Search - Carlos Manuel :: Malo Cantidad

Newest Post Timba Sensation from Cuba..

05/20/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have heard this guy mentioned as the "Cuba's answer to Ricky Martin"..And if you see the video for Malo Cantidad(the title track) you might be inclined to agree( Fairly decent looking guy shaking his hips a bit too much). But as opposed to the that famous puerto rican, Carlos Manuel composes , writes and arranges most of his own stuff( He used to be a player for Irakere, should have stayed there a bit longer). Currently second in popularity to Issac Delgado in Cuba. Now Palm Pictures has picken him up and trying for some American Success. Now about the album..I am embarresed to say it actually not bad, the guy sings in an R and Bish type style charateristic of many Cuban bands these days( A bit of the DLG-Sergio George thing coming back to bite us in the butt) Malo Cantidad with its Socaish feel is a good song for the summer and a nice dance tune..the man does keep his band tight and he has more swing than Marc Anthony has had in his 8 yrs of singing salsa...Matilda also a standout track( Its a Harry Belafonte cover) with its Pan Caribbean feel a good track to dance with your favorite caribeña( Or non caribeña for that matter)..Acabando is also pretty good.. Pretty much the rest is good ol Salsa Romantica sap found on almost anybodys albums these days...with a bit more feeling though..But if you are into that type of thing it might be you cup of tea.. But the guy has potential and a very good band. If you had a choice from getting the next NY salsa guy thats similar to Marc Anthony or this album I would recommend this one."

The future of Cuban Salsa and Templeci (Well, in my opinion)

11/12/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Those who are familiar with Carlos Manuel already know what a crowd rouser he is. He regularly performs to packed theatres and concert venues in Havana and, most recently, in Europe and Latin America. The mere mention of his name will send young girls into hysterics and one need only play one of his songs (at the moment the big hit is La Manzana) to see the best of Havana shake it. Having seen Carlos Manuel perform live on a dozen different ocassions, I personally prefer his live performances. There's more energy and of course the live dancers to oggle at! BUt this is not a bad rendition of some of his greatest songs. Still, I am not so sure that it is such a worthy follow up to 'Por La Vena El Gusto'. However, I do appreciate, and so have many others who have heard 'Malo Cantidad' that the inclusion of hip-hop and reggae styles and his focus on Templeci is really groundbreaking-even for Cuban music which is already so experimental. He's certainly not of the same style as some of Cuba's best Salseros but he deserves all the praise and adoration he gets. If you want to hear something new, funky with tons of energy, give this a go."