México en la Sangre: Caminos de Michoacán [CD & DVD]

Performer: Various Artists
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Package includes DVD. In late 2004, Fonovisa Records launched M�xico en la Sangre, a semi-aural, semi-visual series of two-disc sets paying tribute to various parts of Mexico. Fonovisa's first M�xico en la Sangre release focused on the Mexican state of Jalisco, and this CD/DVD release turns it attention to one of Jalisco's neighboring states in Southern Mexico: Michoac�n. Disc two, the DVD, is a 93-minute documentary examining some of Michoac�n's cultural highlights, and disc one is a 32-minute compilation CD containing ten recordings that are all relevant to Michoac�n in some way. Fonovisa could have stuck to one type of regional Mexican music; because so many songs have been written about Michoac�n, it wouldn't have been hard to make disc one of this early 2005 release an all-banda, all-mariachi, or all-ranchera compilation. Instead, Fonovisa opts for diversity, favoring mariachi from Herencia Mexicana on "Juan Colorado," banda from Banda el Recodo on the instrumental "Lindo Michoac�n," and norte�o/Tex-Mex from Oro Norte�o on two tracks: "Mi Tierra Michoacana" and Bulmaro Berm�dez's "Los Caminos de Michoac�n." But whether the style is mariachi, banda, ranchera, or norte�o, Michoac�n remains the focus of disc one -- and the CD's diversity is one of its strong points. Fonovisa reminds you that regional Mexican music isn't just one great style of music, but many great styles of music. Regrettably, Fonovisa doesn't provide any liner notes or recording dates; if the label didn't have exact recording dates, the years or approximate years in which these recordings were made would have sufficed. But despite that shortcoming, this two-disc set is -- both visually and aurally -- an enjoyable celebration of what Michoac�n has to offer. ~ Alex Henderson

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