PRESENTE

Norteño great Julión Álvarez returned to música mexicana to much fanfare, capped off with 2022’s triumphant De Hoy En Adelante, Que Te Vaya Bien. That album’s follow-up, the simply yet boldly named PRESENTE acknowledges in its very title all the years he spent hindered by legal issues, coupled with the fact that his career resurgence has been both impactful and inescapable. Fans will find immediate gratification across its 12 tracks, from the opening brass explosions of “Te Dije” to the closing saxophone flair of “Quiero”. In between, there are portrayals of sacrifice like the ranchera cut “Buscándole A La Suerte” and declarations of romantic sentiments including the deeply felt “Casi Completa”.