Los Lonely Boys aims for another piece of "Heaven"

By Jeff Vrabel

SAVANNAH, Georgia (Billboard) - Austin-based brothers JoJo, Ringo and Henry Garza, aka Los Lonely Boys, are hoping their forthcoming album, "Forgiven," "gets people back on the train with Los Lonely Boys," according to bassist JoJo.

"Forgiven" -- out July 1 on Epic -- 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 told Billboard.com that the band of brothers aims to turn back the tide and rediscover the success it had with its 2003 self-titled debut, which enjoyed 76 weeks on the album chart and spawned hit single "Heaven," which won the Grammy Award for best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals.

"We had kind of a big splash in the pool with 'Heaven,"' Garza said. "Hopefully this can make another splash. Or even a little tidal wave."

Garza said that 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 title track, which Garza has christened "JoJo's favorite," "is kind of like 'Heaven,"' he said. "It's about asking for help from the Lord through hard times. But at the end of the darkness, there's still a light. That's something Los Lonely Boys have always talked about."

Garza said 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 memories of dusty '60s soul. The record's sole guest is New Orleans R&B star Dr. John.

The track "Superman" marks the first time that drummer Ringo Garza has stepped in front of the mic. "It's his first song out in public," JoJo Garza said. "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 said with a laugh.  Continued...