This
album focuses back on the group itself after previous
albums with spotlights for Paul Simon and Rubén
Blades, among others. It celebrates the rich tradition
of Salsa music, as heard on the second track,
"Mi Herencia Latina," written by vocalist
Willie Torres, who name-checks a parade of influences.
(Torres knows something about salsa tradition:
he's been part of the chorus for some of the best
salseros going back to the early '60s, including
Palmieri brothers Eddie and Charlie, Ray Barretto,
Tito Puente, and Celia Cruz, among others.) As
usual, Oscar Hernández produces, writes,
and arranges most of the tracks, and translating
his vision falls to a group of standout instrumentalists:
brass players led by trombonist Jimmy Bosch and
trumpeter Hector Colón, Mitch Frohman on
woodwinds and percussionists Luisito Quintero
(timbales), George Delgado (congas), and Jorge
Gonzalez (bongos). The material includes everything
a fan would expect and plenty of strong, lenghty
Salsa numbers.
About
Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Since
their arrival in 2000, Spanish Harlem Orchestra
(SHO) has established itself as a standard bearer
of contemporary Latin music. Directed and founded
by world-renowned Puerto Rican pianist, arranger
and producer Oscar Hernández, the thirteen-member
all-star ensemble has reintroduced the classic
sounds of New York City Salsa to music lovers
worldwide.
SHO was
created when Hernandez met Erin Levinson, a
music producer who had a contract with Warner
Brothers. The idea of forming a group came about
and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra was born. The
group received a Grammy Award nomination in
2002 for "Best Salsa Album, a Billboard
Award in 2003 for "Salsa Album of the year
and in 2005 a Grammy Award for "Best Salsa
Album"
Track
Listing
1.
La Salsa Dura
2. Mi Herencia Latina
3. Son De Corazon
4. Como Baila Mi Mulata
5. Si Me Quieres Te Quiero
6. Baila Latino
7. La Fiesta Empezo
8. Nuestra Cancion
9. Linda
10. Regalo De Dios
11. Rumba Urbana
12. El Negro Tiene Tumbao
Discography
2002 - Gran
Dia en el Barrio
2004 - Across 110th Street
2007 - United We Swing
2010 - Viva La Tradición
Sale
el Sol (English: The Sun Comes Out) is the third
bilingual and seventh overall studio album by
Colombian Latin-pop singer-songwriter Shakira
The album
was recorded in the Bahamas,Colombia, London,
Barcelona and the Dominican Republic. Shakira
describes the album musically as having "a
strong rock side" along with "romantic"
and "Latino" songs.Shakira told MTV
that the album was "very personal" and
would deal with the issues of heartbreak.
Other collaborations
include songs with rappers Calle 13 and Pitbull
& Dizzee Rascal.
The title
track "Sale El Sol" is a rock song which
calls for optimism through difficult times and
Shakira dedicated this song to Gustavo Cerati."Devoción",
"Antes de las Seis" and "Lo que
Más" churn with longing, regrets and
loneliness. According to The New York Times "The
music hopscotches across hemispheres, at times
looking back to the music Shakira loved while
growing up in Colombia". About this Shakira
said "Barranquilla - Colombia is the cradle
of Carnaval in our country. All the stuff from
the islands and from those neighbor countries,
all that music got to Barranquilla.
About
Shakira
Shakira
Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (born February 2, 1977),known
professionally as Shakira is a Colombian singer,
songwriter, musician, record producer, dancer
and philanthropist who emerged in the music
scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early
1990s. Born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia,
Shakira revealed many of her talents in school
as a live performer, demonstrating her vocal
ability with rock and roll, Latin and Middle
Eastern influences with her own original twist
on belly dancing. Shakira is a native Spanish
speaker and also speaks fluent English and Portuguese.
Track
Listing
1.
