Los Lobos "Kiko" [1992]

At best, Los Lobos' "Kiko" can be seen as a series of outtake demos from a pedestrian bar band with some weird effects and keyboard crap added on top. It's inconceivable this CD could be deemed suitable for radio play, let alone be lauded by critics. They're probably freemasons or something. It's all half-baked experiments and unfinished vamps with a doughy, sticky middle, and producer Mitchell Froom had apparently not yet come to the realization the 80s are over and it's too late for him to become Daniel Lanois. I guess it's hard enough for un-sexy musicians like Los Lobos to get anywhere in the music industry, so we should just be happy for their good fortune, but this in no way mandates having to listen to them without drunkenly wandering into some late-night dive and not paying cover. Refried Mexicali riffs are all these guys are selling; easy enough to pass up while approaching the freeway on-ramp.