0617616012923. New condition. CD. Bachata en la Calle Ocho 2002 is a collection of salsa-flavored Latin music that has a relaxed, bouncing feel. The cover may be deceiving, as the font and the scantily clad woman would have you believe that this is an exciting album. But no, this entire affair is very laid-back, most consisting of ballads and mid-tempo tracks. The music has an exotic flavor that gives it more substance than the simplistic beats and melodies would suggest. But this is also a very specialized genre, and it does not translate well to an unfamiliar audience. A few of the tracks are quite good for the genre, especially Gioldano Morel's smooth and sensual "Amor a Primera Vista" and Teodoro Reyes' energetic "El Tolete." But overall this is designed for fans of the genre, so anyone looking to purchase this album should keep in mind the limited appeal that it has for those unfamiliar with bachata. But to those who know the music, this is a decent album that lacks energy but delivers some of the bigger names in the genre. ~ Bradley Torreano, Rovi
