Customer Reviews

Llego Van Van

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

Es cierto que para gusto se han hecho los colores, pero este sabor de la musica cubana esta hecho para todos los gustos. La energia transmitida e impregnada en cada latido de la clave cubana son inigualables. Marc Anthony es muy bueno, La India igual, pero en cuanto a ritmo se trata no hay como los Van Van que son, vuelvo y repito lo mejor de lo mejor. La musica cubana tiene la pasion y el ritmo que ninguna otra. Tanto asi que no cae en el baladismo aburrido de otros ritmos derivados de la original musica de Cuba. Se~ores, por supuesto que soy cubano, pero no se trata de eso, es que no se puede tapar el sol con un dedo, lo que tiene calidad prevalece, y aunque no se escuche esta musica abiertamente en los Estados Unidos por las presiones politicas, algun dia muchos que dicen llamarse los reyes o due~os de la salsa tendran no mas que retirarse. Pa' la escuela!

im a diehard van van fan,im cuban and i left the island 4 years ago, i grew up listening to their music in a dayly basis,from "el guararey the pastora" to "de igual a igual" i think i know enough to say that this is one of van van best albums yet .I have to admit that when i first heard it i didint understood rigth away it took me a couple of times to realize the high quality cd that i had in my hands a blasting mixture of timba and son cubano that only the composers duet of juan formell and cesar "pupi" pedroso(bass & piano) could achieve, they are in my opinion cuba's lennon-mccartney.my favorite cuts are #8,12,9,3,4,2,1. For those who say that the recording quality of this CD stinks i have to say that their mellow ears are to adapted to the chese sound of Marc Anthony and new york & miami low quality salsa this album was recorded and mixed with top of the line equipment. Just listen to the Bass & percussion sets and tell me if you ever heard anithng like that before in the USA.is the phatetst sound ever, i guess is to black for some people if you want to know what im talking about check this cuban bands aviable in amazon.com La Charanga Habanera. Manolin El medico de la Salsa. Paulito F.G. y su Elite. Bamboleo. La Caro Band. ...enjoy the cuban ride.

Those fortunate enough to have followed-up the career of Juan Formell and Los Van Van will agree that this is an excellent album. For 30 years, Los Van Van have represented the original and authentic sound of a culture proud of its African ancestry, and for 30 years they have consistently been rated #1 dance group in their country, as well as enjoying international acclaim through their frequent performances overseas. This album is a very good sample of the best afro-cuban musical tradition, which provided the foundation for the music known in the USA as "afro- caribbean", particularly in the 70s and 80s. In my opinion, two tracks are of special interest, "La bomba soy yo" and "Appapas del Calabar". Unfortunately the lyrics cannot be accurately translated into English (or any other language), but they hold the key to the authenticity of their work in representing a unique culture, which cannot be copied or adopted by any other neighboring culture, simply because it reflects the everyday life of their own country. For those who cannot dance with Los Van Van wherever they may be playing on the Eve of the 21st Century, this album is definitely the best next thing to have at that special moment!

This CD is infectious. I cant stop listening to it. It swings from begining to end. Nothing political here. Just great dance music. Music GREAT!!! Production GREAT!!! Dance factor GREAT!!! Musically this is alot more free than a salsa record. These guys arent afraid to take chances. Now I understand what all the hype is about. These guys ARE Cuba's second best export (next to cigars of coarse) : ) LATIN MUSIC FANS BUY THIS RECORD, if you dont already own it

It is unfortunate that political (or other) biases against Cuba (or certain types of Cubans) should taint the assessment of what is a genuinely superb album; furthermore, the so-called inferior production (barely audible above the AUTHENTIC RHYTHMIC GROOVE that Salseros in New York and San Juan have been trying unsuccessfully to imitate for thirty-odd years now) of Llego...Van Van shouldn't be the issue here. Apparently, those who were so confused by the unique intricacy of Cuban rhythm at its best found nothing else to do but whine about the production???!!! All in all, this album is irresistibly danceable (the true hallmark of authenticity), shaming many others who have tried in vain for decades to recapture the soul of Cuba, the ultimate source of inspiration for those who would take her music, label it Latin, Afro-Caribbean or what have you, and deny her due credit. "La Bomba Soy Yo" and "Somos Cubanos", tracks four and six on Llego...Van Van, and the entire album, for that matter, set the record straight. A must have for connoisseurs of Cuban music as well as for those who have yet to discover where the spices in the sauce called salsa REALLY come from....

Well, I'm sorry for those who are saying that the record quality is poor, etc.. etc... BUT that CD is COOL, the music is great, I don't have the ears of those "professional" reviewers, just ears of a crazy salsaro! And as someone said before me, if you don't start dancing in a minute when playing that CD, you're dead!

Well done, Los Van Van.

Juan Formell & Los Van Van have in "escena" for 30 years and are without any doubt the best Latin Group. In 1997 Se Te Pone La Cabeza Mala, was rated one of the tropical albums ever, this tera, Los Van Van toped perfection. Permiso que Llego Van Van, is a most have. Don't let the Millenium find you with out it. You'll be Sorry.

Mucha gente aqui estan confundiendo la musica con la politica. No me digas qu la musica del ano guacara es la verdadera musica cubana. Este grupo esta en Cuba AHORA y esta musica esta hecho por ellos. Entonces es verdadera musica cubana.

Ya. Dejame decir que este disco es poderosamente bello. Me encanta y tiene un espirito y fuerza que uno no puede describir con palabras.

This Grammy-winner album is by far Van Van's best timba album to date. The quality of the recording is excellent and captures their strong sound as if playing live. Mayito, Guayacan, and Pedrito Calvo are at their best. This is also the last recording Cesar Pedroso made with Van Van before starting his own band. The lyrics and "coros" are solid through out the album. If you like Van Van this CD is money-back guaranteed. There was an issue with the record company not giving this album the exposure it deserved, being it a Grammy winner and all... heartbreaking as tracks #1 through #9 could all be hit singles. I'm a die-hard salsa fan (70s-80s-90s) and this was the first timba album I bought. I have a 600+ CD/LP salsa collection and must say that together with Adalberto Alvarez's "Jugando con Candela" and Manolito y su Trabuco's "Se Rompieron los Termometros" this CD is the best contemporary Cuban timba/salsa I own.

I read all the previous reviews and they really got my mind going, so much so that I went and bought the CD, my first expossure to Los Van Van although I am 33 y/o and grew up dancing and listening to afrocuban rhythms. My opinion: "I LOVE THIS CD". If you listen to "Tenba, Tumba y Timba" and don't start dancing a minute into it, you are dead!. The music is an original mixture that works on a guy used to the traditional Salsa sounds. The arrangements are intricate and the sound is thick. The singers KNOW their trade, Unlike so many of the new salseros who rely more on their looks than on thier "sabor". If you like Son, Salsa, Merengue and/or any kind of Latin dance music BUY THIS CD. For those who critize the production I say like "Maito" : "shut up, shut up si no sabes nada de nada sientate ahy que yo te voy a ense~ar...."ÿ