Consejo [Limited] ［CD+DVD］

With Consejo, Miami group la Secta Allstar began to get the recognition their unique offerings to the Latin music community deserve, after years of flying below the radar. With warm, natural production, clever lyrics, and a sound all its own, it's a small wonder that Consejo showed up on six of Billboard's Latin charts, including number two in the Latin pop category, a slot more often dominated by big-budget cookie-cutter types. This group of Miami residents is no stranger to the studio, with five albums already under their belts, many of which played quite well in foreign markets, especially Puerto Rico, the island most of the bandmembers call home. Lead singer Gustavo Laureano's voice has a pleasantly rough edge to it, and the band sound is thick and cohesive. There's a delightful stylistic variety in the repertoire, keeping Consejo interesting and engaging. La Secta is adept at playing genre chameleon, seemingly equally comfortable with the melancholy ballad "La Locura Automatica" and the reggaeton-tinged funk track "Llora Mi Corazon," and owning both. While not really fitting in any preexisting niche, la Secta seems to have been successful in carving out one of their own. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez