Industria del Amor - Si Te Perdiera (CD)

All Music Guide

Norteño/TexMex can, depending on the artist, be anything from gutsy, provocative and hardhitting to gently romantic. Grupo Exterminador and los Tigres del Norte epitomize the hardcore side of norteño; their ballsy corridosmany of which have dealt with subjects like poverty, illegal immigration and drug traffickingare every bit as daring and substantial as anything by IceT, U2, Bob Dylan or KRS1. But Industria del Amor is one of the groups that has represented the lighter side of norteño; they aren't as consistently slick as some of the norteño light groups in the regional Mexican market, but they definitely have a softer, more popminded approach than los Huracanes del Norte. Si Te Perdiera has its share of romantic fare; ballads like "Te Amare," "Que Pena," "Mi Vida Eres Tu" and the title song are essentially Latin adult contemporary. But Si Te Perdiera offers some surprises here and there. This time, Industria provides duranguense arrangements of two well known Mexican standards: Bulm...aro Bermúdez' "Los Caminos de Michoacan" and José Alfredo Jiménez' "Camino de Guanajuato." Duranguense isn't the first thing one expects from Industria, and their willingness to explore that style is a plus. Meanwhile, the other Jiménez song on this 36minute CD, "En El Ultimo Trago," has a norteño arrangement that is more typical of the group. Jiménez, of course, was a major figure in regional Mexican music; he was arguably the Antonio Carlos Jobim of Mexico, and the fact that his songs are still being performed by a variety of Mexican artists in a variety of ways shows how prolific a songwriter he was. Si Te Perdiera won't go down in history as the most challenging regional Mexican CD of 2005, but it's a pleasant and likable addition to Industria del Amor's sizable catalog. - Alex Henderson, All Music Guide Read more Less