Sale El Sol
2. Loca
3. Gordita
4. Antes de las seis
5. Rabiosa
6. Mariposa
7. Tu Boca
8. Addicted to you
9. Devocion
10. Lo que mas
11. Waka Waka – K-Mix
Bonus Tracks:
12. Loca (Spanish)
13. Rabiosa (Spanish)
14. Waka Waka – K-Mix (Spanish)
Discography
Pies Descalzos
(1996)
Dónde Están Los Ladrones? (1998)
Laundry Service/Servicio de Lavandería
(2001)
Fijación Oral Vol. 1 (2005)
Oral Fixation Vol. 2 (2005)
She Wolf/Loba (2009)
Sale el Sol/The Sun Comes Out (2010)
This
is the first studio album of the artist since
Cómplices, and the first time that Luis
Miguel releases two studio albums in a row since
1990. Mexican superstar Luis Miguel possesses
one of the most distinctive and wonderful voices
of his generation; a much-lauded, versatile instrument
that's unparalleled in its interpretation of traditional
Mexican music, standards and ballads. First single
"Labios de Miel" is No. 31 on Billboard's
Hot Latin Songs. Far more enticing are Miguel's
read on slow, romantic ballads ("Tres Palabras,"
"No Existen Limites") that allow his
voice to soar even further and which lend themselves
to romanticized arrangements.
About
Luis Miguel
Luis Miguel
Gallego Basteri (born on April 19, 1970) Mexican
performer is an international star who is loved
for both his well-produced albums and his strong
live performances. Since 1990, he has been the
most popular performer in Latin America.
In the United States, he has become the only
Latino artist to have two Spanish language albums.
Beginning his musical career in his childhood,
Luis Miguel has become one of the most popular
singers from Latin America, having performed
successfully pop music, bolero, mariachi and
romantic ballads. In a career that has spanned
over twenty-five years, Luis Miguel has won
four Latin Grammy Awards and five Grammy Awards.
He is called "El Sol de México"
(The Sun of Mexico) by the media and his fans.
Track
Listing
1.Labios
de Miel
2.Mujer de Fuego
3.Tres Palabras
4.Ella Es Así
5.No Existen Limites
6.Siento
7.Lo Que Queda de Mí
8.Es Por Tí
9.De Quién Es Usted
10.Tal Vez Me Mientes
Discography
2010: Luis
Miguel
2009: No Culpes a La Noche
2009: Cómplices: Edición Especial
2008: Cómplices
2006: Navidades
2005: Grandes Éxitos
2005: Mexico En La Piel: Edición Diamante
2004: Mexico En La Piel
2003: 33
2002: Mis Boleros Favoritos
2001: Mis Romances
2000: Vivo
1999: Amarte Es Un Placer
1998: Todos Los Romances
1997: Romances
1996: Nada Es Igual
1995: El Concierto
1994: Segundo Romance
1993: Aries
1992: América & En Vivo
1991: Romance
1990: 20 Años
1988: Busca Una Mujer
1987: Soy Como Quiero Ser
1986: Tambien es Rock
1986: Canta In Italiano
1985: Fiebre De Amor
1984: Meu Sonho Perdido
1984: Palabra De Honor
1984: Ya Nunca Más
1983: Decídete
1982: Directo Al Corazón
1982: Un Sol
when
describing Ricardo Arjona's new album, adjectives
like stripped down, barely there and in the nude
all come to mind. 'Poquita Ropa' (Almost Naked)
is a collection of Ricardo Arjona's songs in his
purest form both lyrically and instrumentally,
surrounded by the bare minimum musical instruments
to compliment and accompany his bohemian voice
and deep intellectual lyrics. This album is musical
art in its purest form; in the nude. There are
twelve great songs on 'Poquita Ropa' including
a beautiful 8-minute track called 'Puente' (Bridge),
dedicated to all the Cuban people who have been
separated from their roots due to ideological
circumstances. 'Poquita Ropa' is a unique recording
that complements the great albums of Arjona's
successful career. A musical jewel
About
Ricardo Arjona
Edgar
Ricardo Arjona Morales,(born 19 January 1964
in Jocotenango near Antigua, Guatemala), known
as Ricardo Arjona, is a multi Grammy award winner
Guatemalan singer.
Track
Listing
1.
Vida
2. Marta
3. Aleluya
4. Soledad Enamorada
5. Que Voy a Hacer Conmigo
6. Escribir Una Cancion
7. Usted
8. Puente [Acoustic]
9. Todo Estara Bien
10. Mi Pais
11. Por Tanto Amarte
12. Puente [Caribe]
Discography
Déjame
decir que te amo (1985)
Jesús, verbo no sustantivo (1989)
Del otro lado del sol (1991)
Animal nocturno (1992)
Vivencias (1994)
Historias (1994)
Si el norte fuera el sur (1996)
Sin daños a terceros (1998)
Vivo (1999)
Galería caribe (2000)
Santo pecado (2002)
Lados B (2003)
Solo (2004)
Adentro (2005)
Quién dijo ayer (2007)
Quinto piso (2008)
Simplemente lo mejor (2008)
Trópico (2009)
Poquita Ropa (2010)
In
January, 2010, Iglesias donated the song "It
Must Be Love" to raise funds for the victims
of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The song has been
released to Music for Relief, which is a charity
organization founded by Linkin Park.
