Rating:
Genre:
Latin
Release Date: 12/31/2002
If anyone doubts for a minute that Latin music is a huge market, he/she should take a close look at
Fonovisa. The company sells a ton of CDs by catering to the Mexican market, which is only part of the Latin market -- that isn't counting the
tropical market (
salsa,
merengue, and
Cumbia) or the Brazilian, Central American, and Spanish markets. Although
Fonovisa sometimes puts out non-Mexican releases, the label's bread and butter is Mexican music -- and that could be anything from hardcore
norteño to the romantic
Mexican pop of
Grupo Mojado. Arguably, a CD like
Un Monton de Estrellas is to Mexicans what
salsa romantica is to Cubans and Puerto Ricans; it's lush, stylish
Latin pop with a regional flavor. And while some Mexican purists will argue that
Mojado's music is watered down -- that artists like
los Rieleros del Norte and
los Tigres del Norte have a more authentically Mexican sound --
Un Monton de Estrellas is enjoyable if you judge it by
Latin pop standards rather than
norteño,
ranchero, or
mariachi standards. On sleek, smooth, polished offerings like
"Llorale a El" and
"Si Tu Me Amaras Mas," the Mexican flavor is subtle;
Mojado isn't pretending to be
los Rieleros del Norte any more than
Marc Anthony claims to be
Willie Colón. At times,
Mojado moves outside of
Mexican pop;
"Fulano de Tal" has an Afro-Cuban-influenced
salsa romantica appeal, and
"Tu Eres Mi Amor" incorporates Peruvian/Andean elements. But whether
Mojado is acknowledging Mexico, South America, or the Caribbean, a romantic ambience usually prevails on
Un Monton de Estrellas, which isn't recommended to Mexican purists but is a pleasant, likable example of Latin
adult contemporary.
~Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
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