Customer Reviews

This Is Reina

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A little background before the FABULOUS review begins:
Lori Goldstein started off as a background singer for Deborah Cox back in the 90s. Then by 1998, under her stage name REINA, found success as an underground club diva with several singles launched by the former Groovilicious Records under Strictly Rhythm label. "Find Another Woman", "Anything For Love", and "No One's Gonna Change You" were some of those hits. Unfortunately, that label went down in 2001 and so did Reina. Afterwards, Robbins Ent. had signed Reina on their label, with hopes that someday she will be an asset to the label as well as have strong appeal to the dance music market! Boy, were they right! By the time she got to Robbins, she had six singles to her name, but no album. Well, it's FINALLY here my friends- October 2004- THIS IS REINA!!

THE review:
The album is of course a masterpiece because they included her Strictly Rhythm singles on this release, as well as new gems that really add to the flavor of this album. Overall, it's a dance album- typical Robbins dance music material, but it's Reina's rich vocals that make it stand out on its own. "Forgive" is a new track- my favorite on the album, and I won't be surprised if this makes it to the clubs. "Believe in Us" and "What Happened to Us?" are two new awesome tracks- superb! They also included a 7-minute version of "Vivo Per Lei", an Italian-English dance track feat. Angelo Venuto. Some of tracks like "Why", "On My Own", and "They Say it's gonna rain" are lacking some originality, and seem too "A&R" driven for me, but it may interest some other listeners. However, there's a little something for the Holiday season also- a Christmas track. This kind of threw me for a loop, as Reina I think is Jewish! But it still works, and it's a nice ending to the album.

Overall, it's a great addition to your music library- it may seem too bubbly for some because of the dance music beats, but if you pay more attention to her vocal stylings, you'll appreciate it much more! Not to mention, it's a more quality product with all those cute photos, liner notes, and lyrics. This really gives you a better snapshot of Reina's musical career than her single releases. Keep up the great work Reina- you're beautiful!

For those more interested in Reina, visit her new website at www.reinascastle.com to learn more about her.

I bought this on sale on a whim, and I'm very pleased. Reina has a great voice! The songs get better towards the middle and end of the CD. Her duet is really nice. What impressed me is that the CD cover/insert has all the songs' lyrics. I hope this is just the start of great CDs from this artist.

This is a really good debut album from Reina. I loved her previous single releases: No One's Gonna Change You and If I Close My Eyes and those songs were the basis upon which I decided to purchase this album and I'm not disappointed. For me the stand out tracks besides the two already mentioned, would be What Happened To Us and If You Should Ever Be Lonely. Reina's voice is easy on the ear and it's obvious that a lot of care has gone into the production of this CD.

In addition to Reina's CD, I'd recommend GIOIA's debut album, EXPOSE THIS. Gioia's album contains a stunning mix of dance genres, including soul, trance, Latin freestyle and house and is one of my favourite albums of 2004, along with Reina's album. Gioia's previous songs: (1) "Wrecking My Nerves (Chris Cox Remix)" - is available on compilation CD WHITE PARTY USA VOLUME 2 (available at Amazon), (2) "Be Mine (Turn The Party Out Remix)" is available on TOP SHELF DANCE 1 (also available at Amazon) and (3) "From The Inside (Jr Vasquez Remix)" is on the QUEER AS FOLK SEASON 3 Soundtrack CD (also available at Amazon). Songs 1 and 3 aren't on her album and song 2 is a different mix to the two edited versions which appear on her album.

If you like dance music with strong vocals and good beats, then Reina and Gioia's respective albums will fit your bill. Go on treat yourself, you won't be disappointed!

FINALLY A FULL LENGTH RELEASE!!! THIS WOMAN'S VOICE IS UNBELEIVABLE. REMINDS ME A LOT OF JUDY TORRES' VOICE. ALL THE SINGLES ARE INCLUDED HERE AND A TRACK CALLED " THEY SAY ITS GONNA RAIN", WHICH I LOVE. ALSO "WHY" SHOULD BE THE NEXT SINGLE. VERY STRONG PERFORMANCES HERE. CONGRADS REINA AND TO ROBBINS ENT FOR FINALLY PUTTING THIS RECORD OUT.

The CD Is Totally Hot, 11 Slammin' Tracks, 1 Ballad (Real Sweet), and 1 Christmas Track (Just In Time For The Holidays) So In Total 13 AWESOME Tracks. Reina Can Sing Her Lungs Out, This Girl Will Go Sooooooo Far, She Can Even Be On Broadway With That Gorgeous Voice Of Hers. I'm Going To See Reina In Person On November 13th, 2004 in Brooklyn at The Compact Disc Shoppe on Avenue U (Sheepshead Bay Area)To Have Reina Sign My Very Own Copy. It Can't Get Any Better Than This. YOU GO GIRL. My Favorite Track Is "FORGIVE"

When I found out that Reina was coming out with her first c.d.I could not wait to get it.It's all here the dance hits If I Close My Eyes, No One's Gonna Change You, Find Another Woman, Anything For Love.Plus more dance hits my favitore is Forgive which I think should be the next single.It would do very well in the clubs plus a Christmas song which I like very much.Reina if you read this {which I hope you do}THANK YOU FOR THIS C.D. I LOVE YOU!TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I first heard Reina when If I Close My Eyes started playing on Sirius. Once this album was released I realized that she has one hell of a voice. Very talented! My favorite songs on the CD are On My Own, Believe In Us, & Forgive. The weakest song on the CD is the Duet of Vivo Per Lei, but the rest only proves what an amazing talent Reina is. I'm looking forward to the next CD.

IF YOU ARE A FAN OF VOCAL DANCE MUSIC, YOU BETTER RUN OUT AND GET THIS ONE QUICK...TOP NOTCH PRODUCTION FROM THE HOTTEST DANCE MUSIC PRODUCERS AND REINA'S GREAT VOCAL TALENT MAKE THIS MY CHOICE FOR BEST DANCE ALBUM OF 2004...PUT THIS ONE IN YOUR SHOPPING CART NOW...DANCE MUSIC AND REINA NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO PUT OUT MORE ALBUMS LIKE THIS...BUY IT TODAY! YOU WON'T BE SORRY!

Reina released her first cd under the name "LORI GOLD" in 1995 in Japan (rumour has it her real name is Lori Goldstein). That cd was produced by ex-Chic singer Norma Jean Wright and the reviews for that debut cd basically had a lot of comparisons to Mary J. Blige. Not a whole lot happened with that debut cd.... then she changed her name to Reina and released the following singles and 1 full-length album:

1. 1998- Find Another Woman (cd-single)
2. 1999- Anything For Love (cd-single)
3. 2003- No One's Gonna Change You (cd-single)
4. 2004- THIS IS REINA (full length album)
5. 2004- If I Close My Eyes (cd-single)
6. 2005- Forgive (cd-single)
7. 2006- On My own (cd-single)

The first song that I heard was "No One's Gonna Change You" on the radio way back in '03 the radio station did club music on Friday and Saturday nights (or party music, whatever) and this song was playing, I sat in my car until it was finished, I looked it up online and found that she had not released an album yet, then in '04 This Is Reina dropped, I couldn't find it anywhere, then one day at Wal-Mart I found it for 9.72 and am I glad that I did find it...cause it's like WOW!