Amor y Delirio

It's the sound of his voice that wins listeners over — a sublime, gossamer, enchanting, ethereal, Aaron Neville-ish approach that gives listeners a warm feeling whenever Ricardo Acosta opens his mouth. His voice is so appealing, in fact, that he sometimes has a way of making listeners think that good material is actually great material — which is what often happens on Amor y Delirio. Los Acosta have, over the years, provided their share of great albums as well as albums that are merely decent, and this 2005 release often falls into the decent category. Amor y Delirio (which was recorded in Mexico City) won't go down in history as one of los Acosta's essential discs, but the material is pleasant grupero/Latin pop fare that the outfit's sizable following will enjoy. The most challenging track is the opener, "Los Pobres Van al Cielo"; in Spanish, that title means "The Poor Go to Heaven," and the song is a poignant, sincere reflection on the realities that the economically disadvantaged contend with in Latin American countries (and elsewhere). But social commentary is the exception, not the rule, on Amor y Delirio — and whether los Acosta's grupero/Latin pop is incorporating cumbia or doo wop, this is an album of romantic mood music first and foremost. Romantic mood music that — although predictable at times — benefits nicely from the ever-appealing sound of Ricardo Acosta's voice.