Los Pacaminos

Although Paul Young is a member of this band, this is not a Paul Young album with a backing band. Young is merely a member who contributes excellent banjo playing, some vocals, brilliant guitar work, and co-writes most of the songs. But fans should not be discouraged from seeking out this CD. This is an interesting turn for Young, who recorded with two bands prior to going solo (the Street Band and the Q-Tips). This is not the type of music one expects from Young. Having successfully crossed boundaries from rhythm & blues to soul to pop to rock, it is safe to say that Cajun music was never on the list of expected forms of expression for Young, but here it is. This band is a tight outfit from England playing some of the best Tex-Mex brand of country one could hope to hear. The music is full of hot guitars, trumpets, banjos, dobros, and steel guitars, all tuned and all tight. The arrangements of these original tunes are nothing short of inspiring, as are the songs themselves. Stunning stories of love lost and found, drinking, the desert, and lonely hearts. Drew Barfield provides some heart-wrenching vocals, and is just one of the singing cowboys found on this CD. Beautifully packaged and wonderfully presented, this CD is quite simply a treat. It holds up to repeated listenings and is truly an original.