Mentir por Amor

Album Review

Conjunto Primavera are hardly the only regional Mexican artists who have sold an abundance of CDs by offering a romantic norteño-light/crossover norteño approach. There are countless other Mexican groups vying for the attention of listeners who like their norteño combined with large doses of sleek Latin pop. But Conjunto Primavera stand out in the crowd because they are much better at it than most of the competition, and one of their greatest assets is lead singer Tony Meléndez. A charismatic, expressive frontman, Meléndez handles himself predictably well throughout 2009's Mentir for Amor ("Lie for Love"). Meléndez, truth be told, is as much of a Latin pop singer as he is a regional Mexican singer — and his romantic inclinations get the job done whether Conjunto Primavera are providing polkas ("Un Mal Paso," "Me Cansé de Extrañarte," "Flecha Envenenada"), waltzes ("Le Prometí a la Noche"), Mexican-style cumbia ("Muerto"), or Latin pop ballads ("Pobre de Mi Corazón," "Amor Perdóname"). It doesn't matter whether Conjunto Primavera are embracing a fast polka tempo or slowing things down considerably for a ballad — Mentir for Amor is always a romantic album, and Latin pop is always part of the equation. This isn't norteño that pretends to compete with los Tucanes de Tijuana's ballsy narcocorridos or los Tigres del Norte's biting sociopolitical commentary; this is norteño for fans of romantic Latin pop singers like Juan Gabriel, Luis Miguel, Julio Iglesias and Marco Antonio Solís. Mentir for Amor doesn't offer many surprises or break any new ground for Conjunto Primavera; those who have been following them for a long time have heard it all before. But predictability has its place in music as long as the performances are inspired — and with Mentir for Amor, Conjunto Primavera once again offer a predictably enjoyable dose of musical comfort food.