Customer Reviews

Republica Dominicana

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

 

 

I think the music in this CD is very good, but it's NOT authentic Domincan music. I'd say only a few songs are truly from the island. Native Dominicans listen to different beats like bachata and merengue; they don't usually hear plena and guaracha. This is a poor choice of music to be represented in this CD. The title should've been something else, not República Dominicana. As I stated before, the music is good, but if you're looking for genuine Dominican rhythms, it's not the perfect CD to purchase.

I consider this CD as barely of Dominican nature, musically. Although the Cd is composed of Dominican artist, it seems that only rythms other than Dominican folklore were selected for this album. The only artist that artistically represents a pure Dominican rythm is Chi Chi peralta, Fernando Echavarria and him are the originators and creators of the "Meren-son" a mxture of merengue and Dominican son. Basically, all the songs are not purely of Dominican nature, they are mixture of rythms, all influenced entirely by cuban music. To better understand Dominican music, I would advise you to listen to the following artists:

**Juan Luis Guerra(merengue & Bachata)
*Sergio Vargas(merengue)
Jossie Esteban(merengue);(the older the CD, the better he is)
*Los hermanos Rosario(merengue)
*Johnny Ventura(merengue)
*Luis Vargas(Bachata)
*Luis Segura(Bachata)
Anthony Santos(Bachata)

These are just a few artist that you will fall in love with.

Well, I was looking for more of the classic bachatas and meregues. I was hoping to hear artists like El Ciegito de Nagua and Cuco Valoy. Those are some of the true legends in "perico ripiao"(which is the classic merengue) and bachata. This cd doesn't sound like it's all dominican, but more of a compilation of whatever they could fill it with.

I bought this cd a few years ago because I recognized a few of the artists on the cover but I was surprised with myself that I couldn't really recognize the other artists. However, once I heard the music I knew why. The music is "tropical" but I would not say Dominican. I think if you consider the cd from that perspective it's nice. It has a nice mix of tropical sounding music but the bachatas are weak. Good artists- Raulin R & Luis V but the songs could have been something more representative of bachata "del pueblo" which better identifies Dominican culture. I don't know what criteria Putamayo uses when combining these cultural compilations but they have to ensure that the music is a true representation of the people and it's culture. Like I said as a tropical cd (and that's how I rated it) it's okay. As a Dominican cd...it needs to have more authentic merengue & bachata.

I really don't understand some of the reviewers here who say this album is not Dominican music. Maybe it's not the music they would listen to in the Dominican Republic, or maybe they just haven't read the booklet, but this album is representative of Dominican music. Putumayo always does extensive research on their albums, and each and every artist on this cd IS Dominican. Every record label that the songs are culled from is Dominican or specializes in Dominican music. This album focuses on the guitar-based (requinto) music of Bachata, although there are examples of merengue and bachata-sons. Each song and artist has a page in the booklet devoted to them, (in English and Spanish), which explains what kind of music it is, such as "Tranquila" is a soulful Dominican bachata-son. "Lo Que Le Paso a Juan" is a plena dominicana, a variation of bachata. "Nuestros Lazos" is a rootsy traditional bachata, while "Cana Brava" is one of the most popular and best-known of the entire merengue repertoire. Yes, there are elements of Cuban son throughout, but all Latin music has a similar traditional basis to them...European and African, that there is always going to be some kind of link. But to say this album is not Dominican is an injustice to the Dominican artists represented here. It also states in the booklet that the music of the Dominican Republic is very diverse and varied, with many different types of merengue, including 'merengue cibaeno', 'perico ripiao' and 'pambiche'. And that the Dominican son is closely related to Cuban son, but has a more bouncy rhythm and uses unique melodies and song structures, and many locals claim that the 'son' is of Dominican origin and was brought to Cuba by Dominican immigrants. The music here is a wonderful representation, and on top of that, a portion of the proceeds from this cd will go to the Bayahonda Cultural Foundation which aids in the development and promotion of the traditional cultural expressions of the Dominican Republic.

It took awhile for the CD to show up, but once it did, it was in fine condition with no problems playing. I love the music on it!

This is my 3rd CD from Putumayo and it fullfiled all my expectations. I can highly recommend this product.

This CD claims to have the "best music you've never heard." It's not one of Putumayo's best."Tranquila","Pegao de Que","Anoche","Immenso Amor"&"Lo Que Paso a Juan" are catchy tunes;each one unique."Tranquila" counts as Latin easy listening.Unfortunately,most of the tracks sound the same.


If you're looking for fun Latin music,get yourself a Bebel Gilberto album,or anything Brazilian.Putumayo's Brazilian compilations are flawless and a SURE THING when you're looking for,as Putumayo's CEO Dan Storper says,"All hits,no filler."

This really is a great collection of (primarily) bachata songs, by a wide choice of great musicians, mixed with one or two more traditionally Dominican merengues. The songs are very well picked, excellently produced and combine a great latin feel of 'Ron y Baile' with the traditionally sensual, happy undertone of Bachata. So no, if you're looking for merengue, search elsewhere. If you're looking for a fantastic CD of great Bachata's, buy this CD and enjoy it.

I was in a record store and heard this one playing and had to have it. I wouldn't have picked it off the shelf mostly because its cover, though colorful, seems over-marketed, like a greatest hits of too broad a range of music. But, not so! This is a beautiful, flavorful collection of bachata, merengue, son, more. Lots of variety of both fast and slow paced songs. Much of this cd sounds like Cuban music. Juan Luis Guerra fans would probably like it too. Very afro-cuban. My favorites songs are 3: procura, 7:nuestroz lazos, and 1: tranquila. My boyfriend dj's at events and he played some of this cd at a mainly "english-speaking" wedding reception and it was a huge hit, the language posed no barriers. The cd also includes a detailed little cd book about the Dominican Republic's music history and featured artists.This cd is nice, like a warm Caribbean night.