Costumbre Entregame CD

Personnel: Jose Gerardo Zamora Jr (vocals, accordion).
Recording information: Cabanna Studios, Veracruz, Mexico; Salmon Peak Studio, San Antonio, TX.
After recording for Hollywood and WEA International, la Costumbre moved to Fonovisa with 2006's Entregame. Sometimes, switching labels can signal a change of direction for a group; the A&R folks at the new label might have something different in mind than the A&R folks at the old label. But Entregame is not a radical departure for Costumbre, who continue to provide romantic, good-natured Mexican pop that is norteño-minded but is not norteño in the purist sense. Entregame is not hardcore norteño in the way that los Huracanes del Norte, los Tigres del Norte, los Tucanes de Tijuana and los Rieleros del Norte are hardcore norteño; rather, Costumbre mixes norteño elements (including a prominent norteño-style accordion) with Latin pop in a crossover fashion that is comparable to the way a Dominican crossover artist might use bachata elements for pop purposes or a Spanish crossover artist might put a very pop-minded spin on flamenco. Some will describe Entregame as Tejano; others may call it grupero, but whatever the terminology one applies, this is a well executed effort that is enjoyable if one accepts it for what it is. Anyone who obtains Entregame in the hope of hearing covers of "Contrabando y Traición" or "La Banda del Carro Rojo" (two of los Tigres del Norte's definitive '70s hits) is in for a letdown; anyone who expects material more along the lines of Intocable's "Contra Viento y Marea" will find a lot to like about this 38-minute CD. Entregame doesn't pretend to be terribly challenging, but it is a satisfying, worthwhile demonstration of Costumbre's ability to use norteño elements in a pop/crossover environment. ~ Alex Henderson