Grupo Firme’s ‘Evolución’: All 14 Tracks Ranked

The track opens with soft jazz notes and while it’s a gorgeous opening, the addition of the saxophone almost seems like an afterthought in this otherwise beautiful ballad.

This song is a testament to Grupo Firme’s ability to craft a great song without having to reinvent the wheel. The subtle fusion of norteño with horn instruments takes the backseat here as Eduin’s vocals soar.

Firme began singing música norteña in their native Tijuana, and this song takes the group back to its roots. Powered by a mighty accordion, Eduin sings with pathos about an untested relationship: “We should have asked for more time/ But ultimately this is how it goes, what they call love,” he declares.

One thing is clear — on this album, no song is bad, there are just really strong ones that push a song like this one lower in the ranking. The accordion work here is supreme and Eduin’s powerful vocals take the spotlight as he sings about love and loss.

The electric guitar work at the top of the song, and incorporated throughout, is what takes the production to another level. While it’s a norteño song through and through, the subtle addition of the guitar sets this song apart.

There’s a delicateness to this ballad that really allows you to take in all the melodies coming through from the instruments and Eduin’s vocals, which complement each other perfectly.

Penned by the great Horacio Palencia, “Todavía” — featuring Sinaloa-born singer Carolina Ross — thrives on the type of romanticism that is at the core of regional Mexican music. It’s not all corridos; this norteño ballad proves that romance in regional Mexican is alive and well.

What I love most about this track is that Jhonny, Eduin’s older brother and one of the group’s vocalists, joins the iconic Gloria Trevi to perform the heart-wrenching despecho song. The two convincingly sing about thriving and feeling fabulous post-breakup.

This tex-mex cumbia stands out precisely for sounding different from everything else in the album, which leans just slightly more traditional norteño or banda. And here again, props to Eduin, who really can adapt his voice to any style of the regional Mexican spectrum.

The song that started it all. This norteño ballad, the album’s first single, set the tone for Grupo Firme’s more lyrically mature era. Penned by Joss Favela, Eduin doesn’t hold back his emotions — singing (almost imploring) evocatively about getting a second chance, over an equally nostalgic accordion.

Eduin’s vocals are full of color, and he showcases his versatility in this song particularly, hitting all the high notes to drive home the song’s emotional tone. This song further cements Eduin as one of the greatest vocalists in regional Mexican music.

An homage to banda sinaloense, this tuba-powered song is a literal joy to listen to. Eduin joins forces with Joss Favela to sing about living life to the fullest, intentionally or unintentionally giving us a new anthem. “Why did I come to this life if not to enjoy it — one day it will end anyway,” Eduin sings passionately.

Elevating Grupo Firme’s signature ballads, an electric guitar opens this stripped-down-yet-poignant ballad that puts Eduin’s wide-ranging vocals at the forefront. His melodic delivery, both evocative and convincing, is truly noteworthy. The guitar returns for an electrifying solo, which you’ll need to stick around for.

Mainly known for singing traditional-leaning music like banda and norteño, Grupo Firme showcases evolución in “Cero Sentimientos,” which is what makes this the best song in the album. A banda track with elements of tumbado, like the incorporation of charchetas and trumpets, this sounds like the future of regional Mexican music.