The Dominican band Ilegales had been releasing collections of their modernized merengue for five years when the best tracks from each were anthologized in Serie 2000. There are no ballads and no slow songs -- just pure dance rhythms, from the techno rhythms of "La Morena" to the Spanish-flavored "Sueno Contigo." As can be expected, the songs have little meaning lyrically beyond exhortations to dance and move, but fit in swell within the context of the relentlessly upbeat music. While traditionalists may take umbrage at the group's attempt to meld classic Latin music with techno synths and rhythms, it's true that the mixture does make for a fresh update on the established sound. For anyone looking to discover merengue and how Ilegales became one of the hottest acts in the genre, Serie 2000 would be a good place to start. ~ Victor W. Valdivia

Rovi