Blog: 30 Days Out

We ease into springtime mode (and SXSW in Austin) with this fine new album from Raul Malo, Lucky One. This is the first album of original material from the Mavericks front man in about eight years, and fans of the big guy with the big voice won't be disappointed. The songs wheel from country thumpers ("Lonely Hearts") to swing with a little Latin flavor ("Moonlight Kiss"). Produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, the songs on Lucky One get a big boost from inventive arrangements and fine instrumentation (including Raul himself on guitar). Malo is huge among Americana (alt-country, [...]