*** LOS TIGRES DEL NORTE, “Jefe de Jefes,” Fonovisa.

The success of this two-disc set of norteno tunes--No. 1 on the national Latin music charts--comes as no surprise. Los Tigres del Norte have been undisputed masters of the genre for years.

Here, the Mexican sextet infuses some extra social commentary into its repertoire, with a collection devoted solely to corridos, the old-fashioned ballads that at one point told stories of the Mexican Revolution and its villains and heroes. This time, the perspective is a modern one, but the relationship with the United States is equally complex.

Songs such as “Jefe de Jefes” and “El Mojado Acaudalado” (about an illegal immigrant who becomes a tycoon in the U.S.) showcase clever lyrics and crystal-clear production. The result is a well-rounded collection that justifies its length.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four (excellent).