Hecho a Mano

Albita | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 21, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Times Square Records
• ASIN: B0000658G2
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #151,408 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Formas

2. Yo Quisiera

3. Aunque No Entiendan

4. Son Sin Concepto

5. No Me Niegues Verte

6. Muriendo De Amor

7. La Magia De Ochun

8. La Ciudad Esta Dificil Sin Ti

9. Por El Amor De Dios.

10. Vivo

11. Andan Diciendo Por Ahi

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This Havana-born, Miami-based singer-songwriter has already made quite a splash. Two-time Grammy nominee Albita Rodriguez is a former protégé of Emilio Estefan and numbers both Bill Clinton (she sang at his second inaugural ball) and Madonna (who has said, "In my next life, I'm coming back as Albita") among her most ardent fans. Her songs are a crafty amalgam of a Cuban country style called punto guajiro, nueva trova ballads, blistering salsa horn charts, Afro-Cuban chants, Buena Vista-style son, and American jazz. On this 2002 release, the title of which translates as "handmade," she avoids the fatuous pop hooks that nearly sideswiped her a couple of albums back and concentrates on what she does best: the music of passion. She is unconquerably female whether she is pleading, lashing out, or exulting in requited love. Accompanied by a happening quintet of fellow expats, her rough-edged, smoky voice growls, purrs, and soars. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Bien Hecho, August 14, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Hecho a Mano (Audio CD)

My theory is that if you own more than ten CDs,
then one or two of them should be by Albita.

On Hecho a Mano her unusual, entrancing voice is
as good as ever. This is a more intimate, jazzy
sound than most of her previous work. The mix of
voice and instruments allows her voice to come
through clearly.

All of the songs were written by Albita. This is
a problem. The songs are good, but not great.
Most of the songs, in one way or another, are
saying the same thing over and over again:
"I want to love you. Let me love you." This is
fine, I guess, if you can pretend that Albita is
singing to you. However, on this album she calls
her lover a "little woodland flower," which will
probably make it difficult for many men to
pretend that she is singing to them. Also, this
continual begging and pleading makes Albita
herself sound lonely and desperate.

Fifty minutes of fun. The lyrics are included in
the album notes.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST, May 22, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Hecho a Mano (Audio CD)

THIS CD IS THE BEST OF WHAT ALBITA IS ALL ABOUT. I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE HER MAKING THE MUSIC SHE LOVES. IT IS APPARENT THAT HER GIFT TO CREATE IS IN HER BLOOD.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Albita does not disappoint, June 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Hecho a Mano (Audio CD)

Saw Albita at the Birchmere in VA last night. Her new songs do not disappoint. Her voice has great range and incredible power.
GREAT MUSIC!