Search - Ab Quintanilla & Kumbia Kings :: Remixes 2.0

Four songs into Los Remixes 2.0, the second song-reconstruction effort from A.B. Quintanilla and the Kumbia Kings, something happens. The disc transforms from just another mildly diverting crossover attempt into a pulsing collection of late-night club anthems. It's a new direction for Quintanilla, whose expertise is usually showcased on colorful cumbias and Latin pop ditties. Los Remixes 2.0 works, however, because the house versions of cumbia hits such as "No Tengo Dinero," Insomnio" and "Amores Como el Tuyo" are meticulously molded into entirely new songs. Kudos to production teams ROCASound and Nopal Beat, who clearly know what they are doing. Particularly effective are the ROCASound mixes of "Insomnio" and "No Tengo Dinero," which could settle in easily underneath the disco ball of any club. Los Remixes 2.0 also features a trio of new tracks: "Sabes a Chocolate," a remake of a two-decade-old Menudo hit (circa Ricky Martin) featuring 14-year-old vocalist Pee Wee Gonzalez; "Thug Like Me," a limp attempt at hardcore street cred; and "I Wish," an innocuous remake of R&B singer Carl Thomas's 2000 hit. Stick with the remixes--your dancing shoes will thank you. --Joey Guerra