Galeria Caribe [Extra tracks, Original recording reissued]

Ricardo Arjona | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 3, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording reissued
• Label: Sony U.S. Latin
• ASIN: B00005MK51
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,716 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Arjona, August 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Galeria Caribe (Audio CD)

Ricardo Arjona's latest masterpiece, "Galeria Caribe" ("Caribbean Gallery") show how mystic and warm the Caribbean is. It also shows his reluctance to abandon his unique style of music. The songs can be divided in two parts, the first being what the title promises and the second, a return to "Sin daños a terceros" with some occasional tropical rhythms or tunes. From Track 1 up until track 6, songs are very "tropical". They assimilate salsa and conga. From track 7 to 18, Arjona returns to his songs in which his voice plays the main part, while the piano and guitar follow behind. The latter part of Arjona's opus includes an occasional trumpet, or drum.

In "Galeria Caribe", Arjona's themes remain constant as in his previous works. Such themes include his love songs, the search for women, the Latino community in the United States ("Un Caribe en Nueva York"). He also tries to make a statement in singing about this warm and gregarious culture that lives in the many islands of the Caribbean.

A new feature that we find in "Galeria Caribe" is the different versions of the same song that Arjona recorded. There are 5 songs that have two alternate versions (mostly acoustic version, one is a Pop version). There is one special "dual-song", "Pensar en Ti" in which a story begins in the first version, and concluded in the second (acoustic) version.

The last song of the album is something I've never heard of Arjona, a love song that is sung with Ednita Nazario. This song is very unique because it uses both voices to represent a "fight" between a couple and how they try to forgive each other and get back on track.

The following is a brief analysis of the songs I liked best: Track 1.

Introductory theme, with melodical Spanish Guitar. The Main theme is the coming of the Spanish to the Caribbean and the ethnical consequences it had. This introduces the themes of the racial mixtures that generated today's Caribbean Culture.

Track 2.

This is where the fun starts! The song starts off with percussion instruments that are associated with the Tropics. It's a very happy song, that blends the choral chants and lyrics (that are almost like a narration). This song includes very tropical "swings", or rhythms that are found throughout all of the song. This "swings" are possible with the use of percussion, trumpets and other instruments.

Track 11

Despite it's "non-acousticity" in some parts, this song is very enjoyable, and in some instances, funny. The choruses are still in my mind long after the song is over. The musical part of the song has a very relaxing effect because it uses a soft, slow guitar, a sweet flute and tranquilizing drums.

To sum things up, I think this is a blend of Arjona's themes and styles from his last work, with some tropical rhythms and use of different instruments. But not all of the songs are like that: some are plainly like the ones in previous albums. I'd definitely recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys good music!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente ritmo TROPICAL, September 7, 2000

By 

Michelangelo L. (Caracas - Venezuela) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Galeria Caribe (Audio CD)

El nuevo CD de Arjona de Galeria Caribe esta excelente, presenta un ritmo latino, tropical, caribeño, EXCELENTE, y la mezcla de los ritmos con su estilo de música es genial, el tema prestado de Guaco es estupendo. Es un CD que vale la pena comprar y además tiene 18 canciones. MUY BUENO. Lo mejor de todo es las dos primeras canciones de presentación, son muy reales...

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MAGNIFICO, SIMPLEMENTE ENCANTADOR...., July 12, 2001

By 

Lucia (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Galeria Caribe (Audio CD)

Arjona nos ha sabido dar una muestra de su diversidad como artista y de su gran potencial como interprete. En este CD el cantautor Guatemalteco nos delita con frescas cansiones que el ha vestido de caribe y que desnuda para volverlas a vestir de nostalgia acompanadas de un piano. En ellas nos muestra su inigualable forma de cantarle a la mujer, el amor y porque no protestar por los estereotipos de la sociedad. Esta es una magnifica obra de arte y no se la pueden perder. Me encato como el narra "un caribe en Nueva York", la forma en que narra un hecho historico con "carabelas", su encanto por las mujeres del caribe con "mujer de Guarajari", tambien nos invita a dejar libre el amor para que no se nos valla, asi este magnifico artista nos llena de historias que son las historias que vivimos a diario, con un toque de poesia y salpicadas de caribe. El maestro Arjona un poeta urbano, verbo de la calle es por excelencia el mejor cantaautor de nuestros tiempos, y este cd es solo muestra de ello. Gracias Arjona por crear musica de calidad.