It is no exaggeration to say that
Jenni Rivera is one of the most polarizing figures in regional Mexican music. Her hardcore fans absolutely adore her, while her detractors aren't just mildly critical of her gutsy, often in-your-face approach to banda -- they are vehemently critical. Is there a middle ground? Absolutely. Discussions of
Rivera's work aren't necessarily confined to either total praise or total condemnation; there is room for nuance. And in fact,
Rivera's recordings themselves have plenty of nuance; nuance abounds on
Jenni, which marks the first time
Rivera did all the producing on one of her albums. Certainly,
Jenni has its share of anger;
Rivera has long been known for embracing irreverent, in-your-face lyrics, and that hasn't changed. But
Rivera has hardly been one-dimensional. So even though
Jenni demonstrates that the Los Angeles resident can be inflammatory at times, this 44-minute CD has a range of other qualities as well. Among them: vulnerability, warmth, and compassion. Emotionally, there has been a lot of complexity in
Rivera's work -- and that is another thing that hasn't changed. Nonetheless,
Jenni is unlikely to win over the people who have been highly critical of
Rivera in the past; folks who never acknowledged the nuance and complexity of
Se Las Voy a Dar a Otro,
Parrandera, Rebelde y Atrevida, or Mi Vida Loca aren't going to suddenly change their minds about
Rivera after hearing this 2008 release. But the disc will easily appeal to those who have been able to comprehend and appreciate her artistry, and while
Jenni isn't among
Rivera's essential releases, it is still an engaging and memorable addition to her catalog. [The CD was also released with a bonus track.] ~ Alex Henderson