for both new musical growth - better lyrics and some interesting chord progressions - and for consistency - the tight three part harmonies and great playing that we've all come to know and love. We know that the boys are just what they appear to be - but you'll find some real unsuspected subtleties here!

Now, I must admit that I find myself if full agreement with Ramos. Gone: Spanish / Spanglish tinged phrases - at great loss in my opinion, for it was one of the things that so charmed me the first time out. Also gone: Henry's incredible artistry, which requires a song of more than 3 minutes length. Sure, it's there - you can just absolutely hear where he'd go if he just had another 30 seconds to play! But, let's face it, musicians do grow and change, and this is where the boys are *today* - which they make a reference to in the last song.

The whole album - and I have to say it that way, since it is available in both vinyl (!) and cd formats - is well engineered. Steve and the team did the boys one huge favor recording this as if it were a live set. Now if they'd just invited the fans to *help* with appreciative crowd noises for any of the songs... (smile)

Onwards!

Song reviews:

Heart Won't Tell A Lie - clearly a Henry Garza written piece (although we all know that all three write and are credited for each song). Look for some lyrics that make more sense the second or third time through the album. This one, more than anything else on the album, argues for a minute or two more of Henry's personal magic touch. For me, *the* candidate for second single.

Forgiven - I'm curious as to why Christian radio hasn't picked this up. It is an absolute natural. Not plaintive, but that prayer-as-dialogue quality that we've come to expect from LLB. One tiny fan that I know calls it the Jesus song (smile).

Staying With Me - lead single off the album and an excellent candidate to exit AAA headed for Adult Contemporary AND the pop charts. Catchy - and more so the more times you listen to it.

Loving You...Always - oh my. OH MY. The rhythm on this is positively addictive. I get the feeling that this is a very, very special love song for the author. It has the same *heart* feel to me as Nobody Else. Clearly my favorite song. One more thing - there *is* a pause in the title.

I'm A Man - well, the album notes pick it up well. Thought transferrence between Steve Jordan and Henry, as Henry walks in one day and does the opening chords for a warm up. Nice pass at it - and the rumors to fans were that Steve Winwood was informed and invited to help out but could not. Wow, what a show it would have been, though...the video clip would have been AMAZING!!!!

Make It Better - Close your eyes and tell me you don't hear the Fab Four singing this song? A reviewer said it was lightweight. SO WHAT? When this goes into rotation at the shows, you'll have the entire crowd asking themselves if there's not some way to Make It Better...and singing along!

Love Don't Care About Me - best sit down for this one. My guess? Jojo wrote the bulk of this one, and you can tell that his heart is fully in his performance on this - catch his voice timbre near the end - he's fully engaged. My second favorite song off this album.

Cruel - I don't know what to say about this one. From a mood and lyrical standpoint, I can easily see this as a song that would have been on the first album - Tell Me Why *feels* the same way to me.

You Can't See The Light - Contemplative, perhaps even moody, yet a couple of the fans absolutely rely on these lyrics to bring them out of a bad mood.

Superman - Oh my goodness, Ringo's first solo outing is fabulous! This one appeals to probably the broadest range of fans - the youngest that I know is about 8 and there's plenty of us older fans that love it too!

Another Broken Heart - the fans called this one Rainy Days for a long time. Again, a song that has grown across the performances and which is not predictable - and this is a superb performance version. Melancholy and hopeful at the same time. Watch for the rhythm of the delivery of the lyrics near the end - hammering away at the listener. Lots of long-time LLB fans say this one is a classic.

The Way I Feel - A sweet song - and at the same time a bit *in your face* in a manner that feels like My Way off Sacred. Say what you want, do what you will...but you won't change the way I feel. Again, lyrically reaching out to everyone to make a difference in a life and in the world.

And from the Walmart Exclusive

War Tonight - Goodness gracious. Not one of my favorites on the first pass at the album, but it has certainly grown on me. Driving rhythm on this one - can't sit still or sit down, so I hope that venues where this one is played will let folks up out of their seats!!!

Guero From The Barrio - featuring long time friend of the band and proprietor of the Steele Penny in San Angelo, Texas, Mr. Russ Steele. The story has always been that a very much younger Henry (and even younger Joey and Ringo) would hit open mike nights at the Penny to baseline much of what would become the first album. Hard to imagine that to be so long ago now!

Unlike Sacred, the boys played very little of this album at shows before the release. Yes, we heard Another Broken Heart, and a little bit more of the album crept out one night in San Angelo (smile) - but I think that holding the songs close helped. On Sacred, we (fans) had heard the songs as works in progress for a while. Forgiven, however, hit us with brand new material. A benefit, since LLB is again off the beaten path, and it increased the overall charm of the album.

What could I tell you to encourage you to buy it?

I became a fan in 2003 here in Austin at a live show - for which I can never say thanks enough. My exposure goes back to the 1997 album (yes, there is one that old), as well as tons of soundboard and fan-made recordings. I think the only things I have not heard are their demo tape (Uno Demo) and their radio single *Information*.

No LLB album will ever hit you like a live show. Proven over and over to my satisfaction. Given that, though, this is a SUPERB third album.

Why? Radio friendly, without feeling rushed. Family friendly lyrics continue, as does good musicianship and stellar vocals. Feels intimate like a live show - clean and precise, not over-engineered. Tastefully complemented by Dr. John and some percussion work. Some of it is in rotation at shows, and well received, even by people seeing LLB for the very first time.

Well worth twice the price, and stands up well to near continuous play by *this* fan! Now get out and get a copy!

I like this CD however it seems to be sounding all the same as the others

Los Lonely Boys still got it going on. Awesome CD. They are HOT and ROCK!!