David Hildago's resigned stoicism powers the title track from Los Lobos' forthcoming studio album, as "Gates of Gold" ponders what's ahead -- for them, and for us.
Certainly, in a career that stretches back to the mid-1970s, Los Lobos has earned its place in the roots-rock firmament. But every group, just like every person, can find themselves at a crossroads, at that moment when the path ahead feels uncertain. This is for that moment. And not just because "Gates of Gold," with its loose, propulsive groove, boasts so much emotional girding. It also pulls no punches.
This isn't a tune about overcoming obstacles. It's one about examining them, and very carefully, before pushing forward -- often with nothing more than steely faith. Too often, the three-minute pop format tries to give us the easy problem followed by an even easier answer. Los Lobos' "Gates of Gold" offers neither, only the conviction that a community of our own making is the best foundation for the journey ahead.
We're left to apply our own worries, hopes and dreams to the song. Is Los Lobos detailing an immigrant's voyage? A glimpse into the band's psyche as it travels through a fourth decade? A spiritual quest? Something more personal, about life's last third? About what awaits us in the next world?
The best songs speak to us as individuals, allowing us to find those answers for ourselves. "Gates of Gold," which advances Los Lobos' first album since 2010's Tin Can Trust, is one of those songs.
'Gates of Gold' is due Sept. 25, 2015, via 429 Records.
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