CD Reviews.
India
Sola
(c) 1999 RMM Records
Distributed by: Universal
RATING: ***
The un-official spokeswoman for all the repressed Latinas that are taken for granted by their prepotent male companions is back! But this time with a different tone and a different agenda. India, the crowned "Princesa De La Salsa", has drastically reduced her male bashing material by creating a more balanced love hate recording that fairly distributes the fallacies and virtues of both man and woman. The songs are a powerful compilation of modern and classic songs, some of which were written by Rafael Perez Botija, Manuel Alejandro & Ana Magdalena, Marie Lauret, and Alvaro Torres. Credited with the musical production, Isidro Infante and India have managed to preserve the magic and the meaning of each song, without recklessly pandering to the agenda of the status quo that blindly speculates on what the music consuming public wants. To put it bluntly, I like this record because it stills sounds like India. No need to add flow-interrupting, mood changing, swing killing, over pronounced, back-beat-snare-drum! Boy I hate that shit! Her R&B'ish style of singing is as seductive and strong as ever, it blends perfectly with the music. I've always compared her to the late La Lupe. I don't know why, I've never seen La Lupe sing. Maybe it's the way both La Lupe and India add feelings to their a song. If you feel the same way I do about both of these ladies' abilities, then you will appreciate India's interpretations of Que Te Pedi & Si Vuelves Tu. On the flip side, I only wish that this production was not as mellow as it is. The keyboard, synthesizer, and voice intro in almost every song is an emotional overkill. Can we have a straight- up salsa dance track? Other than that, India's record is a job well done.
Willie Rosario
Back To The Future
(c) 1999 J&N
Distributed by: Sony Discos
RATING: ****1/2
Tired of all the sappy lyrics accompanied by the spineless beats of today's music? Bored from looking at all these pretty-young-salsero-pretenders with their confusingly intricate and unnecessarily complicated snare-drum-back-beat sound? Are you restless from listening to the same old crappy hype, your area's media promotes as the next best thing since La Macarena? If you answered yes to any of the above (and how can you not), look no further! Run to your nearest record outlet and pick up Willie Rosario's "Back To The Future". Also known as Mr. Afinque, Willie's "Back To The Future" celebrates his 40 years of salsa precision. The cool thing about a Willie Rosario record is the purity and reliability of his sound. Sound and precision are great things, but they are worthless if they don't make you dance. So dancers, if you're a clave junky, this is your band! 12 tracks loaded with head bopping swing, is more than enough to make a crutch wheeling senior citizen get up and dance! Now let's say that you are just too cool to be seen busting a sweat on the dance floor. You're just the listening type. How does Papo Lucca, Bobby Valentin, Josue Rosado, Tony Vega, and Gilberto Santa Rosa as invited guest along with Willie's resident soneros Luis Vergara and Rico Walker, sound to you? This is a salseros dream come true! Top notch soneros, being backed by top notch musicianship, under the disciplined musical guidance of Willie Rosario! There's no way you can resist picking up this production! Resistance is futile!!! Oops, wrong movie! Willie Rosario's "Back To The Future" is however, the right CD for the new millenium.
Eddy/Eddy
Llegando A Distancia
(c) 1999 Mambo City Records
Distributed by: Antilla Distributors
RATING: ***
"We dedicate this work to all the struggling musicos out there trying to reach their goals. Que lleguen a distancia". I read that sentence off the acknowledgments section from Eddy/Eddy's debut production. I was so moved that, I was totally open to give this production a chance. And honestly speaking, I was not disappointed. This record is not the next salsa classic, however it is as good and if not better than anything else that's out there right now. "Llegando A Distancia" employs the skills of a handful of musicians that include Néstor Sanchez, Bobby Allende on all percussion, Pucho Matos (of Luis "perico" Ortiz fame) on bass, Raul Agraz on trumpets, Pablo Santaella on trombones, Ricky Gonzalez on piano, and Yomo Toro on....take a guess. What I like the most of this production is the fact that it's a father and son effort. Eddie Rivera Sr. does a nice job doing all the songwriting and all the lead vocals. He even pens in one arrangement. Impressively, Eddie Rivera Jr. is credited as a trombonist and a pianist. It doesn't stop there, he arranged and produced 5 out of 9 tracks. Not to be out done here, Ricky Gonzalez hauls in the remain 3 tracks. Like many debut productions, Eddy/Eddy's "Llegando A Distancia" has moments that lack luster. Mainly because too many mellow intros and perhaps the order they follow. However once you get over those speed bumps, you're left with nice driving dance tracks and appealing arrangements that should make both the dancer and the listener go to distance.
RATING SYSTEM:
***** EXCELLENT (Must Have!)
**** GREAT (Very Impressive!)
*** GOOD (Safe Investment)
** AVERAGE (Not a Priority)
* POOR (Don't Waste Your Money)
©Nestor A. Louis ALL REVIEWS ARE SOLELY THE OPINIONS OF THE AUTHOR.
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