Ricky Martin - Ricky Martin

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Free Music Notes for Ricky Martin

Free Music Review: Good first (English language) effort but it's no 'Vuelve'
Hit: 5 Stars

One almost couldn't ask for more. Almost. For in their zeal to create the most 'complete' album of the 90's , one gets a feeling that they lost their focus somewhere along the way but went for broke anyway. This should have been a showcase of what Ricky Martin the artist is all about and not what Latin Music is capable of doing. Nobody expects that of Ricky. No, make that of ANY artist. At least not in one album. Comparisons with the classic "Vuelve" - the album that launched him into the Grammys - will be inevitable and rather unfortunate. While "Vuleve" was gloriously joyful and almost nostalgic in its range and rhythm, "Ricky Martin" just sounds like it's trying too hard to please everybody but itself. In the end nobody is going to fault Ricky nor his circus entourage of producers but no one is going to give him a Grammy either. (I pray I'm wrong on this point!) Too bad because he really deserves one if only for trying so damn hard.

Ballads seem to be order of the day here with no less than 6 songs in the mid to slow tempo group of songs. His rather limited range becomes very evident here and while that may sound like sensual growls in "She's All I Ever Had" and "Spanish Eyes", in tracks like "Private Emotion" and "You Stay With Me", the choice of material becomes rather suspect and pasty. However, the honesty in his performance of these songs will serve very well as Lesson 101 on how to sing to your girl atop her balcony - see if she doesn't throw down her keys to you.

Still, there are enough gem tracks here to keep any fan happy for the summer - and garner new ones too. Look out for the muy caliente but silly "Shake Your Bon-bon" and "Livin' La Vida Loca" - the ska-flavoured first single already #1 on Billboard Hot 100. And of course, who can ignore the pre-hyped duet with Madonna, Cuidado (Be Careful With My Heart). It's interesting to note that this is the first equally credited duet that Madonna has ever recorded in her career. (No, Prince doesn't count for 'This Is Not A Love Song'). The diva who's famous for having been always a step ahead of pop curves has chosen the artist of the month. And it's Ricky Martin. I bet that all of you will agree wholeheartedly with her on this one.

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