Intocable - Crossroads: Cruce De Caminos (CD)

All Music Guide

With a dozen years logged, every one of them spent pushing the boundaries and expanding the realm of the acceptable in Regional Mexican music, Intocable offers up perhaps their most adventurous effort yet. Crossroads is a genuine convergence of disparate musical influences, both latino and not. In addition to ranchera, norteno, cumbia and other standard Intocable fare, there are strong veins of country running throughout the record. Produced by Dixie Chicks veteran Lloyd Maines (father of front woman Natalie Maines), Crossroads is adorned in country grace on "Vuelve Mi Amor" and flaunts a bit of honky tonk on the single "Por Ella." Producer Junior Cabral adds unique flavor with mandolin and banjo, more influence seldom heard on Mexican radio. In an era when norteno continues to stagnate with record sales tapering off, yesterday's heroes playing smaller venues, and huge numbers of knockoff groups glutting the market with disappointingly uncreative material, Intocable continues to raise ...the bar. Receiving accolades from critics and fellow musicians alike, Crossroads is the finest Norteno release of the year. The Billboard charts agree, placing the record at number one in both the Regional Mexican Music and Top Latin Albums categories. Accompanied by a DVD featuring a short but well made documentary about the making of the album and artist interviews, Crossroads is a nonnegotiable for even pedestrial Mexican Music fans. - Evan C. Gutierrez, All Music Guide Read more Less