One of the great guilty pleasures of 2004 was the debut album by Los Lonely Boys, and the Texas trio of brothers has now returned with Sacred on Epic Records. The disc bears much of the freshness that made the group's debut stand out, and the production is crisp and exciting, with terrific harmonies and added horns and organ throughout much of the disc. The overall production is so strong that it largely makes up for songwriting that isn't as memorable. The disc's best moments ("Diamonds," "I Never Met a Woman" and "Roses") recapture the magic of the group's first album, and even the lesser moments are absolutely listenable, if not compelling. All in all, Sacred isn't a complete success, but is strong enough to keep Los Lonely Boys on the short list of young groups to watch.
By Chris Rizik
