Search - Luis Miguel :: Cómplices

Luis Miguel's "Complices" - The Classic is Great, the Pop is

Mark | East Coast | 06/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Luis Miguel's newest album Complices has received some negative comments which has surprised me. I've mostly been surprised by the specific criticisms since I had a different take than what I've seen out there.



First of all, Luis Miguel's interpretive style is very well known and has been very successful for him. That he's been criticized for his "classic" style and lack of "innovation" is somewhat puzzling. I love innovative and inventive music, but I love traditional music as well. If I want to hear innovation I look elsewhere. If I want to hear beautifully sung Spanish ballads and boleros, I will listen to Luis Miguel, Vicente Fernandez, and the other greats in that genre. Innovation is great, but doing what you do best is also great. There is nothing wrong, in my mind with him playing to his strengths and making more of the same kind of music.



I bought the album without even knowing many details about it beforehand. As far as the song writing, I was surprised to learn that all the songs were written by one writer, Manuel Alejandro. To me that makes the album more impressive, because I think most of the songs are great and very well written.



The production and recording value of these songs are also top notch. Some types of music is criticized for being "over-produced." But when it comes to classic love songs, ballads and the like, this type of professional production is the only way to go. Professional and clean production is one of Luis Miguel's strengths.



The one thing that I didn't like about this album were the 3 pop songs that seemed to be thrown in at random and completely out of the flow of the songs they followed. I'm surprised to hear no comments on those tracks, except for one positive comment. To each his or her own.



Perhaps I am wrong. But I found those tracks to be too much in the 70s style. I had more than one flashback of "The Love Boat" listening to them. They include "De Nuevo Al Paraiso," "Estrenando Amor" and "Tu Imaginacion." I just found those songs to be "corny" for lack of a better word. Now I have to create a new disk by removing those songs. Normally I like disks to include more music, but this disk would have been a 5 star recording if those three tracks had been left in the studio.



Still, almost every other song on this album is a possible hit. The title track, "Complices," is a clever play on words. But my personal favorites are "Dicen" and "Si tu te atreves." "Amor de hecho" and "Se amaban" are good too.



Once again, this album has been panned by some who have outgrown Luis Miguel's style or never liked him in the first place. If you really listen to the entire album front to back, you will see there is some great music in here. If not for those 3 pop songs, this would have been a classic start to finish.



Leave the pop to Cristian Castro as far as I'm concerned. If Luis Miguel sticks to his own style of interpretation, he will continue to churn out hit records no matter who doesn't like his classic style.



I hope you'll check this out.



Enjoy.

"

It's the best album Luis Miguel ever made

Cranberry | Chicago, IL | 05/06/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been Luis Miguel's fan for many years and have all his albums. I think that he's the best male voice I've ever heard. I was expecting eagerly for this album and it did not dissappointed me at all. I'm so excited about it. This album is special, unique and different from everything he made before. When I listen to the first song I'm waiting anxiously for the next, and next... It's a perfect album."

Definitely a must

Luis F Schaar S | MEXICO | 05/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album has probably the best lyrics that I have ever heard from Luis Miguel, thanks to composer Manuel Alejandro (he wrote great songs for Emmanuel).



The production of the album is, as always with Luis Miguel, flawless.



The songs aren't the same as in his previous albums, probably only his first single Si tú te atreves sounds at the beginning like some other songs, but that's it.



For me the best songs are Amor a mares, Cómplices and Se amaban. And from the pop songs Tu imaginación sounds like it could work very well on the radio.



Luis Miguel knows what he does, and Luis Miguel obviously knows what his fans like from him. Some people complain that he doesn't do something different, but I really prefer him singing ballads rather than reggaeton.



So, yes, if you like Luis Miguel, buy it, you won't be dissapointed.



"