After Alejandro Fernández wrapped up his Sony Music tenure with the greatest-hits album 15 Años de Éxitos (2007) and the covers collection De Noche: Clásicos a Mi Manera (2008), his new Universal Music association commenced with Dos Mundos, a double album split into two halves, Evolución and Tradición, that were released in a single double-disc package or separately. Though released concurrently, Evolución and Tradición are distinct albums. Evolución is a Latin pop album produced by Aureo Baqueiro, who worked with Fernández on some of his previous albums, including A Corazón Abierto (2004), México-Madrid: Directo y Sin Escalas (2005), and Viento a Favor (2007). Also known for his work with Sin Bandera, Paulina Rubio, and Ha*Ash, Baqueiro is one of contemporary Latin pop's preeminent hitmakers, and he gives Evolución a smooth sheen while professional songwriters including Gian Marco and Kike Santander supply the tailor-made tunes. Fans of Fernández's past collaborations with Baqueiro, Viento a Favor in particular, should find plenty to enjoy on Evolución. Clocking in under 40 minutes, the album is rather brief, but there are quite a few highlights, including the album opener, "Me Hace Tanto Bien," and the lead single, "Se Me Va la Voz." Another standout song is "No Lo Besos," an orchestral piano ballad that is brimming with passion. The other half of Dos Mundos, Tradición, is an album of regional Mexican music produced and written by Joan Sebastían, a legendary singer/songwriter who recently worked with Alejandro's father, Vincente Fernández, on his critically acclaimed album Para Siempre (2007). While Sebastían's songwriting is better suited to Vincente than Alejandro, Tradición is one of the better albums of traditional Mexican music that Fernández has released to date. Like Evolución, it's rather brief, clocking in at 35 minutes, but there's plenty to enjoy for fans of Fernández's traditional output. Highlights include the lead single, "Estuve," the comedic "Unas Nalgadas," and the Marco Antonio Solís contribution "Mi Rechazo," the only song not penned by Sebastían himself. The only major complaint about Dos Mundos is that the brevity of Evolución and Tradición would enable both to fit on a single disc and therefore make for a less expensive product; however, the split discs make for a better listen on their own due to not only their musical and production styles but also their tone and mood. Moreover, some listeners might prefer one album to another.
© Jason Birchmeier /TiVo