Vive - Lo Mejor De La Musica Cristiana CD

The vast majority of Latin albums that Fonovisa has put out since the 1980s have been secular releases. The label is well known for releasing norteño, banda, mariachi, and grupero albums, but they've never been known for putting out a lot of Christian discs. However, Christian pop is exactly what Fonovisa offers on Vive: Lo Mejor de la Música Cristiana ("Live: The Best of Christian Music"). This is a Latin pop compilation that is also a Christian pop compilation, and many of the selections combine an adult contemporary sound with Christian-oriented lyrics that are performed in Spanish (although a few of the tracks take the 62-minute CD into rock en español territory). But someone who doesn't speak any español could easily hear Pablo Olivares' "Voy a Entregar Mi Corazón" ("I Will Deliver My Heart"), Julissa's "Con Su Mirada de Amor" ("With Your Look of Love"), or Paulina Aguirre's "Eres Mi Refugio" ("You Are My Refuge") and assume that they were listening to secular Latin pop of the adult contemporary variety. But those who do understand Spanish will likely pick up on the religious orientation of tracks like Abigail's "Solo Contigo" ("Only with You") and Perucho's "Eres Mi Todo" ("You Are My Everything"). It should be noted that in some U.S. cities with large Latino populations, it isn't hard to find Spanish-language Christian stations -- and the artists one hears on Vive: Lo Mejor de la Música Cristiana are exactly the type of artists one hears on such stations. This 2008 release is mildly uneven; some of the songs work better than others. But overall, Vive: Lo Mejor de la Música Cristiana is a pleasant example of what the Spanish-language Christian pop market has to offer. ~ Alex Henderson