In
February Enrique recorded the re-make of the classic
"We Are the World" with other music
artists. The song and video premiered on February
12 at the Opening of the Winter Olympics and proceeds
from the song went to help victims of the earthquake
in Haiti.
Iglesias
is finishing recording a new bilingual album "Euphoria"
which was released in July 2010. It was half in
English and half in Spanish, and Iglesias wrote
or co-wrote most of the material. It includes
a new song with Wisin & Yandel. The first
single, "Cuando Me Enamoro" featuring
Juan Luis Guerra, was released on 26 April 2010.
The English single "I Like It" featuring
Pitbull was released on May 3, 2010 in the United
States. The third single and the second english
single Heartbeat was released on June 8,2010 in
the United States, this song is sung by Enrique
Iglesias in the collaboration with Nicole Scherzinger.
The fourth single, "No Me Digas Que No",
was released on 21 June, 2010 on USA itunes. This
song is a duet with Wisin & Yandel.
The album,
produced with RedOne, Mark Taylor, and longtime
collaborator Carlos Paucar, features 14 tracks.
This is Enrique's first album under his new label
Universal Republic.
About
Enrique Iglesias
Enrique
Miguel Iglesias Preysler (born May 8, 1975),
better known as Enrique Iglesias, is a Spanish
pop music singer-songwriter.
Iglesias
started his musical career on Mexican label
Fonovisa. This helped turn him into one of the
most popular artists in Latin America and in
the Hispanic or Latino market in the United
States, and the biggest seller of Spanish language
albums for a number of years. Before the turn
of the millennium, he made a crossover into
the mainstream English language market, signing
a unique multi-album deal with Universal Music
for an unprecedented $48,000,000, with Universal
Music Latino to release his Spanish albums and
Interscope to release English albums. In 2010,
he parted with Interscope and signed with another
Universal Music Group label, Universal Republic.
Iglesias
has had two Billboard Hot 100 #1s and one #3,
and holds the record for producing 21 number
1 Spanish-language singles on the Billboard's
Hot Latin Tracks. Up until the release of his
latest album, Euphoria, in 2010, he had sold
over 55 million albums in both English and Spanish.
Track
Listing
1. "I Like It" (featuring Pitbull)
2. "One Day at a Time" (featuring Akon)
Akon
3. "Heartbeat" (featuring Nicole Scherzinger)
4. "Dirty Dancer" (featuring Usher)
5. "Why Not Me?"
6. "No Me Digas Que No" (featuring Wisin
& Yandel)
7. "Ayer"
8. "Cuando Me Enamoro" (featuring Juan
Luis Guerra)
9. "Dile Que"
10. "Tú y Yo"
11. "Heartbreaker"
12. "Coming Home"
13. "Everything's Gonna Be Alright"
14. "No Me Digas Que No"
The
album is produced by Marc Anthony and Julio Reyes.It
also features eight cover versions and two previously
unreleased songs that were composed by Julio Reyes.
The album include covers by singers José
José, Juan Gabriel, Roberto Carlos, La
Mafia as well José Luis Perales, singer
and composer from the lead single.
The first
single released from the album was "Y Cómo
Es El" (What Is He Like?) a song which was
first recorded and written by José Luis
Perales. It was revealed and released as digital
download on April 2010 through Sony Music.
About
Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony
(born Marco Antonio Muñiz; September
16, 1969) in New York City to Puerto Rican Parents,
is a singer-songwriter, actor and producer.
Anthony is one of the top selling tropical Salsa
artist of all time. The five-time Grammy winner
has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide.
He is best known for his Latin salsa numbers
and Ballads. Anthony was the first solo Salsa
act to ever sell out Madison Square Garden.
Anthony
is considered a melodramatic performer, often
acting out his songs, physically accentuating
key musical breaks and words with hand pumps,
kicks and dances, shouting out patented key
phrases, holding notes for extended periods
of time and playing conductor to his band's
music.
