Ven y Dime

AMG Review of Ven y Dime

Alex Henderson
All Music Guide

Fonovisa Records has described as this 2007 release as a 25th anniversary CD for los Rieleros del Norte, which means that the long-running /p>

orteńo group would have been formed in 1982. However, 1979 -- not 1982 -- has often been cited as the year in which los Rieleros' original lineup first got together in Pecos, TX. So if 1979 was the year of los Rieleros' formation, Ven y Dime ("Come and Tell Me") would actually be a 28th anniversary CD. At any rate, Ven y Dime is a fine addition to their catalog. After so many years in the trenches, it isn't hard for some groups to become bored. But there are no signs of boredom on Ven y Dime -- not at all. Los Rieleros sound as enthusiastic and as focused as ever on this 37-minute disc, tackling polkas ("Mi Linda Tierra," "Defiendeme," "Un Juego," "Leńa al Fuego") and a few corridos ("El 3 Dedos," "Vengo a Llevarme a Esa Joven"), as well as Tex-Mex-style cumbia ("Muńeca Preciosa"). Meanwhile, "Pena en Cuesta Arriba" is a textbook example of regional Mexican music incorporating doo wop harmonies. Many times, regional Mexican groups that incorporate doo wop are doing so in an overtly Latin pop fashion; that happens not only in /p>

orteńo, but in anda and duranguense as well (not to mention grupero and Tejano). But on Ven y Dime, los Rieleros never sound like a group that plays "/p>

orteńo for people who don't like /p>

orteńo." They are a hardcore /p>

orteńo group, not a crossover /p>

orteńo group. That outlook has been serving them well for many years and continues to serve them well on the engaging Ven y Dime.