Banda Jerez - Me Gustan Las Viejas Buenas (CD)

All Music Guide

Certain adjectives have a way of coming up a lot when Banda Jerez is being describedadjectives that have included, among many others, exuberant, funny, humorous, irreverent, fun, spirited, tireless and lively. All of those adjectives are applicable on this 2006 release, which underscores the fact that even though Jerez' members are well aware of regional Mexican music's rich past, they are not stuck in the past. Me Gustan las Viejas Buenas leaves no doubt that Jerez is well aware of the great ranchera and corrido contributions of previous generations of Mexican artists, and yet, this 34minute CD is quite modern and contemporarysounding by 2006 standards. Of course, not all regional Mexican listeners are fans of Jerez' irreverent approach; Jerez have had their share of detractors who were critical of some of their more offcolor lyrics. But folks who do appreciate where Jerez is coming from musicallythose who realize that art is not polite 100 percent of the timeeat their albums up, and Me Gustan las Viejas Buenas does not disappoint. The usual Jerez aggression is impossible to miss on colorful, hotblooded tracks like "Tamarindo," "Corrido del Perico," "Tu Madre" and "Discúlpeme Amigo". That said, Me Gustan las Viejas Buenas isn't quite as essential as Y Arriba Zacatecas: Homenaje a Don Antonio Aguilar (another 2006 release) or 2005's Billete Verde, but it's still an inspired, exciting example of the inyourface outlook that Jerez brings to banda.

- Alex Henderson, All Music Guide