Ricky Martin - Life - CD

(Life is also available as a dual disc.)

Life is Ricky Martin's first English language album in five years. It comes in the wake of Sound Loaded and, prior to that, Ricky Martin, the eponymous English language debut album that propelled Martin to international superstardom, thanks to "Livin' La Vida Loca" and "The Cup of Life." Ricky Martin sold seven million copies in the U.S. alone. After that kind of success, the question is, where do you go?

Martin revisited himself in Sound Loaded and didn't sell nearly as well. In Life, he takes a completely different route. Don't expect anything remotely like "The Cup of Life" here. Instead, prepare for an unexpected album, one that plays freely with world beats and urban rhythms, alternating between what could be called world pop all the way to reggaeton. With guest appearances by the likes of Fat Joe, Amerie and will.i.am and Taboo of Black Eyed Peas, along with reggaeton stars Daddy Yankee and Voltio, Life is difficult to pin down. And this is what finally makes it such and enjoyable album.

It begins with the dreamy "Til I Get To You" (which Martin co-wrote along with many tracks on the album), sweeping pop over Middle Eastern strains. Similar in feel is the ensuing "I Won't Desert You," which kicks off with a Middle Eastern chant before breaking into an R&B groove. Less surprising is the single "I Don't Care," featuring Fat Joe and Amerie. With Martin's participation reduced largely to the chorus, this is the least distinctive track here. We urge you to move along to "Stop Time Tonight," a classic ballad where Martin initially sings over keyboard before breaking into the sweeping chorus, his voice hoarser but more compelling than before.

On "Life," Martin becomes more adventuresome. The track is a danceable melange of sounds, styles and percussion, with sonic layers piled on top of one another for lush, yet percussive effect. More urban in sound are the bilingual "I Am," featuring Puerto Rican rapper Voltio and "Drop It On Me," featuring Daddy Yankee and Taboo. Our favorite of the two is "Drop It On Me," slated to be the second single off Life. Built on an irresistible reggaeton-based rhythmic pattern, this is a great blend of pop, reggaeton, dancehall, English and Spanish.

Life ends with "Qu￩ M￡s Da" and "D￩jate Llevar," Spanish language versions of "I Don't Care" and "It's Alright," respectively. But before it gets to that, Martin delivers "Save the Dance," a beautiful, mid-tempo ballad where he sings in falsetto over dreamy strings and solo violin lines.

The end result is an artist who is all grown up now, unafraid to experiment, and quite frankly, the better for it. We loved "Livin' La Vida Loca," but this new Ricky Martin has the potential for many more hits.

By Leila Cobo