Anthony
has won numerous awards and his achievements
have been honoured through various recognitions,
such as his 14 week number one single "I
need you". Anthony broke the record for
longest Latino "Top of the chart"
single.
Track
Listing
1 Abrazame Muy Fuerte
2 Y Como Es El
3 Almohada
4 Vida
5 El Triste
6 Amada Amante
7 Te Lo Pido Por Favor
8 Ya Lo Se Que Tu Te Vas
9 A Quien Quiero Mentirle
10 Suerte
Discography
1991: When
the Night is Over
1993: Otra Nota
1995: Todo a Su Tiempo
1997: Contra la Corriente
1999: Marc Anthony
1999: Desde Un Principio: From The Beginning
2001: Libre
2002: Mended
2004: Amar Sin Mentiras
2004: Valió la Pena
2006: Sigo Siendo Yo
2007: El Cantante
2010: Iconos
Unlike
his previous albums, Daddy Yankee describes his
latest album with a mixture of Reggaeton, Merengue,
Perico Ripiao, Bachata, Soca and Dance Hall. Some
recorded tracks with Don Omar, Luis Fonsi, Barrington
Levy and Jowell & Randy has been rejected
of recycles. Before the release, Daddy Yankee
confirmed that the album include 13 tracks plus
3 bonus tracks on the iTunes version. The album
doesn't include the tracks recorded with Luis
Fonsi and Don Omar since Yankee signed for the
album to be released under Sony Music and not
Universal Music Group. He had also recorded a
new song named "Intenso" which was released
on his birthday for his fans, but said that it
was not going to be on this material.
About
Daddy Yankee
Ramón
"Raymond" Luis Ayala Rodríguez
(born February 3, 1977), known artistically as
Daddy Yankee, is a Latin Grammy Award winning
Puerto Rican reggaeton recording artist. Ayala
was born in Río Piedras. In his youth he
was interested in music and baseball, in which
he aspired to become a Major League Baseball player.
He was unable to continue this sport when he received
an injury to one of his legs, leaving him unable
to walk correctly. He then became involved in
the underground rap movement that was in its early
stages in Puerto Rico, later to be called Reggaeton.
After receiving lessons from several artists within
the genre, he developed an independent career,
first recording in a production titled Playero
37. After this he began to produce independent
albums. His first solo album was No Mercy. He
subsequently formed a duo with Nicky Jam, and
then continued his solo career with the releases
of El Cartel and El Cartel II. This led him be
one of many pioneers of the reggaeton genre.
In 2002
El Cangri.com became Ayala's first album with
international success, receiving coverage in the
markets of New York and Miami. Barrio Fino was
released in 2004, and the album received numerous
awards, including a Premio Lo Nuestro and a Latin
Billboard, as well as receiving nominations for
the Latin Grammy and MTV Video Music Awards. Barrio
Fino performed well in the sales charts of the
United States, Latin America, Europe, and Japan.
On June 5, 2007, El Cartel Records released El
Cartel: The Big Boss, which was ranked as the
top-selling album in Latin music genres in 2005.
He promoted the album with an international tour
which began in the United States and continued
through Latin America, breaking attendance records
in Ecuador and Bolivia. His performances have
appeared on more than 70 albums, including compilations
such as Mas Flow 2 and Blin Blin Vol. 1. Outside
of his work as a musician, Ayala has also worked
as an actor and producer. Throughout his career,
he has been generally reticent to discuss his
personal life, but has publicly expressed the
importance of his wife and children to him.
Discography
1995: No
Mercy
1998: El Cartel
2001: El Cartel 2
2002: El Cangri.com
2003: Los Homerun-es
2004: Barrio Fino
2007: El Cartel: The Big Boss
2010: Mundial
Track
Listing
01. El Mejor De Todos Los Tiempos
02. Descontrol
03. Vida En La Noche
04. La Señal
05. La Despedida
06. Que Es La Que Hay
07. Me Enteré (Ft. Tito ‘El Bambino’)
08. El Más Duro
09. Daría
10. Rumba Y Candela
11. Mintiendo Con La Verdad
12. Campeo A Mi Manera
13. Grito Mundial
This
new Carruseles release is a burning hot mix of
non-stop boogaloo and Colombian Salsa. Opening
with the Dante Vargas version of Joe Cuba's classic
"Bang Bang," Masters of Hard Salsa goes
on to prove the title is justified. Listen to
the insane "Quinto Y Trompeta" to taste
this particular brand of salsa. Trumpeter Vargas
is joined by bassists Alex Duque and Sergio Munera,
pianists Pablo Grajales and Cristian Cuevas, percussionist
Fabian Picón and many others. Carruseles
never fail to provide the goods.
