Donde Hay Musica: 25th Anniversary Edition＜Blue Vinyl＞

Eros Ramazzotti stretches his wings and covers a wider variety of styles on his 1996 album Donde Hay Musica. This outing is much less rock-oriented than the previous Todo Historias. The album opens with the pop feel of the title track and never really ventures into the guitar-laden territory that dominated his previous effort. Standout cuts include the ballads "Yo Amare" and the beautiful "Casi Amor," as well as the album's closer "Buena Vida." Other high points include "Este Inmenso Show," which is upbeat, bears a hip-hop influence, and ends as a soaring, gospel-tinged number complete with a saxophone. "Yo Sin Ti" finds Ramazzotti exploring more Latin sounds, and the result is a pleasant, sunny, and breezy offering. "La Aurora" is also a good song, finding Ramazzotti sounding somewhat like Phil Collins. The only problem with "La Aurora," however, is that it sounds a tad too similar (especially in the chorus) to his earlier hit "A Medio Camino" (from the Todo Historias album). If it worked once, it will work again, correct? Not entirely, because this album is, first and foremost, a departure from his earlier sounds and makes for quite a pleasant listening experience. ~ Jose F. Promis