Rating:
Genre:
Latin
Release Date: 02/13/2007
Narcocorridos (corridos about drug trafficking) have generated so much controversy and so much debate that some people who aren't very knowledgeable about regional Mexican music might think that all modern
norteño recordings are narcocorridos, but that is far from the case. While narcocorridos have certainly been an exciting and vital part of
norteño, the fact is that the vast majority of
norteño recordings of the '80s, '90s and 2000s are
not narcocorridos; in fact, there are countless
norteño bands that don't perform narcocorridos at all. This self-titled
Fonovisa debut by
la Maquinaria Norteña is a prime example of a
norteño disc that focuses on romantic themes exclusively, but most of the time, the Chihuahua, Mexico-based group is not romantic in an overly crossover-minded,
pop-drenched way. Hardcore
norteño along the lines of
los Rieleros del Norte,
los Huracanes del Norte, and
Oro Norteño is their specialty, and that outlook makes for enjoyable listening on lively tracks like
"Te Voy a Olvidar," "Cuando Volveras," and
"Ignorante" (all of which feature frontman
Sergio Soto on lead vocals but were written by group leader/saxophonist
Keith Nieto, who produced the album).
La Maquinaria Norteña cover their
norteño bases on this 36-minute disc, providing a lot of
polka beats but favoring a waltz tempo on
"La Herida Mortal" and embracing Tex-Mex-style cumbia on
"No Hay Manera" (which is the closest they get to tropical). The group acknowledges Latin pop on
Juan Gabriel's
"Inocente Pobre Amigo," but again, pop considerations are the exception rather than the rule on this 2007 release. No one who has listened to
norteño extensively will accuse
la Maquinaria Norteña of being groundbreaking or terribly distinctive; nonetheless, this is a satisfying, if derivative, debut that will generally appeal to those who like their
norteño straight-ahead.
~Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
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