Customer Reviews

Caminando

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the third album of Ruben Blades I have bought, and I am amazed at the variety of "flavors" he can produce. The musicians on CAMINANDO have a very smooth jazz brass sound, making everything sophisticated and classy. This seems to me to be the most "political" album of the three (others are LA ROSA DE LOS VIENTOS and TIEMPOS); the lyrics are gritty, smoky, challenging, and at the same time very moving and poetic. I love the clarity of Blades' Spanish - plus, this album includes direct English translations of all the songs, a real benefit.

No one else mixes rhythm, politics and emotions quite like he does. He doesn't have the greatest voice on the planet, but everything he sings rings so true, who cares? And anyway, you sure can dance to it.

I love good Salsa music. Panamanian Ruben Blades is my favorite Salsa Artist. 'Caminando' has some of the best original Salsa, in my opinion, that Blades has ever created in his brilliant career.

If you like the superb latin music Blades makes, you need this CD in your collection.

Several songs in this CD are among the best he has ever produced, in my opinion. 'Tengan Fe' has a strong and energetic horn, rhythm combination that drives hard and fast while Blades soars above with an artful but strong vocal. It's a fantastic piece.

'Prohibido Olvidar' is one of the most political, humorous and thoughtful Salsa songs Blades has produced. If you have an aversion to tolitarian and authoritarian goverments, along with corruption and collective stupidities associated with them, you'll find the lyrics en Espanol to be excellent. They also translate very well in English.

Without this CD you don't have a full appreciation of Ruben Blades and the music he is capable of.

Saludos

I simply consider Ruben Blades in the top 3 musicians of the spanish language. His lyrical approach and the level of musicianship he exhibits with his albums is truly top notch. I have reviewed more than one album by this Master of his genre so this is not the first time. I bought "Caminando because I had been so impressed with some of his other efforts that I wanted to build a collection of this great musician. "Caminando" had a couple of songs that I have heard in one of the two albums I have bought by him. This time I found some of his songs a little on the boring side and lacking some melodic aspect I can't quite put my finger on. A little more difficult to appreciate which basically proves that sometimes what goes up must come down or what was once down did go up for the other two albums I own I truly like. One of them is "Mundo" and the other I just can't remember and I am somewhat against the idea of looking through my many discs as I write this review. I give it a 3 star rating and no more. That is almost like listening to the early Police albums and then listening to something like "Nothing like the sun" by Sting or "Synchronicity" a few years later by the Police. I guess I am not a die hard fan that idolizes whatever is put out, regardless of their name. I have experienced this same situation with Bob Dylan. He has released a lot, I mean a whole lot of material and some of it is as boring as a grey day at the beach, but his greatest songs are unsurpassed in my opinion. That is my point, I am not taking any thing away from Ruben. He is the best but "Caminando" does not reach the higher plateus (is this a valid word?) 3 stars for "Caminando" and I am also gonna walk my way out of here while I still got time!

A great group of songs including a song to open your mind about society (Prohibido olvidar). The song "Caminado" (Walking) reflects about how we walk trough life and how it affects us. Blades is a great composer and his music is not just poetic, is social. ¡Viva la salsa!