Aventura-review2

Mariela Quintuna
Reviewing for the Arts
02 November 2010

Aventura, “The Last” (Premium Latin Music/Sony BMG 2009)

Bachata which means party is a popular guitar music from the Dominican Republic. A typical bachata group consists of a lead guitar, rhythm guitar, electric bass guitar, bongos and guira. Guira is a percussion instrument from Dominican Republic. Bachata, or Musica de Amargue/Music Bitterness, began in the Dominican Republic by the first bachata artist José Manuel Calderon. He recorded the first bachata singles (“Borracho de amor” and “Que será de mi (Condena)”) released on in 1961. The subjects are centered on romance, heartbreak, and loss. Bachata is a form of music and dance that originated in the countryside and rural marginal neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic. Its subjects are usually romantic; especially prevalent are tales of heartbreak. The music is in 4/4 timing and is influenced by rumba and Son, while remaining of distinctive sound. It is a four step in the primary dance and a pop or tap on the last beat.

The Dominican boy band Aventura have had a successful career by their music that is popular around the Latin America and even in The Bronx, New York. It was formed in 1994. They were determined to break Dominican bachata music out from its traditional base and fuse it with the other sounds they heard every day, such as hip-hop and R&B. The group comprises lead singer and featured composer Anthony "Romeo" Santos, guitarist and producer Lenny Santos, bassist Max Santos, and singer and composer Henry Santos Jeter. Aventura has sold over 1 million albums, and are also known for their hit singles "Obsesión", "La Boda", "Ella y Yo", "Un Beso", "Mi Corazoncito", "El Perdedor", "Por Un Segundo", "All Up 2 You", and "Su Veneno". Their sound is filled with a copious amount of instruments that is simply added to and then has a beautiful finished product of each song. They use both English and Spanish in their lyrics.

In 1999, they released their first studio album Generation Next, which featured the hit single "Cuando Volverás". The song introduced the group's style of singing in both English and Spanish. Although it would receive little promotion initially, the album would become big once their follow-up was released. In 2002, We Broke the Rules was released, featuring their hit single "Obsesión", which reached the top spot of various charts internationally. In March of 2003, the New York radio stations started promoting their third album, Love and Hate, which had a successful hit single, “Hermanita.” This album was later then released in November.

In April 2005, their fourth album God’s Project was released and their hit single, “La Boda.” Their album was praised through 2005-2006, with other singles such as “Ella y Yo,” and “Un Beso.” On October 19, 2006, the single “Los Infieles” was featured in their next album K.O.B. (Kings of Bachata) Live. Another hit single from their album K.O.B was “Mi Corazoncito” which was number one on the charts in the Hit Latin Tracks.

In January 2009 was when the promotion of their next album The Last started. Their single “Por Un Segundo” reached number one on the charts. On June 5, 2009 they released their other single “All Up 2 You” which features Wisin y Yandel and Akon. The Last was released on June 9, 2009.

The collaborations on the album The Last were awesome because they had Ludacris and Wyclef Jean and they are well-known artists that have a great sound. It is different because sometimes they have artists from their own kind of music, so by having a rap artists such as Ludacris and Wyclef Jean it made a huge difference in the sound and their song that they all sung together “Spanish Fly” has a melody that just makes you want to get up and dance.

Arturo Sandoval is a legendary salsa artists and his contribution to Aventura’s album was his musical instrument, the trumpet. And of course the best collaboration that they could ever have is Wisin y Yandel and Akon when they were featured in the song “All Up 2 You.” This was a great collaboration because Wisin y Yandel are reggaeton artists and Akon is a R&B artist. Reggaeton is also another popular genre that is popular. This song was a big hit in the clubs. The collaborations that Aventura has are the best thing that they can do because it adds a different sound to their music and by having rap artists or a instrumental sound such as Arturo Sandoval, makes their music be more popular to their fans and it has a beautiful finish in each song.

The previous album K.O.B was probably dull compared to this new album The Last because in the album K.O.B it mostly has sad songs and about loss. It seemed like all of them were depressing songs. Compared to this current album, The Last showed that it had romance, loss, and party music. K.O.B was mostly bachata, but in The Last, it has other genres such as reggaeton, salsa, rap, R&B and some merengue. The Last would be considered to be the best album that Aventura has ever produced.

The Last was a sensational and spectacular album that makes the other albums seem like they were not as out going albums. It seemed like they gave it all they had because this could be the last album that they would record together. In the first track “Intro-The Last” Anthony “Romeo” Santos introduces the past albums and there is a slow melody in the background. It has many sound effects and Romeo talks about their careers and with who would be the one to leave the group. It is then followed by him welcoming us into their album. The Last has songs that are about romance and cheating.

The best track in the album could be the last one which is called “Gracias.” They thank the fans for all the love and support they gave them throughout their whole careers. This Aventura album has been a great success. Aventura fans hope that they won’t break up and continue giving them the bachata music that we love to listen and dance to.