Rating:
Genre:
Latin
Release Date: 10/14/2003
In Spanish, the title
Abriendo Caminos means "opening roads," which is
los Rieleros del Norte's way of saying that the band was continuing to evolve when it recorded this CD in 2003. It isn't a radical evolution by any means;
Abriendo Caminos is actually quite similar to the albums that they provided back in the '80s. However, the band has had some lineup changes along the way; on
Abriendo Caminos, the 2003 lineup ranges from young newcomers
Javier Esquivel and
Daniel Esquivel Jr. to older members
Daniel Esquivel Sr. (lead vocals, accordion),
Pemo Gonzales (sax), and
Alfredo Esquivel (drums). The younger members weren't even born when bassist
Manolo Morales founded the band in Pecos, TX, in 1979; regardless,
Abriendo Caminos is state-of-the-art
Rieleros del Norte -- exuberant, heartfelt, and emotional
norteño/
Tex-Mex that combines Mexican
ranchera with the German
polka beat. Despite the addition of two younger members, this CD is hardly a radical departure from the time-tested
Rieleros sound -- and that's probably for the best.
Abriendo Caminos tends to be predictable, but it's predictably rewarding. In one sense, hearing
Rieleros on this CD is a lot like obtaining a new album by a well-established veteran
jazz artist like
Scott Hamilton or
Phil Woods; you don't expect a ton of surprises, but you know that you can expect quality (which is exactly what
los Rieleros offer on
Abriendo Caminos).
Los Rieleros have long since earned a reputation for being highly consistent, and
Abriendo Caminos does nothing to damage that reputation. This CD isn't quite essential, but longtime fans will find it to be a solid, worthwhile addition to the band's sizable catalog.
~Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
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