Almas Del Silencio

Performer: Ricky Martin
Artist: Jon Secada
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Contains a CD ROM disc which includes a music video. Personnel includes: Ricky Martin (vocals); Dan Warner (acoustic & electric guitars); Rayito (Spanish guitar); Yasmil Marrufo (guitar, cuatro, background vocals); Andres Castro (guitar); Hernan "Teddy" Molet (trombone); Matt Rollings (piano); Ricardo Gaitian (keyboards); Alex AJ (bass, fretless bass); Lee Levin (drums); Tommy Torres (pandereta); Archie Pena, Danny Lopez (percussion); Jon Secada, Tommy Torres, Erik Martin (background vocals). Producers include: Tommy Torres, Luis Fernando Ochoa, Juan Vincente Zambrano. "Tal Vez" was nominated for the 2003 Latin Grammy Award for Song Of The Year. Similar to jazz artists, Latin pop singers can move back and forth between audiences, exploring new terrain with a crossover album and then returning home to the faithful with a more traditional date. Almas del Silencio, Ricky Martin's first Spanish record in five years, actually offers something for all of his widely varying audiences, from Jalisco to Hartford. The opener "Jaleo" is a kitchen-sink performance, boasting Spanish guitar but also a few biting metal chords, a deep bottom end for dance fans, and a yearning, romantic vocal. The single "Tal Vez" is pure ballad territory, with an army of strings and Martin struggling to pull off a histrionic performance. He breaks out with some subtle vocal feats on the digital-age Emilio Estefan, Jr. production "Jamas," and also sounds great during the other dance track, "Besos de Fuego." There's something here for everyone. ~ John Bush Similar to jazz artists, Latin pop singers can move back and forth between audiences, exploring new terrain with a crossover album and then returning home to the faithful with a more traditional date. Almas del Silencio, Ricky Martin's first Spanish record in five years, actually offers something for all of his widely varying audiences, from Jalisco to Hartford. The opener "Jaleo" is a kitchen-sink performance, boasting Spanish guitar but also a few biting metal chords, a deep bottom end for dance fans, and a yearning, romantic vocal. The single "Tal Vez" is pure ballad territory, with an army of strings and Martin struggling to pull off a histrionic performance. He breaks out with some subtle vocal feats on the digital-age Emilio Estefan, Jr. production "Jamas," and also sounds great during the other dance track, "Besos de Fuego." Unfortunately, Almas del Silencio bears the stamp of a superstar record; the songs tend toward the bland, and their production entailed the use of more than a dozen recording studios (including 11 in Miami alone). With nothing here as infectious as his American smash, Ricky Martin, this probably won't satisfy those of his fans with an objective ear. ~ John Bush Ricky Martin's first Spanish-language album since 1998 marks a return not only to his roots but also to a formula that had started to elude him--that of the well-crafted pop song. With ALMAS DEL SILENCIO he's both assured enough to know his strengths and adventurous enough to take chances, accomplishing both with the stripped down ballad "Nadie Mas Que Tu." The hot Latin dance numbers that first brought him fame aren't ignored, either--"Jaleo" is an obvious contender for international hit status, while the emotive "Tal Vez" and "Si Tu Te Vas" find him in full chest-baring mode. It's obvious with ALMAS DEL SILENCIO that Martin's move back to his roots has both energized him and given his performing skills surprising and hitherto-unsuspected depth.

Entertainment Weekly (6/6/03, p.79) - "...This addictive fusion of African rhythms, flamenco, and Latin pop actually works..." - Rating: B

Getting his start as part of teenyboppers Menudo in the '80s, and staying in the public's eye as an actor on General Hospital, Ricky Martin launched his own solo career by the late-'90s. Nobody could have predicted Martin's meteoric rise, topping the charts and selling out arenas on the strength of his monster Latin dance hit "Livin' La Vida Loca."

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25