Los Lonely Boys is hoping its forthcoming album “Forgiven,” out July 1 on Epic, “gets people back on the train with Los Lonely Boys,” according to bassist JoJo Garza.
“Forgiven” is the follow-up to the band’s 2006 effort “Sacred,” which debuted at No. 2 on The Billboard 200 but tumbled off the chart after a short 11-week stay.
Garza tells Billboard.com that the Austin-based band of brothers is looking to turn back the tide and rediscover the success it had with its 2003 self-titled debut, which lived on The Billboard 200 for 76 weeks and spawned hit single “Heaven.”
“We had kind of a big splash in the pool with ‘Heaven,'” says Garza, who joins brothers Ringo and Henry in Los Lonely Boys. “Hopefully this can make another splash. Or even a little tidal wave.”
“Heaven” reached No. 1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks and went top 20 on The Billboard Hot 100. The song went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
The new record’s first single, “Staying With Me,” is available digitally now, and will go to radio on May 12.
Garza says some of the tracks on “Forgiven” deal with universal matters of love, loss and, of course, “taking your girl out tonight, having a good time. We all have blood in our veins, is how we look at it. That’s where the connection is.”
The record was recorded this past February in Austin with producer Steve Jordan, but Garza says many of the songs began coming to life during the tour behind “Sacred,” including the title track, which he has officially christened “JoJo’s favorite.”
“‘Forgiven’ is kind of like ‘Heaven,’ in that it’s about asking for help from the Lord through hard times,” he says. “But at the end of the darkness, there’s still a light. That’s something Los Lonely Boys have always talked about.”
Garza says the single “Staying With Me” has a “nice summer tempo to it,” and the ballad “Love Don’t Care About Me,” with its doo-wop grounding, is designed to conjure up images of dusty ’60s soul. The record’s sole guest is Dr. John, who was recommended by producer Jordan.
Elsewhere, “Superman” marks the first time drummer Ringo Garza has stepped in front of the mic. “It’s his first song out in public,” JoJo Garza says. “It’s a big step for him. I heard it and I was like, ‘You know what, I can’t believe you can sing like that! You grew up, Ringo!'” Garza adds with a laugh.
Los Lonely Boys plans to spend the year touring behind the record. On May 24, the brothers will perform at two benefits for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization and Music for Literacy in Austin. From there, the band will play a mix of headlining dates and festivals through mid-July, and will also open shows for Sheryl Crow in California June 12-13.
As previously reported, the band joins Los Lobos for the 20-date “Brotherhood Tour” starting July 18 in Portland, Ore., and wrapping Aug. 14 at the Central Park Summerstage in New York.
Here is the track list for “Forgiven”:
“Heart Won’t Tell a Lie”
“Forgiven”
“Staying With Me”
“Loving You Always”
“I’m a Man”
“Make it Better”
“Love Don’t Care About Me”
“Cruel”
“You Can’t See the Light”
“Superman”
“Another Broken Heart”
“The Way I Feel”
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news