Jennifer Peña, Ricardo Montaner, Money Mark, Caetano Veloso and RJD2.

the music press

tue 2/27/2007

A collage of Jennifer PeÃ±a, RJ2D, Caetano Veloso, Money Mark and Ricardo Montaner.

Tejano singer Jennifer Peña returns with Dicen Que El Tiempo (They Say That Time). Webzine Voy Music underscores the album's variety, "ranging from classic Latin pop ballads to country and ska." Billboard.com gives thumbs up to its radio-friendly singles, making note of a “Gwen Stefani-like ska number (Tus Besos)," on which "Peña embraces her role with audible relish."

Ricardo Montaner describes his covers album Las Mejores Canciones Del Mundo (The Best Songs in the World), as “the soundtrack of his everyday life,” to Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia. Sympatico MSN says Montaner's interpretations of songs like Lady “acquire new meaning, credibility and beauty.”

Former honorary Beastie Boy Mark Ramos-Nishita, aka Money Mark, gets four stars from Ballerstatus for Brand New by Tomorrow. The hip hop blog lauds the album for its “sentimental pop with musical depth and clever lyrics.”

Brazilian legend Caetano Veloso’s most recent Cê “runs on the kind of creative freedom that launched the rebellious pan-genre Tropicalia movement in 1960s Brazil," according to the Boston Globe. The Village Voice declares the album a triumph due to its plaintive simplicity.

Hip Hop instrumentalist RJD2 is treading new ground – alt rock – with The Third Hand. Contactmusic.com warns that “if you’re expecting the same breaks-ridden tomfoolery, then you’ll be sadly disappointed”. Certified Hip Hop is more incisive, admitting that RJD2’s latest is “a worthy piece of music that grows with each listen.”