Since the front and back photo of
Asi Es la Vida shows 16 people, it's probably not surprising that the album has a bigger than life sound. Trumpets and tubas provide
Banda Salvatierra with more cushioning than a German oompah band during Octoberfest.
Salvatierra's spirited vocals thrive in this heavy mix, matching the lively instrumental accompaniment with his vibrant, full-throated style. As one might expect from such an exuberant approach, the songs --
"Aquel Amor," "La Gran Mujer," and
"La Basurita" -- are upbeat and infectious, the kind of music one might play at a wedding party or some similar festive event. The arrangements, while dominated by horns, also include lively percussion, pushing songs like the title cut and
"Corrido de Malverde"into a rhythmic frenzy. While this heady mixture of multiple horns, percussion, and a singer might seem like too much, everything works together admirably, and even busy songs like
"Que Suerte la Mia" and the
"Asi Es la Vida-Remix," never sound noisy.
Salvatierra's overall approach also benefits from the two-to-three minute-length of each song, which guarantees that none of these pieces ever overstays its welcome.
Asi Es la Vida is a fun, contagious album, and a good introduction to
Salvatierra. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.
