Almas Gemelas

Album Review

One of the positive things about the duranguense explosion of the 1990s and 2000s has been its diversity. Many different types of songs have been given the duranguense treatment, and they range from narcocorridos (corridos about drug trafficking) to traditional ranchera standards to experimental tunes that fuse duranguense with Dominican bachata or hip-hop. El Trono de Mexico contributed to that diversity on Cruzando Fronteras, which found them making some Latin pop moves at times but had a strong ranchera factor. Almas Gemelas, however, emphasizes their Latin pop side and doesn't have a lot of ranchera appeal. But from a Latin pop standpoint, it is definitely enjoyable. Almas Gemelas (Soulmates) has a decidedly romantic orientation, which is not to say that it is an album of slow ballads. Romantic means slow ballads on some regional Mexican and Latin pop discs, but not on Almas Gemelas. In fact, this 2008 release underscores El Trono de Mexico's ability to have a sleekly romantic approach without sacrificing duranguense's bounciness. Think of Almas Gemelas as primarily a collection of love songs played at a fast tempo; that is exactly what the group provides on exuberant tracks such as "Ni una Llamada Ni un Detalle" (Neither a Call Nor a Detail), "Cuando No Estás Te Invento" (When You're Not Here I Invent You), and "Por Amor a Ti" (For the Love of You). This is romanticism with a lot of energy, and it works well for El Trono de Mexico. Almas Gemelas is less essential than Cruzando Fronteras, but it is still a worthwhile addition to the catalog of El Trono de Mexico.