Even if
the Texas Tornados had picked a different name, it would be pretty hard to imagine them coming from anywhere besides the Lone Star State; their high-spirited mixture of Tex-Mex, norteño, garage rock, blues, and hardcore honky tonk flavors brands them as proud sons of a place all these sounds and more happily co-exist on a regular basis.
Zone of Our Own, the second album from the all-star quartet of
Freddy Fender,
Flaco Jimenez,
Augie Meyers, and
Doug Sahm, isn't quite up to the same level as their superb self-titled debut, but it sure doesn't miss by much.
Sahm gets to rave up on
Sir Doug-style rockers like "I Ain't That Kat Anymore,"
Fender sings sad and soulful on "Oh Holy One,"
Jimenez burns up the squeeze box on "La Mucura," and
Meyers gets to show off his bluesy side on "Did I Tell You." For all the sonic diversity of
the Texas Tornados,
Zone of Our Own still sounds like it's all of a piece, like the play list of some blessedly eclectic radio station beaming out along the border, as the four frontmen bounce off each other with joyous aplomb. If you're looking for some aural seasoning for your next barbecue,
Zone of Our Own is just the bottle of hot sauce you need. ~ Mark Deming