Clevelander Tommy Wiggins recruited two out-of-state pals for Los Hombres del Norte, a side project in which they assumed aliases and headed south of the border to record Todos Santos Magico, a collection of low-key songs that perfectly capture the spirit of the Baja Peninsula. “Cold Rain Comin’ Down” and “Walkin’ Time” sound like Crosby, Stills & Nash, and “Save Your Soul” comes off like a discarded Tom Petty tune. Still, “Out Like a Lion” and “The Ballad of Lefty & Juanita” have a summery, Jimmy Buffett-style tone you’d expect from an album that was made where the ocean’s lapping waves actually keep you up at night. — Niesel
This article appears in Nov 17-23, 2010.
