Celebrating the music of northern Mexico,
Greatest Hits Duranguenses 2000-2005 is a collection of 20 songs that shows the direction the genre has taken. The traditional instruments -- accordion, trumpets, and tubas -- are all there, though some of the tracks also include drum kits and keyboards, like "Leña Verde," "Lástima Es Mi Mujer," and the cover of
Aventura's hit "Obsesión," which sounds more ridiculous than anything else with its combination of synth strings and accordion, though perhaps it really gets the crowd moving at a ranchera club night. It is in fact the ranchera heading under which most of the songs on
Greatest Hits Duranguenses 2000-2005 fall, although "Jambalaya" by
K-Paz de la Sierra is charanga and "Antes Muerta Que Spencilla" by
los Horóscopes de Durango and "Eres Divina" by
Patrulla 81 are both considered duranguenses. The album will probably not win over any new converts, but for those who already appreciate charanga, duranguense, and ranchera for what they are, it could be a nice modern addition to the collection. ~ Marisa Brown, All Music Guide