About
Sonora Carruseles
This
popular Colombian Salsa group came into the tropical
scene performing Afro-Caribbean rhythms, including
a traditional style known as Salsa Brava, originated
in the 1960s. Formed in 1995 by composer/producer/congero
Diego Galé and Mario Rincón, currently managed
by Manolo Puerto and backed by the record labels
"Discos Fuentes" & "Miami Records",
the group became a Boogaloo and original Salsa
revival, taking over Latin America, the U.S.,
Europe and now Australia! after releasing albums
such as 1998's Heavy Salsa and 1999's Salsa y
Fuego , 'Somos los duros de la Salsa' and 2008
release 'Mucho Mejor'
The group has currently many hits on the top charts
all over the world. The group is in very high
demand to perform and tour all over the world.
1. Bang Bang
2. Brujería
3. Quinto Y Trompeta
4. El Árbol
5. Camina Como Chencha
6. Taco De Ojo
7. Mosaico Santero (A Santa Barbara - San Lazaro
- A La Caridad De Cobre)
8. Sazonando Montuno
9. Confundido
10. Rey Piano
11. Cumbia Medley
(La Magdelena - Luz De Cumbia - Como Baila Mi
Pueblo - Cumbia De Mi Tierra)
12. Carruseles
13. Boogaloo Pa' Gozar
"An
absolute masterpiece by a modern Latin tenor"
are the best words to describe Huey's last creation
"Huey Dunbar IV", the powerful numbers
in this album create a sense
of ecstacy and reafirm the sensuality of the Latin
genre. Theere's definitely a "club"
feel here, a sound that extends beyond straight
ahead Salsa and infuses it with modern sensibility.
Huey assembled a top-notch crew including pianist
Efrain "Junito" Dávila, bassist
Sal Cuevas, trombonists Alberto Barros and Hernan
"Teddy" Mulet, trumpeter Richie Viruet
and percussionists Ricardo Bravo and Roberto Vilera.
Guianko Gomez, Lilian Garcia and Dunbar fill out
the coro section. Huey Dunbar IV is a must
have for the Latin Lover at heart!
About
Huey
Hailed by
many critics as the future of Salsa music and
other Latin genres, Huey Dunbar helped
to revitalize the genre and introduce it to a
new generation during his stint as the lead singer
of Dark Latin Groove (DLG). The group's three
albums gained DLG a large following not only among
salsa music fans but listeners across the musical
spectrum as well. After winning two Billboard
Latin Music Awards, DLG amicably split up in 2000
and Dunbar began a promising solo career. His
first album, Yo Si Me Enamore, was released in
2001 and earned a gold record for selling over
a half-million copies. With an English-language
album in the works in 2003, Dunbar looked forward
to branching out into new musical styles. As he
told an interviewer with the Salsa Wild website,
"I always planned on going in different directions.
I always think it's necessary for me to not stay
on doing the same thing over because I don't want
to get pigeonholed. I don't want anyone to think
that Huey's only good for one kind of music."
Following
a two-year break from the recording studio, Puerto
Rican pop singer Chayanne is back with a new album
titled “No hay imposibles” (There
are no impossibles) that's faithful to the artist's
romantic side.
The first cut is “Me enamoré de ti,”
already a popular radio track in several US markets
and the theme of Corazón Salvaje, a Mexican
soap opera that will be distributed to more than
60 countries worldwide.
The follow-up to the Puerto Rican heartthrob's
2007 “Mi tiempo,” the set features
12 unreleased songs, including “Si no estás,”
“El hombre que fui” and “Por
si mañana,” among others.
The artist's new album follows the release of
his first live DVD/CD ever last year, “Chayanne-Vivo.”
Recorded between Miami , Puerto Rico, Los Angeles
, Bogotá-Colombia, and Buenos Aires , No
hay imposibles features renowned producers Julio
Reyes, Sebastián Krys, Pablo Durán,
René Toledo and Javier Díaz, who
headed the production.
