Rating:
Genre:
Latin
Release Date: 11/07/2006
After recording for
Hollywood and
WEA International,
la Costumbre moved to
Fonovisa with 2006's
Entregame. Sometimes, switching labels can signal a change of direction for a group; the A&R folks at the new label might have something different in mind than the A&R folks at the old label. But
Entregame is not a radical departure for
Costumbre, who continue to provide romantic, good-natured Mexican
pop that is norteño-minded but is not
norteño in the purist sense.
Entregame is not hardcore
norteño in the way that
los Huracanes del Norte,
los Tigres del Norte,
los Tucanes de Tijuana and
los Rieleros del Norte are hardcore
norteño; rather,
Costumbre mixes
norteño elements (including a prominent
norteño-style accordion) with
Latin pop in a crossover fashion that is comparable to the way a Dominican crossover artist might use
bachata elements for
pop purposes or a Spanish crossover artist might put a very
pop-minded spin on
flamenco. Some will describe
Entregame as
Tejano; others may call it
grupero, but whatever the terminology one applies, this is a well executed effort that is enjoyable if one accepts it for what it is. Anyone who obtains
Entregame in the hope of hearing covers of
"Contrabando y Traición" or
"La Banda del Carro Rojo" (two of
los Tigres del Norte's definitive '70s hits) is in for a letdown; anyone who expects material more along the lines of
Intocable's
"Contra Viento y Marea" will find a lot to like about this 38-minute CD.
Entregame doesn't pretend to be terribly challenging, but it is a satisfying, worthwhile demonstration of
Costumbre's ability to use
norteño elements in a
pop/crossover environment.
~Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
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