Los Lobos

Three and a half stars

The Ride

Hollywood Records

From the sound of their latest album, those East L.A. roots rockers, Los Lobos, are making music for the sheer fun of it.

They open the CD with the mambo – “La Venganza de los Pelados” – and two songs later serve up the funkfied blues blaster on “Is This All There Is?”

When Los Lobos have a musical party such as the “The Ride,” the guest list is as top shelf as the music. On this record, Tom Waits rakes up vocal gravel for “Kitate,” Elvis Costello wears a halo on the inspirational “Matter of Time” and Ruben Blades takes a bow with the album’s showstopper, “Ya Se Va.” Other guests along for “The Ride” are Richard Thompson, Mavis Staples, Alvin Lee and R&B vocalist Bobby Womack.

Too bad Los Lobos can’t bring all their guests along on their tour this summer.

Lola Ray

Three stars

I Don’t Know You

DC Flag/Red Ink Records

On its debut disc, Lola Ray, a New York City-based garage band on Good Charlotte’s label, proves that studied pop craftsmanship and the punk underground aren’t completely incompatible.

Lead singer John Balicanta has a quirky voice that wants to shout, but he restrains himself so the band can indulge in harmonies and the occasional ballad.

The best of them is “Slave,” a love song with a ’60s California feel.

He isn’t as successful on “Charlit Movie Star,” another love song that’s all sap and goo.

While the rest of this disc has edge and maturity, it seems as if this number was written by a puppy-love smitten teenager.

Sure, the band recoups quickly, but on a 10-song album, one stinker is one too many.

Various Artists

Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix

Three and half stars

Image Entertainment

Somebody has to keep the spirit of Jimi Hendrix alive, and these days it seems as if everyone wants in on the act.

This tribute is an 18-song collection that uses Jimi’s classics as a springboard for artists as diverse as Sting and Cee-lo to experience and experiment with.

The performers include superstars Santana, Prince, Eric Clapton and Lenny Kravitz, and the song list includes all of the hits – from “Are you Experienced?” to “Voodoo Child (Slight Return).” Chaka Khan (the only female vocalist on the disc) is inspired as she lets “Little Wing” soar into a gospel rave.

The only tune that’s totally botched is the Sounds of Blackness’ big-band version of “Castles Made of Sand.”

Kimberley Locke

One Love

Three stars

Curb Records

There’s nothing that says you gotta win the “American Idol” talent contest to be a winner in pop music.

Remember Kimberly Locke? She was No. 3 in last year’s competition, behind Rubin and Clay. Her debut is a tight blend of pop, soul and standards.

She does lapse into milquetoast on a duet with her pal and former competitor Clay Aiken for the weepy “Without You,” but, to her credit, she doesn’t rely on ballads as her primary attack.

One of the tracks where she finds integrity is the Prince-like “It’s Alright.” As for the rest of the disc, she’s always best when the material is upbeat, optimistic pop with a syncopated rhythm.

The one exception is her soulful retooling of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” in which Locke turns the cabaret standard insideout with a smoky soul rendition.