Music of Mexico, Vol. 2: Michoacán: Arriba! Tierra Caliente

Conjunto Alma de Apatzingan is a popular mariachi band from the Mexican state of Michoacán in west-central Mexico. The band is usually composed of an arpa, violin, guitarra de golpe, and vihuela. Occasionally a second violin may be added or a jarana may replace the vihuela. On this recording, released in the United States in 1994, the band plays regional dance music and sings corridos (narrative ballads), several about the drug cartels operating in their home state. The liner notes provide background information about the band and have Spanish and English lyrics for the ballads.