Swap a CD: 15 Recently Posted CDs in Mexican Cumbia

Pikadientes De Caborca - V�monos Pa'l R�o

Pikadientes De Caborca — 2013-03-21T12:15:29-05:00

Los Pikadientes de Caborca, VÁmonos Pa'l RÍo

Various Artists - Reyes De La Musica Grabada

Various Artists — 2012-11-22T21:19:37-05:00

Various Artists - Mas Y Mas Cumbias

Various Artists — 2012-09-11T20:45:28-05:00

Control - Nuevo Y Lo Mejor

Control — 2012-06-02T17:15:09-05:00

DJ Kane - DJ Kane

DJ Kane — 2011-08-15T21:27:45-05:00

As former lead vocalist for A.B. Quintanilla y Los Kumbia Kings, DJ Kane offered up smooth vocals on top of Tejano, cumbia, and R&B rhythms. Kane plays up the pop and R&B elements on his self-titled debut album, but he still can't escape the Kings' sound. The Houston-born, Brooklyn-bred performer kicks off his album with "La Negra Tomasa," and his zippy cumbia take on the Cuban classic (which was also one of Los Caifanes' earliest hits) would sound right at home on any of the Kings' past efforts. Kane also peppers his album with tender R&B ballads, another of the Kumbia Kings' calling cards. The best of the bunch is "Mia," co-written by Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough. To maximize crossover appeal, the song is featured in English, Spanish, and cumbia versions, a trick often used by--you guessed it--the Kumbia Kings. Kane is a confident, charismatic singer, but it's a mystery why he chose to venture out on his own when his sound is still so clearly tied to his past musical life. --Joey Guerra

Quetzal - Worksongs

Quetzal — 2010-11-04T18:56:48-05:00

Like its hometown of Los Angeles, the 10-year-old Mexican-American sextet Quetzal is a patchwork of North and s South, encompassing such north of the border sounds as modern rock and soul, as well as earthy Mexican folk music, driving salsa, loping cumbia rhythms, and chattering Afro-Cuban percussion. With these decidedly pan-cultural leanings, it's no surprise that the band's second album for Vanguard was produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos. Unlike Berlin's group, however, Quetzal's sound works better in lounges and on dance clubs (when not digging deep into the tradition) than Los Lobos's rough and ready bar band boogie. Martha Gonzales is an outstanding vocalist (in both English and Spanish) who is at turns sensual and soulful, indignant and insightful. She, with help from the others, sings about the hopes and dreams of life in the barrio, often from a woman's perspective. Well-crafted and revved with thoughtful ambition, Worksongs takes its story of a minority and fashions it into something quite universal. --Tad Hendrickson

Alberto Y Roberto - Llego el Amor

Alberto Y Roberto — 2010-04-19T14:49:20-05:00

Chicos de Barrio - Dominando Y Controlando

Chicos de Barrio — 2010-02-20T13:51:53-05:00

Chicos de Barrio - Salio Mejor

Chicos de Barrio — 2010-02-20T05:56:18-05:00

DJ Kane - Capitulo II-Brinca

DJ Kane — 2010-01-19T14:20:26-05:00

Ab Quintanilla Kumbia Kings AB Quintanilla III Presents Kumbia Kings - 4

Ab Quintanilla & Kumbia Kings, A.B. Quintanilla III Presents Kumbia Kings — 2009-11-09T17:42:56-05:00

A respected producer and songwriter in his own right, A.B. Quintanilla III will probably be best remembered as the producer, collaborator, and brother of Selena. In recent years, he's been working with the Texas Kumbia Kings, a young quintet packaged much like 'N Sync or Boys II Men, and the partnership has been successful enough to gain platinum album sales in the U.S. and Latin America. The music is a modern mix of tejano, cumbia, reggae, and hot-buttered R&B that is polished to the kind of bright sheen only a high-end producer can manage. The band's fourth album, 4, sticks with this formula while again featuring lyrics in both Spanish and English. For those not familiar with the band or its sound, the liberal use of accordion (cumbia's main instrument) may seem at odds with the poppy modern style and R&B vocal harmonies, but it actually provides enough grit to nicely balance the band's glossier modern moments. Guests include Ozomatli and El Gran Silencio. --Tad Hendrickson

Various Artists - Exitos Que Llegan Al Corazon

Various Artists — 2009-09-18T13:55:43-05:00

ATM - A Toda Maquina

ATM — 2009-07-25T14:28:59-05:00

AB Quintanilla Los Kumbia Kings - Amor Familia Y Respeto

A.B. Quintanilla, Los Kumbia Kings — 2009-07-15T01:00:26-05:00

A bevy of high-profile guests pops up on Amor, Familia y Respeto --Sheila E., Chris Perez, Nu Flavor, Fito Olivares, even talk-show host Cristina--but A.B. Quintanilla y los Kumbia Kings remain front and center on their inspired debut album. Much like he did with his late sister Selena, Quintanilla fuses the traditional cumbia sound with reggae, rap, rock, and dance music on songs such as "AzÚcar," "Fuiste Mala," and "Reggae Kumbia," turning the Tejano sound on its head. The group also dabbles in old-school R&B on "Together," featuring vocals by the late Roger Troutman, and "U Don't Love Me," a silky crossover-hit ballad. Amor, Familia y Respeto also features "Oh No," a sweet cumbia cowritten by Selena that she never had the chance to record, but which her brother included here as a tribute. --Joey Guerra

Control - Todo Bajo Control

Control — 2009-06-27T21:23:39-05:00