About
Chayanne
Elmer
Figueroa Arce was born in Rio Piedras, a suburb
of San Juan, to Quintino Figueroa, a sales manager,
and Irma Luz Arce, a teacher. Elmer Figueroa Arce
was a member of popular Puerto Rican pop band
Los Chicos ('The Kids') from the age of 10 until
he was 16. When the group split he began a solo
career, adopting the name Chayanne in 1987. The
following year he made a breakthrough when, at
the age of 20, his self-titled third album spawned
a handful of hit singles, including Latin Tracks
Chart-topper "Fuiste un Trozo de Hielo en
la Escarcha". Another self-titled album,
released the following year, earned Chayanne his
first Grammy nomination for the single "Fiesta
en América". Chayanne's 1990 album
Tiempo de Vals was his best yet, and contained
another string of Latin pop hits.
Chayanne
received another Grammy nomination for his eighth
solo album, Atado a Tu Amor, in 1998. In 2007
he released Mi Tiempo to more strong sales. It
is believed that Chayanne has sold over 10 million
records worldwide.
Discography
2010: No
Hay Imposibles
2008: Chayanne: Vivo
2007: Mi Tiempo
2005: Cautivo
2005: Desde Siempre
2003: Sincero
2002: Grandes Éxitos (hits new and remix)
2000: Simplemente
1998: Atado a Tu Amor
1996: Volver a Nacer
1994: Influencias
1992: Provócame
1990: Tiempo de Vals
1988: Chayanne
1987: Chayanne
1986: Sangre Latina
1984: Es Mi Nombre
Track
Listing
(No
Hay Imposibles)
1. Si No Estas
2. Me Pierdo Contigo
3. Por Esa Mujer
4. Me Enamore de Ti
5. Siento
6. Dime
7. Tu Boca
8. Besos En La Boca
9. El Hombre Que Fui
10. No Hay Imposibles
11. Dame Dame
It
is quite amazing the old-time conjunto feeling
Charlie Zaa achieved here. This is something of
a concept album, a study in the Cuban bolero-chá
feel. And it's really good. This has an abundance
of the maraca-bongó component that is often
lost in today's Salsa. Well done indeed and Zaa's
singing feels just right. With trumpeters Carlos
Acosta and Wilfer Fajardo, percussionists German
Villareal and Javier Ortega, Mauricio Daltaire
on maracas, guitarist Franco Carlos and bassist
Juan Carlos Garcia.
Highly
Recommended
About
Charlie Zaa
Charlie Zaa was born Carlos Alberto Sanchez in
Colombia in 1974, the son of well-regarded musician
Luis Humberto Sanchez. Zaa began his musical career
at the age of twelve, when he first sang on stage
with his father. At the age of sixteen, he branched
out into performances with acts such as Grupo
Niche and Guayacan, both well known salsa bands
in Colombia.
The Colombian
Latin pop singer started as a soloist with the
release of Sentimientos in 1996, and became a
bolero performer, singing classics from prominent
Latin American artists such as Olimpo Cárdenas
and Julio Jaramillo.
Discography
Sentimientos,
Sonolux, 1998.
Segundo
Sentimiento, Sonolux, 1998.
Remixes,
Sonolux, 1999.
Ciego de
Amor, Sonolux, 2000.
De un Solo
Sentimiento, Sonolux, 2001.
Puro Sentimiento,
Ole Music, 2004.
Bohemia,
Discos Fuentes, 2009
Track
Listing
1. En un beso la vida
2. Amigo de que
3. Por borracha
4. Popurri Boleros
5. Amarga decepcion
6. Dolor de hombre
7. Por un puñado de oro
8. Sentimientos popurri
9. Sabor de engaño
10. Un corazon de madera
Dos
Mundos is Alejandro Fernandez' tour-de-force performance
as he tackles both Mexican ranchera and pop and
releases an album of each successfully and simultaneously.
Unlike other artists who do the two-for-one trick,
each CD contains a totally different track list
and each is stylistically true to its genre. You'll
probably prefer the album that reflects your own
musical tastes, but you can get both in the dual-disc
Dos Mundos package.
Alejandro
Fernandez has pulled off quite a feat. He has
simultaneously released two studio albums, in
two different genres/styles, with two different
producers and a completely different track list
for each. And, even more unlikely, both albums
are terrific.
