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Ricky Martin had some trouble recapturing the commercial success of his 1999 self-titled debut. After a disappointing follow-up and a bit of a hiatus, Martin released LIFE in 2005, a clear bid for commercial re-acceptance. LIFE teems with glossy, high-end production (especially the tracks helmed by Beyonce producer Scott Storch), star cameos (Fat Joe and members of Black Eyed Peas take turns on the mic), and a cornucopia of pop styles, all of which makes for an enjoyable, if somewhat uneven, listen.
Martin opens the record with "Til I Get To You," an expansive, mid-tempo number with a slinky verse that gives way to an epically dramatic chorus. From there he tries on urban contemporary dance tracks ("I Don't Care"), sweeping balladry (Diane Warren's "Stop Time Tonight"), stabs at reggaeton ("I Am"), and funky soul (the title track). Interestingly, by mixing rock, hip-hop, Latin flavors, contemporary R&B, and reggaeton--essentially, by covering every available base--Martin almost guarantees himself a hit on this slick collection of palatable contemporary pop.
Recording information: AudioVision Studios, N Miami Beach, FL; Cantor Studios; Chung King Studios; Dharmik Studi, Miami Beach, Flo; Dharmik Studio, Miami Beach, FL; Hit Factory Criteria Inc., Miami, FL; Larabee Sound Studios; Larrabee Sound Studios; Mas Flow Studios, Carolina, Puerto Rico; Record Plant Recording, Puerto Rico; Royal tone Studios; Supersonic Studios; The Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA; White Lion Recording Studio.
Author: Ricky Martin.
Photographer: Steve Klein .
Arrangers: Scott Storch; Sean Garrett.
Personnel: Ricky Martin (vocals, chant, berimbau, background vocals); Ricky Martin; Debi Nova (vocals, background vocals); Vivian Perez, Sean Garrett (vocals); Amichelle Winkler, Pirulina Winkler (chant, background vocals); Rita Rosa (chant); Rusty Anderson (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, Wurlitzer organ); Jorge Pajon (guitar, bass programming, drum programming); George Noriega (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, sitar, strings, percussion, drum programming, background vocals); Dave Cabrera (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, sitar, strings); Randy Cantor (electric guitar, keyboards); Danny Lopez (electric guitar); Daniel Lopez (nylon-string guitar, keyboards, percussion, bass programming, drum programming, background vocals); Itaal Shur (oud); Patrick Warren (sitar, chamberlin, Mellotron, keyboards); Mahmoud Osman, Emad Azmy, Hassan Sharara, Tamer Ghoneim, Monir Hariri, Ebada Mansy, Tamer Yassin, Hesham Nabawi, Saad Kamel, Ihab Abdel Hamid, Mostafa Abdel Naby, Doctor Samy Ibrahim, Aziz Jorge, Mamdouh ElWaaraq, Ihab Sobhy, Adel Eskander, Wagdey Ghoniem (violin); Amir Mikhail, Doctor Mohamed Abo Arab, Doctor Kamal ElReedy (viola); Yasser Taha, Taha Taha, Aymen El Hambouli, Emad Taha, Khaled Dagher, Hassan Moataz (cello); Teddy Mulet (strings, horns, Wurlitzer organ, chamberlin, keyboards); Tim Izo (saxophone); Printz Board (trumpet, keyboards); Albert Sterling Menendez (Clavinet); will.i.am (keyboards, programming, drum programming, background vocals); Francisco Saldaña, Víctor Cabrera (keyboards, drum programming); Alex Al (upright bass); Jorge Casas (fretless bass, percussion); Noriega (fretless bass); Emanuel Baker, Lee Levin , Keith Harris (drums); Scott Storch (programming); Matt Knobel (drum programming); Danielle Staley, Javier García, Jon Secada (background vocals); José Antonio Molina (strings).
Audio Mixers: Kam Houff; Gustavo Celis; Gary Noble; Jean-Marie Horvat; Matt Knobel; Bruce Swedien.
Ricky Martin; George Noriega; The Matrix; Randy Cantor; Scott Storch; Will.I.Am; Billy Mann; Sean Garrett; Daniel Lopez; Danny Lopez; David Cabrera
Engineer
Ricky Martin; Conrad Golding; Kam Houff; Bob Wartinbee; Dylan Dresdow; El Maestro; Gustavo Celis; Jorge Gonzalez; Matt Knobel; Randy Cantor; Scott Spock; Will.I.Am; Billy Mann; Charles Dye
Very Different, Very Good I heard "I Don't Care" and "Drop It On Me" in a couple of clubs in Chicago. I had no idea either one was Ricky Martin. All I knew was both songs were very different than any of the "club" music out there. Imagine my surprise when I found out it was Ricky Martin, yes, the "Livin' La Vida Loca" guy! I'm still stunned. I was NEVER a fan, but I am now! If you're tired of all the "my bling is better than your bling" crap on the radio, check this cd out. I think Ricky Martin is ahead of the music scene right now, so not many people will catch on right away. This cd is advanced for it's time. Usher or somebody might go this route in another year or so, but Martin has it now. It really is worth listening to. I wish radio would play this stuff, but Ricky isn't a rapper and doesn't have an outrageous ego like Kanye. Something tells me this guy is going to have a very long career dispite his stigmatisms. Submitted by DeMarcus (Chicago) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Cool CD It's Nice and cool song Submitted by h8a8a8s (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Not Impressed I was a HUGE Ricky Martin and upon reviewing this CD and after being away from the limelight for such a long time, I was expecting a huge comeback. Instead, this CD fails to compare miserably with his previous CDs. I know he's said that he's changed his image now, etc and I respect that, but you shouldnt fix something that's not broken. Hoping for a better CD next time! Submitted by allsmiles121 (New York) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Best Ever It just make you want to stand up and dance!!!Love it!!!HE IS A JUST HOT PUERTO RICAN!!! Submitted by Jackelyne (puerto rico, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Rocking in da house Simply MAGNIFICANT! This album brings out a whole new Ricky Martin! Life ROX! Submitted by Carter (Florida) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Very Different, Very Good
Not Impressed
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