Search - Olga Tanon :: Una Nueva Mujer

A big improvement, if not quite what I have been waiting for

bilahn | USA | 05/12/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Una Nueva Mujer is a big improvement for Olga over her last album Sobrevivir. She has returned more to the snappy merengues that made her famous (in the first half), the arrangements are good, often quite innovative and complex, and her singing is as fine as ever. My favorite song is the title Una Nueva Mujer, and these upbeat songs are catchy and have more depth than Yo Por Ti. Except for Una Nueva Mujer, these sounds are not real merengue, but rather a kind of tropical pop mix of styles. As such it is quite good, and Olga really lays it on.



Unfortunately, I find the second half of the album less strong. Abrie Tu Corazon is a kind of folk/rock thing, which I don't care for. This is followed by two heavily pop flavored merengues, and two ballads, which are just not particularly distinctive. Finally a merengue Bandolero which is good, and then a cumbia version which is not that great. I don't like finishing off albums with "versions" - it comes across as filler. Another strong song at the end would have helped.



It's worth pointing out that beginning with 2001's Yo Por Ti, Olga has considerably contemporized her style. For some this is a good thing, but I have to confess I am a bit old fashioned, and I still think Olga's best work was in the 90s. Then there was a more authentic merengue vibe, and Olga had a deep and expressive delivery to match it.



Una Nueva Mujer is definitely worth having, but for me, Olga's triple threat remains Mujer de Fuego, Siente El Amor, and Llevame Contigo.



It might be interesting to put forth my overall view of the albums of this beautiful and very talented singer. I should mention that I tend to favor real merengue/salsa rather than pop or ballads (unless they are exceptionally good), so whenever Olga goes too far off the traditional track I tend to be unhappy. This certainly will not be an issue for all listeners however.



Sola - (1992) - ** This first album of Olga is basically a warm-up.



Mujer de Fuego (1992) *** Good solid album includes several of Olga's early hits like Presencie tu Amor and Vendras Llorando. Olga's girlish singing may be startling for some.



Siente El Amor (1994) **** This is a barnburner, and contains several of Olga's most loved songs: Una Noche Mas, Entre La Noche y La Dia, Ya Me Canse, Receta del Amor and more. There is also Olga's only known salsa, written by her - Unicornio. This is the archetypical Olga Tanon album.



Nuevos Senderos (1996) **1/2 This low key Mexican flavor album may appeal to some but I find it rather bland. Me Subes Me Bajas Me Subes is a very nice song.



Llevame Contigo (1997) ***** Olga's best album, and one of the most memorable merengue albums of the 90s. Unique and irresistible.



Te Acordaras de Mi (1998) **1/2 I find this Spanish flavored pop album a little overwrought and contrived. Three Kike Santander songs are the highlights: Tu Amor, Hielo y Fuego and the wonderful Un Hombre y una Mujer.



Yo Por Ti (2001) ***1/2 A new look and a new sound, and probably her most broadly appealing album. It's undeniably enjoyable, but inconsistent, containing material from excellent to dreck, and in between.



Sobrevivir (2002) ** My least favorite Olga Tanon CD. It starts out with promise with the highly engaging Por Tu Amor, but the rest is rather forgettable, unless soft pop and unassuming ballads are your interest.



Una Nueva Mujer (2005) *** - This is not the return to merengue i am waiting for, but it is a fairly impressive pop/tropical vibe.







"

A True Gem of an Album...

Ricardo Vega | Los Angles, CA | 04/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It had been 2 years since we have heard anything from Olga. But the wait was well worth it. I must say that this album is one of her best. It is better than "Yo Por Ti" and even better than "Sobrevivir". I think it is due to the fact that she put much more of herself into this album. She either wrote or co-wrote about 5 songs on the album and they happen to be the best ones. After listening to the album you can definitely tell she put in a lot of time and effort into the lyrical and musical aspects of the album. Her voice sounds better than ever. Of the 11 cuts on the album only 2 of them are ballads so you can be assured it is an upbeat album. It has merengue, cumbia, ballads, and tropical/pop mix. Just wonderful..... Here is a breakdown of the songs:



"Bandolero" (Pop Version): 5/5 I just love how the songs incorporates that violin sounds at the beginning and then turns into this really upbeat sounds. Love it!



"Una Nueva Mujer" 4/5 She goes back to her merengue roots on this track. In the middle of the song she says, "Y si te acuerdas..." and she does her little signature voice sound. It's a midtempo merengue song.



"Muero de Amor" 4/5 The lyrical content of the songs are beautiful and the midtempo merengue/tropical beat are just as beautiful as well.



"Vete, Vete" 5/5 One of the songs Olga wrote. Very interesing lyrics and it has a sort of upbeat "merengue/salsa" beat to it.Love this one...



"Desde que Llegaste A Mi" 5/5 I have to say this is my favorite song on the entire album. It has a definite merengue beat with some other tropical influences. I just love the melody of how she sings the song complements the beat. Amazing....



"Dime Si Tu Me Puedes Querer" 3/5 A midtempo tropical song. She penned this one as well. It's okay.



"Abre Tu Corazon" 4/5 A pop song. It's something very different than what she has done before. At first it may seem odd but after a while the chorus gets very catchy.



"Damelo Todo" 5/5 I love this song, too. An upbeat merengue song with a pounding pop beat as well. Lyrics are great but overall it's got a great melody and beat.



"Cuidado Con El Deseo" 3/5 It's alright. Midtempo tropical song. Soungs a bit like something Thalia or Paulina would sing.



"Maldito Seductor" 3/5 I like Olga's voice in this song. It's a ballad and it could have been better if they had incorporated a better beat to it. The one it has is too slow and drags the song a bit.



"Sin Ti No Puedo Vivir" 4/5 This is the other ballad on the album. It's very moving to hear Olga's daughter sing with her mother. Very touching lyrics.



"Bandolero" (merengue version) 5/5 Awesome!!! This is the song we've been waiting for since "Es Mentiroso". Very upbeat and danceable. I play this song over and over. One her best merengue songs.



"Bandolero" (cumbia version)3/5 The could have left this one out. Just doesn't catch my attention as much as the other songs.



Overall, it's a great album and worth the buy. Olga is at her best!!!!"

The best of Olga!!

El boricua | Puerto Rico | 06/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the best Cd of Olga up to today. Although it is a little bit different from her previous releases it is a really good CD. My favorite song is "Sin ti no puedo vivir" which Olga sings with her daughter. The other songs are very good as well and it is definitely a better CD than "Sobrevivir" which for me is one of Olga's worst Cd's. If you have never before listened to Olga this is the right place to start and if you have done so, this is a gem you don't want to loose."