Dos Mundos
means ‘two worlds’ and the worlds
are that of Latin pop (Dos Mundos Evolucion) and
ranchera (Dos Mundos Tradicion). The packaging
options offer either Evolucion or Tradicion or
simply Dos Mundos, a two CD bundle that includes
both.
Fernandez
has a wonderful voice which has only gotten stronger
and more resonant over the years. But that voice,
while very effective for pop music, is quite different
than the lusty, powerful, made-for-dramatic-ranchera
voice of father Vicente Fernandez. It must be
a temptation to imitate Dad’s style, especially
when singing in that manner originally made the
family fortune.
Alejandro
Fernandez, thankfully, resists the temptation
on Dos Mundos Tradicion. Instead, while he plays
around stylistically, varying from a rough country
style (“Una Nalgadas,” “La Seven”)
to a smoother style on flamenco-accented “Pecadora”
and the bolero “Me Dueles,” he retains
a vocal integrity that is all his own, never going
for all-out bravura, but still remaining effective.
The album’s 11 tracks consist of boleros,
traditional ranchera and a few numbers that could
be called Mexican country. It’s a good mix,
expertly executed.
Dos Mundos
Evolucion is the pop album and this is where Fernandez
really shines. Ballads are his forte and this
album is primarily about ballads. It also proves
that all ballads don’t sound alike. Sure,
there are some standard cry-in-your-soup tunes
like “Cuando Digo Tu Nombre” but then
“Tu Amor Perdi” surprises the listener
with traditional Mexican falsetto while “Dibujando
Un Corazon” incorporates drums and accordions
in a cumbia-style accompaniment. “Imagina”
is that big, driving, no-time-for-a-breath ballad
while the first hit single, “Se Me Va La
Voz” is more a rock ballad with heartfelt
lyrics.
Vibrant
with emotion without going over-the-top, Fernandez
pop style is smooth, classic and satisfying. Depending
on which genre of music you prefer, you’ll
probably like one album better than the other.
I prefer whichever album I heard last.
About
Alejandro Fernandez
Born
April 24, 1971 Alejandro Fernandez is a popular
Latin Grammy-winning Mexican singer nicknamed
as "El Potrillo" ("The Little Colt")
by the media and his fans.
Alejandro
originally specialized in traditional, earthy
forms of Mexican folk and country music, such
as Mariachi and Ranchera. However, his more recent
work has focused on mainstream pop music. He is
the son of Ranchera King Vicente Fernández.
He was raised
in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and studied to become
an architect, but turned to singing in 1991, encouraged
by his father. He is the youngest son of his family.
Has two older brothers, Vicente, Jr. and Gerardo,
and a sister, Alejandra.
Discography
1992: Alejandro
Fernandez
1993: Piel De Niña
1994: Grandes Exitos A La Manera De Alejandro
Fernandez
1995: Que Seas Muy Feliz
1996: Muy Dentro de Mi Corazón
1997: Me Estoy Enamorando
1999: Mi Verdad
1999: Christmas in Vienna VI
2000: Entre tus brazos
2001: Orígenes
2002: Bellas Artes: (En Vivo) Un Canto De México
2003: Niña Amada Mía
2003: En Vivo: Juntos Por Ultima Vez
2004: Zapata: El sueño del héroe
(soundtrack)
2004: A Corazón Abierto
2005: México - Madrid: En Directo Y Sin
Escalas
2007: Viento A Favor
2007: 15 Años De Éxitos
2008: De Noche: Clásicos A Mi Manera
2009: Dos Mundos
Track
Listing
Dos Mundos/Evolucion
1. Me hace tanto bien
2. Me Dueles
3. Estuve
4. Unas Nalgadas
5. Bandida
6. Nada Deti
7. La Seven – Featuring Joan Sebastian
8. La Historia Que No
9. Ya Se Acabo
10. Mi Rechazo
11. Maldita Costumbre
Dos
Mundos/ Tradicion
1. Pecadora
2. Cuando digo tu nombre
3. Se me Va la voz
4. Como Me Duele (Cielo de acuarela)
5. Tu amor perdí
6. Dibujando un corazón (Mas Allá)
7. De nada sirve hablar
8. No lo beses
9. Una lagrima en el corazón
10. Imagina
11. Mañana es para siempre
