See how Billboard ranks every song on the new LP.
Grupo Firme
Rodrigo Ayala
Aptly titled Evolución, Grupo Firme pushes its norteño/banda boundaries to showcase a more nuanced sound in its new album, released Thursday (May 8). The 14-track set strikes the perfect balance of traditional and modern, fusing the norteño’s accordion with electric guitars.
Comprised of Eduin (lead singer); Jhonny Caz (vocals and Eduin’s brother); Abraham Hernández (vocals and tuba); Joaquín Ruiz (bajo sexto guitar); Christian Gutiérrez (bass); José “Fito” Rubio (drums); and Dylan Camacho (accordion), Grupo Firme immediately became a juggernaut in Latin music after going viral on YouTube and social media during the pandemic.
Mainly known for recording albums live and their DIY approach to recording music videos and uploading them to YouTube — which is initially what really connected with fans before catapulting to global success in 2022 and embarking on a stadium tour — Grupo Firme’s Evolución feels momentous. For starters, it’s the band’s first LP in three years and it also comes at a time when regional Mexican artists continue to break barriers in music.
“We have accomplished things we never imagined,” the band’s frontman, Eduin Caz, told Billboard Español when discussing Evolución. “Today we want to show another side of Grupo Firme without leaving [behind] our essence.” That’s precisely what’s notable about the production in the album, which sounds very much like a Grupo Firme album — from norteño ballads to Sinaloan-banda party starters, which is what they are known for — but with more attention to detail on the lyrics and arrangements.
Below, Billboard ranks all 14 songs from Evolución, in descending order.
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“Sobrepeso”
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.
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“Decide”
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.
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“Hubiéramos”
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.
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“Según Mi Reloj”
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.
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“Segundas Partes”
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.
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“Quiere Llorar y No Puede”
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.
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“Todavía Te Amo” feat. Carolina Ross
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.
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“Súfrale” (feat. Gloria Trevi)
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.
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“Quién La Viera”
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.
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“El Beneficio De La Duda”
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.
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“Alégale al Umpire”
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.
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“La Vida Es Pa’Gozarla” (feat. Joss Favela)
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.
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“Luna”
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.
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“Cero Sentimientos”
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.