Rough Guide To Merengue

Various Artists
World Music Network
World | Apr 2006

Reviews

Sadie O.
Reviewed 2006-05-11
[coll]: Rough Guide to Merengue (World Music)
Reviewed by Sadie O., 5/11/06
Fast-paced Dominican dance (with touches of Cuba and Haiti) with complex rhythm, prominent horn section, often salacious lyrics, extremely close dancing. Very fun and upbeat – it’s hard to be depressed with this music playing. A couple of tracks are a bit too slick and pop (the bands moved to New York), but most are great fun.
No FCCs, although there may well be naughty innuendos in Spanish. Track 12 is great, 2 and 11 almost as good, most are fun and danceable.
1. **uptempo and upbeat – the Puerto Rican Backstreet Boys of Merengue. Complex horn arrangements.
2. ***Midtempo, swingy, a hint of reggae from a Dominican artist with diverse influences. A bit of rap. Fun!
3. **Slightly uptempo, complex horns, star Dominican/Puerto Rican boy band.
4. *uptempo, big DR/NY female singer, huge vocals.
5. **midtempo, hit PR band with big horns
6. downtempo (but still with fast hand percussion), too slick.
7. *Uptempo, Dominican orchestra with male lead singer and female chorus.
8. **somewhat uptempo, cool Columbian merengue/salsa/cumbia fusion.
9. **midtempo swingy, great horns.
10. Midtempo Dominican overly empassioned vocals relieved only slightly by a touch of PR reggaeton from Danny Boy.
11. ***Uptempo, energetic and fun.
12. ****Somewhat uptempo, slight hip hop touch to vocals, great arrangements.
13. **somewhat uptempo, a touch of salsa.
14. **Just plain fast, with accordian, rootsy vocals. More “country”, roots of Merengue than other cuts.

Recent airplay

La Negra Quiere Bailar
At your local cafeJul 17, 2007
No Me Faltes Nunca
At the Cafe BohemianJul 25, 2006
No Me Faltes Nunca
At the Cafe BohemianJul 18, 2006
Caro
The Cafe AmericainJul 04, 2006
El Mamboleo
New World DisorderJul 01, 2006
La Ciguapa
World Music HourJun 28, 2006

Charting

2006-06-04 — 2006-08-06 Reggae/World
Week EndingAirplays
Jul 30 1
Jul 23 1
Jul 9 1
Jul 2 3
Jun 18 2
Jun 11 2

Track listing

1. Eres Mentirosa
2. La Ciguapa
3. Tu Cuerpo En La Arena
4. Caro
5. Nadie Se Muere
6. Ven Junto A Mi
7. Mi Morenita
8. La Negra Quiere Bailar
9. No Me Faltes Nunca
10. Estoy Dolido
11. Verano Solido
12. El Mamboleo
13. Llorando Por Ti
14. El Muchachito