Timbirichie 25 CD

Timbiriche, a Mexican teen pop sensation of the 1980s, reunited for a 25th anniversary reunion tour in 2007. The six original members performing on the reunion tour -- Sasha Sokol, Benny Ibarra, Diego Schoening, Mariana Garza, Alix Bauer, and Erick Rubín (but not Paulina Rubio) -- also entered the studio to re-record a dozen of their greatest hits for 25, one of a few different albums released around the time of their tour. These dozen remakes may interest Timbiriche fans who still have fond memories of the original versions of the songs as they were performed in the '80s, but other than a short-lived jolt of nostalgia, 25 offers little value. The music sounds canned, and the performances lack the spark of youth that made the originals so special. After all, these are grown adults singing teen pop. Why listen to adults singing these songs when you can listen to the original versions, that is, teen pop as sung by real teens? It's safe to say, only hardcore fans who have played the original hits to death and just can't get enough Timbiriche are likely to find this collection of re-recorded greatest hits worth their investment of time and money. Everyone else is recommended to seek out the original versions instead. The five-CD/one-DVD box set 25 Años (2007) compiles hours of entertainment -- the good as well as some of the bad -- and if that box set is too much Timbiriche for your needs, there's the more succinct double-disc collection XXX (2007). There's also no shortage of single-disc retrospectives on the market such as 15 Exitos (2002). ~ Jason Birchmeier

Timbiriche, a Mexican teen pop sensation of the 1980s, reunited for a 25th anniversary reunion tour in 2007. The six original members performing on the reunion tour -- Sasha Sokol, Benny Ibarra, Diego Schoening, Mariana Garza, Alix Bauer, and Erick Rubín (but not Paulina Rubio) -- also entered the studio to re-record a dozen of their greatest hits for 25, one of a few different albums released around the time of their tour. These dozen remakes may interest Timbiriche fans who still have fond memories of the original versions of the songs as they were performed in the '80s. ~ Jason Birchmeier

Timbiriche: Diego, Erik, Mariana, Alix, Sasha, Benny.

Personnel: Jay de la Cueva (guitar, bajo sexto); Aureo Baqueiro (guitar, keyboards, programming); Aleks Syntek (guitar, keyboards, background vocals); Sacha Triujeque, Gustavo Montalvo (guitar, programming); Paco Huidobro (guitar); Jack Miles (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Santiago Ojeda (electric guitar); Freddy Cañedo, Uriel Natenzon (bajo sexto).

Audio Mixers: Mauricio Garza; Gustavo Borner; Patrick Dillett; Armando Avila; Toy Hernández; Sacha Triujeque.

Recording information: 11:11; Brava! Music, Mexico; Chetes, Monterrey N.L; Cosmos Studios; Hotel De Chihuahua; La Chickenstation Studio, Mexico; Obra Negra Studio, Mexico D.F; Sonido Mambo.

Arranger: Aureo Baqueiro.

T25 CD

Timbiriche