The title pun of this Los Lobos offshoot's second album is an accurate one. The group, consisting of Los Lobos' David Hidalgo and Louie Perez with Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake (Lobos' producer and engineer, respectively) embodies the most ethereal, experimental aspects of Los Lobos' latter-day style, creating a hazy, druggy, modern psychedelia.
As on DOSE's predecessor, atmosphere and texture win out over structure for a free-wheeling, stream-of-consciousness feel. DOSE ventures even further afield though, full of sonic non-sequitirs, exotic keyboard and guitar tapestries and quirky spoken-word contributions from Perez. An intoxicating, often disorienting musical brew.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (4/1/99, p.98) - "...DOSE is a throbbing, kinetic soundscape with and East L.A. street vibe. Deliberately grainy, distorted songs are embedded in a matrix of car engines, chattering voices and white noise - the bustle and clamor of the barrio..."
Spin (4/99, p.164) - 8 (out of 10) - "...vaguely mechanical rhythms lope along, guitars play mariachi lines, roller rink organs...play the blues....Latin Playboys are maverick artists who end up acknowledging the undeniable..."
Entertainment Weekly (3/19/99, p.107) - "...Good, yes, but what does DOSE sound like? If Robert Rodriguez...were to direct an outlaw road moive starring Gary Oldman that begins in East L.A. and ends with a shootout in an East Village lounge, he'd already have the perfect soundtrack." - Rating: B+
