Insatisfecha

Commercially, a change of direction can be risky business for an artist — even if the change is not a radical one. In Diana Reyes' case, the change wasn't dramatic; she started out in one area of regional Mexican music (norteño) and switched to another (duranguense). It wasn't like she gave up norteño in order to reinvent herself as a goth-rock, industrial, or death metal artist. Nonetheless, even a minor change of direction is still a change of direction. But thanks to very effective marketing, Reyes' switch to duranguense has paid off commercially for the spirited Mexican vocalist. Reyes continues in a duranguense direction on 2008's Insatisfecha ("Unsatisfied"), which has a fair amount of Latin pop appeal but overall, has a stronger ranchera factor than 2005's La Reina del Pasito Duranguense (an album that did a great deal to make Reyes a major name in duranguense). When Reyes made the transition from norteño to duranguense, her work became more pop-minded and less traditionally ranchera. But Insatisfecha does a fine job of balancing Latin pop and ranchera considerations, always maintaining a duranguense orientation — and regardless of whether a particular track is more Latin pop or more ranchera, Reyes' originality is a major asset. Reyes may not have the wildly eclectic outlook of los Horóscopos de Durango, but she is always distinctive on Insatisfecha; the minute she opens her mouth on "Tu Nuevo Cariñito" ("Your New Sweetheart"), "Me Estoy Volviendo Loca" ("You're Driving Me Crazy"), "La Lámpara" ("The Lamp") or "Sedúceme" ("Seduce Me"), there is no question that one is listening to a Diana Reyes album. Reyes' switch to el pasito duranguense continues to yield fresh-sounding results on Insatisfecha.