It’s impossible to listen to Eduardo Osorio and not think of how he evokes Carlos Vives. With his generous dose of accordion, earthy sound and colloquial lyrics, Osorio harks to the Vives pattern – both regional and international. But in his solo debut, Osorio, an accomplished songwriter (whose brother is Grammy Award winner Fernando Osorio), also displays a guileless charm. There’s little that is contrived in this joyful, simple – but not simplistic – disc. Osorio sings of love in direct, catchy phrases and melodies, accompanied by mostly acoustic instruments for a traditionally minded sound with just tinges of rock and electric. He is best at upbeat material like “En Exclusiva” and “Aviso Clasificado,” yet falters on slower tracks like “La Flor,” which is beautiful but requires better vocal chops to carry off the bare arrangement. But that doesn’t mar the overall effect of this lovely effort. – LC
