Rating:
Genre:
Latin
Release Date: 08/22/2006
Some of the listeners who acquired
los Elegidos' 2005 release,
Tal y Como Somos, after hearing that singer/actress
Altagracia Ugalde (aka
Ana Bárbara) produced the album and wrote or co-wrote two of the tracks, were surprised to learn that there wasn't a trace of
grupero to be found.
Bárbara, after all, has been one of the top
grupero stars of the '90s and 2000s -- she's famous for
"La Trampa," "Bandido," and a long list of other
grupero smashes -- and she is the sister of
los Elegidos members
Antero Ugalde and
Francisco "Pancho" Ugalde. But it's clear that
los Elegidos aren't trying to be the male equivalent of their
hermana famosa. That fact was evident on
Tal y Como Somos, and it is equally evident on the duo's
Bárbara-produced sophomore album,
Nina Mimada;
banda remains the
Ugalde brothers' focus, which is not to say that this 2006 release is oblivious to
Latin pop.
Bárbara wrote three of the album's ten tracks --
"Compita Pirry," "Ella Se Fue," and the title song -- and the latter two successfully blend
Latin pop with
banda's brassiness. But
"Compita Pirry" has more of a classically Mexican sound, as do
"Pero Acuerdate, Acuerdate," "Lo Que Importa Es Querer y Que Te Quieran," "Cuando Lloro Mi Cristo," and a spirited performance of the
José Alfredo Jiménez standard
"Canta Canta Canta," also known as
"Si Tu También Te Vas" (which has been recorded by everyone from
Ezequiel Peña to the late
Lola Beltrán).
Nina Mimada has its crossover moments as well as its traditionally
ranchera-minded moments, and that is a good thing because it illustrates
banda's diversity and flexibility.
Nina Mimada is an enjoyably well-rounded sophomore outing from
Ana Bárbara's siblings.
~Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
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