Perhaps no other band in history has been as successful in fusing blues, rock, punk, jazz, and traditional latin music than this extremely talented group of musicians from Los Angeles. To add even more icing to the cake, this year Los Lobos celebrates their 25th year together in making some of the most energetic, kick-ass music this side of the Rio Grande.

This Time is probably the definitive Los Lobos album--it plays like a "Greatest Hits" record, except that you've never heard any of these songs before. The album starts off with the title track, a fantastic blues number that once again proves lead singer David Hidalgo as one of music's truly great vocalists. The rest of the tracks are just as great--going from toe-tapping rock songs to some superb Hispanic numbers.

All in all, this is a phenomenal album. My only complaint is that for twelve songs, the album should be a little longer than its forty minute running time.