Customer Reviews

Urbano

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

 

 

In science fiction one always reads how the successive clones get weak and wonky, and their good qualities get diluted; the same syndrome seems to be happening to Elvis Crespo, who started out in 1998 with the terrific "Suavemente", which though it had its faults, was full of promise and a 5 star effort."Urbano" is a huge disappointment, and as a copy of a copy of a copy, the melodic content is dull and repetitive, and his voice, which was never golden, has not exactly improved.

Yes, it is a good dance CD, because his band is great; the rhythm and brass sections are superb, and Freddie Mendez on piano utterly marvelous, but unfortunately, the material they have to work with is boring, and there are many other dance albums available more worthy of your time and money. Track # 12, "Como Fingir", is "unplugged", with some nice acoustic guitar work by Ito Serrano, but I cannot imagine what they were thinking to include this song as part of the recording. It is a miserable embarassment, with Elvis completely out of his depth as a slow ballad singer.
Track # 14 is a duet with Sergio Vargas, the well-known merenguero from la Republica Dominicana, who has a unique, smooth voice, but he is better heard on his solo CDs.
The insert is a fold-out with the lyrics and recording info, and stylish photos of Elvis, who is certainly cute, and quite a chick magnet. The sound is fine, and total time 54'55.

Elvis Crespo does it again. The first release from this new album "Urbano"; "Bandida" with the rapper Tempo and DJ Black, has guitar licks, piano vamps and hip-hop loops the track is slamming. Now my favorite is "La Cerveza" which features two trombones and a party feel that real merengueros love. If you are a true merenguero or just love to dance merengue this is a must for your collection...

As with Suavemente, Urbano benefits from a good prouduction with some hot merengue songs. As far as I can tell, that is, with just one listening.

The problem is that I simply can not stand Elvis Crespo's voice. I find it nasal and abrasive to such an extent that listening to these songs was starting to drive me nuts.

Reading other reviews I find some people are in agreement with this, while others feel differently. I guess his is a voice you either love or hate, and you will have to decide for yourself.

If only Manny Manuel had recorded this album. His voice, by contrast, is like honey from the Gods.

Elvis Crespo dances his way into your heart with humor and passion. And he's got that sonrisa that will make you melt.

This CD is the hottest one he's ever made! I like his first hit single "Bandida" and "Besame En La Boca", because it makes just turn up the volume and dance!

This is definitely not the real thing. This is a luke warm copy...with a face, some moves and music "produced" to be MTV generation compatible eyeing the non-latin market.... but forget packageing and dig the real stuff, from which this youngster is living off: Los Hermanos Rosarios and "El Cuco", . Definitely not your MTV faces, because they are "feo"...., but much hotter....