Customer Reviews

PUERTO RICO

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a fan of Cuban music, I picked up this disk out of curiosity and find it highly enjoyable. The music is similar to Cuban, but yet distinctive. The opening number is just fantastic (and may prompt you to get Palmieri's CD itself, which I also recommend). The next three tunes are also in a traditional vein and the disk then focuses more on -plena-. I must disagree with another reviewer, however: there is certainly more than -plena- on this disk. The first and third numbers are guajiras, the second is a traditional son, the fourth is a bolero, and the 10th is salsa. There are, indeed, four plenas, but that is fine -- this is Puerto Rican music! My only criticism is that the plenas become a little bit repetitious, but they are a lot of fun overall. The tune by Julius Melendez is a joy and I hope I can find more by him.

I love the Putumayo series, as it introduces people to music that they otherwise may not hear. Like this album, for example. I was not really familiar with Puerto Rican music. And some people I know just assume it is like Ricky Martins stuff. But how wrong they are (thank God!). This is a wonderful album, and I will most certainly try to aquire more music from these featured artists. In particular, Eddie Palmieri. I just love his track "Cafe". But each and every artist on here is wonderful that I would like to hear more. The 27 page booklet is written in English and Spanish and features an essay about Puerto Rico, as well as a photo and information on each artist. I recommend this album to everyone who would like an instant pick-me-up. It makes you feel like dancing.

Aqui hay de todo lo que uno espera de la musica tipica boricua. Hay Plena, Bomba, Jibarro, y Salsa. Toda la musica de aqui es en estilos que ya todos estaban establecidos en los setentas y las notas que vienen con el disco son muy buenas.
Los grupos que tocan la musica son bastante conocidos.
Si quieres conocer la real cultura musical puertorriquen~a, este disco te la va a dar muy bien. Pero no esperes nada comercializado aqui, toda esta musica es musica del pueblo.
Si eres puertorriquen~o y no tienes mucha o quizas ninguna musica tradicional es un gran disco para comprar.

This is a wonderful collection heavy on the roots side. It has some of the most beautiful tres playing you'll ever hear. Natural and easy to listen to and your feet can't resist keeping the beat. A truly satisfying selection of the unique Puerto Rican sound.

My husband loves this disc. I love a few tracks, like, Cafe, Una Mujer en Mi Vida, Pa Mantener Tradicion.

This CD provides just the right variety of music native to the island. It has a good mix of bembe, plena, slow, and dance music. Even those who are not usually into Latin music like this CD. I play it for children and they like it as well. I also enjoyed the informative information on the roots of Puerto Rican music included on the insert (cover) of the CD.

You can almost never get sick of this CD! I have been listening to it in my car for months. It's so varied and upbeat. It's just an excellent CD- thanks Putumayo!

The only worthwhile items on this CD are numbers 8, 9, and 11. The rest is an amalgamam of depressing songs, mostly "pregones", making it the primal reason this compilation stinks, as Puerto Rican music is usually very upbeat and full of life. I have a feeling that whomever decided on most of these particular songs had a hidden political agenda, as the lyrics have an "independentista" double entendre to them.

I should have suspected, since the album contains two numbers with Andrés "El Jíbaro" Jímenez, a once-promising artist who got too high on his political horse. I guess he must think of himself as the Puerto Rican equivalent of Silvio Rodríguez, "y realmente no le llega ni a los talones".

Don't waste your money, that is, unless you're into the "blame the Yankee for every problem in Puerto Rico" mindset.

Oh, and one more thing: "¡Ni siquiera es bailable!" Now, isn't that proof enough that it's not an album representative of Puerto Rican music?

I may just not like this music i lived in the Dominican Republic and have visited Puerto Rico and love most latino music but i did not care for this cd.The only 2 song's that are worth playing are track's 9/10.
I do have the D.R. cd which is more user friendly then this one ! J.B.

Although it is a nice collection, it is not the most rhythmic that I have heard. I have bought many of the Putumayo collections, the World in general one, and the Cuba one. This one does not rank as high as the others, but it is a nice collection. There is a lot of PR on it, but it is nto one of my favorite cds. Most of the songs are the same, mostly plena, there is not any salsa, merengue, son, etc...