Rating:
Genre:
Latin
Release Date: 05/24/2005
In
rock,
R&B,
country, and
hip-hop, it isn't uncommon for artists to take several years to come out with a new album. But in regional Mexican music, artists tend to record more frequently; for many Mexican artists, providing two or three new albums every year is the norm. Released in May 2005,
Los Huracanes del Norte's
Dejate Querer came only seven months after
Corridos de Caballos Famosos (a superb album celebrating the role that horses have played in Mexican folklore).
Corridos de Caballos Famosos was a tough act follow -- and while
Déjate Querer isn't quite as essential, it is still an enjoyable addition to the
norteño veterans' catalog. This 30-minute CD often addresses a subject that has been quite prominent in regional Mexican music over the years: heartbreak and romantic disillusionment. There are many
lágrimas (tears) in regional Mexican music, and
lágrimas are quite plentiful on tracks like
"Como Me Duele," "Ya Vez," "Nada Contigo," and
"Me Han Pasado Cosas Peor." Sometimes, heartbreak leads to violence, which is exactly what happens on
"Juanita y Julian" -- a memorable
corrido about a recently married woman who catches her husband cheating and shoots both him and the other woman dead.
"Juanita y Julian" is all about the thin line between love and hate that
the Persuaders sang about so eloquently on their early-'70s
soul classic, and it's a perfect example of just how dark
norteño lyrics can be. But it's important to remember that
norteño -- much like
country and the
blues -- has a way of being melancholy and humorous at the same time. For all their talk of
lágrimas,
tristeza (sadness), and
desengaño (disillusionment),
Los Huracanes and other
norteño bands definitely have a sense of humor.
Déjate Querer is a pleasing demonstration of
Los Huracanes' ability to laugh at life while telling listeners -- in elaborate detail -- how bad it can be.
~Alex Henderson, All Music Guide