Customer Reviews

Contra La Corriente

5 star:		(100)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

To put this remarkable album in perspective, let me start by stating the entirety of my Spanish training came from Sesame Street. Marc Anthony could be singing about rings around the bathtub for all I know. But man, bathtub rings have never sounded better!

In all seriousness, CONTRA LA CORRIENTE (which a Spanish-speaking friend translated for me as "Against the Flow") has become one of my favorite albums. It is a fine example of excellent composition, performance, and engineering, making for one outstanding sonic experience. Marc Anthony's album falls within the "Latin Music" catagory (of course), but his songs are musically interesting enough to transcend that label. His vocal delivery is passionate and expressive enough to evoke emotions in me, and I don't even know what he's singing about! (Special kudos to his trio of backup vocalists - you guys are so tight in your harmonies that you grabbed my attention and are still my favorite aspect of the album.)

Mr. Anthony surrounded himself with excellent musicians and every performance from the horns to the piano to the multiple percussionists play in tight collaboration and yet are easily distinguishable from each other. One can recognize the extraordinary audio engineering from this as well, as every instrument and vocal is in perfect balance with everything else - nothing draws attention to itself, it only adds to the ensemble. This makes for enjoyable repeat listens as one can make new discoveries with subsequent spins.

With the possibe exception of the final track (where the music style changes from straight Latin to a pseudo-latin-pop), there are no "throw-away" pieces. Each song on CONTRA LA CORRIENTE is distinct and worthwhile, therefore you'll be getting your money's worth with this album. One additional bonus: because this is not a traditional "pop" album, it's not going out of style any time soon.

CONTRA LA CORRIENTE gets my highest recommendation for those seeking an excellent album, regardless of any "Latino" label. If you only own one Spanish-language album, you'd do very well with CONTRA LA CORRIENTE. CONTRA LA CORRIENTE also stands up to the scrutiny of my Latino friends, with many stating this album is a favorite lyrically as well as musically. In short, this one wears well on everybody!

Here is the album that truly established Mark Anthony as one of Latin music's greatest talents. "Contra La Corriente," is an album full of passionate, moving vocals that will stir the emotions of Latin music lovers everywhere.

Although I enjoyed the entire album as a whole, My favorite four songs on this album still make me feel the passions Latin music is well known for.

"Si Te Vas," is one of the most vibrant songs to come out in recent years. In it, Mark Anthony clearly makes his audience feel his vocals in the same manner Celine Dion or Leann Rimes do when they sing in English. Another song in the same tradition, "No Me Conoces," will capture your undivided attention for its' moving lyrics.

The title track, "Contra la Corriente," is another moving song, showcasing Mark's stirring vocals whenever he sings a ballad. Unlike many stars whose voice often cracks whenever they are singing (e.g. Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, Julio Iglesias, Jr., etc...), Mark's vocals are smooth and mesmerizing.

However my favorite song on this album is the Christmas-theme salsa song "Me Voy A Regalar," which makes me get goosebumps whenever I listen to it. Mark's awesome voice and the song's beauty make this song required listening for anyone into Latin music. Regardless of what time of year you're in, this song is fantastic in every sense.

This was Mark's last album with RMM Records before he left. Having to be a person who works in the entertainment industry, Mark made a smart decision to start recording with Sony, for it will help him garner newer fans and more media attention due to that company's prominence. His years with RMM are legendary, but that company surely didn't know how to promote Mark as an artist, and not as a property.

Purchase this album and discover the great talent Mark Anthony has!

This has got to be the best cd I've ever heard in my entire life. Marc Anthony(KING OF SALSA)proves to be the best salsero in the history of salsa. He is such a talented man. The first 2 cds were excellent and every time he releases a new cd I can tell his voice matures more and more. He sings with such passion and can reach the highest notes with such depth. I absolutely love Marc Anthony and I'm so glad he dropped his English album last month. He deserves all the fame he gets. If you want to listen to salsa, buy this cd and his first 2: Otra Nota & Todo a su tiempo. Hey, he won a grammy for best tropical latin performance for this album earlier this year. I was also fortunate enough to see him in concert 5 times this year and for those of you who like his music, you will be blown away if you see this man on stage. He gives a marvelous performance each and every time. God bless you Marc & your god given talent. I'll always love you papichulo...

Marc Anthony....ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!!!

What can I say? Contra La Corriente is Marc's best work to date! I agree with the previous reviewer, it is most better than his English album. If anyone has translated these lyrics from Spanish to English, they're just terrific. The album has won many awards, and has such a great beat to it! I most definitely still listen to this multiple times in the day. The King Of Salsa has done it again, may he continue his reign!

Marc Anthony has an incredible voice; like a young latino Frank Sinatra. I don't understand a word he's saying but I am totally hooked...I have never bought a latin album before and am blown away. The arrangements are fantasic. Smooth, sharp, tropical, seductive....forces you to dance!

This CD is one the best Latin CDs around. Marc Anthony's smooth and polished vocals really shine and it is easy to see why he won a Grammy for this album. I listen (and dance) to this CD all the time. My favorite song on this CD changes daily, but the top 5 are Contra la Corriente, Si Te Vas, No me conoces, No sabes como duele and Un Mal Sueño (and Y Hubo Alguien). In other words, this cd is a must-have for any fan of latin music and it doesn't matter that much if you don't speak spanish. Anthony's powerful emoting in each song will bring the messsage across. ¡Marc Anthony es el rey de salsa!

This is the best CD I have purchased in quite a while. You feel his passion as he sings, the horns are wonderful and you can't help but dance. Each track is wonderful! This is by far the his best work.

Any doubt why he got a Grammy for this album? Just listen to it. This is the first musc from Marc Anthony I ever heard and I was instantly hooked. His sound just took my breath away. His vioce soars...and the brass is killer! Salsa is at its best when it makes your heart race and your breath heavy...and this accomplishes that goal very capably. This album reflects the work of a very talented young man who is an incredible force in slsa today. Listen to the album and you'll know why.

If you're reading this review, please understand that I know that you are wondering if I know what I'm talking about. I was born in Puerto Rico, and raised in NYC. I have Salsa in my blood! As a matter of fact I don't even have blood, just Salsa! The reason this CD rates 5 stars is because it is hands down the best CD Marc has ever done. Marc doesn't sing at one level or one intensity. Marc may cover a spectrum of emotions and different levels of intensity in one song alone. Just when you start to groove with a song, he turns it up a notch. What a talent this man is! What an incredible voice! I won't do you an injustice by pointing you to one song in particular. You MUST listen to the whole thing. Que viva la tradicion!

I did not know this artist until this summer, when I went to the Domenican Republic. I was passing by shops and bars and I heard his songs played out loud and the local people singing along... I immediately fell in love with the wonderful rhythm of his songs and with his great voice. As the Dominicans recommended it to me, I highly recommend this CD (as well as his previous ones) to anybody who loves Latino-American rhythms. Believe me, you won't regret it ... at all!!!!