Abriendo Caminos

In Spanish, the title Abriendo Caminos means "opening roads," which is los Rieleros del Norte's way of saying that the band was continuing to evolve when it recorded this CD in 2003. It isn't a radical evolution by any means; Abriendo Caminos is actually quite similar to the albums that they provided back in the '80s. However, the band has had some lineup changes along the way; on Abriendo Caminos, the 2003 lineup ranges from young newcomers Javier Esquivel and Daniel Esquivel Jr. to older members Daniel Esquivel Sr. (lead vocals, accordion), Pemo Gonzales (sax), and Alfredo Esquivel (drums). The younger members weren't even born when bassist Manolo Morales founded the band in Pecos, TX, in 1979; regardless, Abriendo Caminos is state-of-the-art Rieleros del Norte — exuberant, heartfelt, and emotional norteño/Tex-Mex that combines Mexican ranchera with the German polka beat. Despite the addition of two younger members, this CD is hardly a radical departure from the time-tested Rieleros sound — and that's probably for the best. Abriendo Caminos tends to be predictable, but it's predictably rewarding. In one sense, hearing Rieleros on this CD is a lot like obtaining a new album by a well-established veteran jazz artist like Scott Hamilton or Phil Woods; you don't expect a ton of surprises, but you know that you can expect quality (which is exactly what los Rieleros offer on Abriendo Caminos). Los Rieleros have long since earned a reputation for being highly consistent, and Abriendo Caminos does nothing to damage that reputation. This CD isn't quite essential, but longtime fans will find it to be a solid, worthwhile addition to the band's sizable catalog.