Ricky Martin changes tack here with a harder, more diverse offering than the self-titled debut that made his name in the English-speaking world. "Life" features stellar performances in several different styles, showcasing his true talent as a musician.
He starts the album with a solid confidence in "Til I Get To You", which features string ensembles and a powerful chorus. Recorded in India, the theme continues in "I Won’t Desert You" and "I Don’t Care", with touches of sitar coming through the latter despite it gaining quite a following in the dance community. "Stop Time Tonight" takes us out of our comfort zones – just when we think Martin has found himself in funky music land this smooth ballad comes along.
The title track is an almost-surprising peek of Latin-feel cruise pop with a harder edge. Hang on to your seats though, because "I Am" is next and it doesn’t take "no" for an answer – it’s hip hop tracks like this that give Martin the street credibility he deserves, and "It’s Alright" has a similar edgy appeal. To his credit he has retained a tiny amount of Latin feel to "Drop It On Me" while combining some great vocal gymnastic work.
He wraps up the album with "Save The Dance", a heartfelt tune that while not the most memorable of ballads, reminds us again why this talented man’s voice can make us shiver with a smile. He’s thrown in a couple of bonus tracks too, the Spanish versions for "It’s Alright" and "I Don’t Care", presumably just to remind us of the language he usually prefers.
Altogether quite an impressive album from Ricky Martin, to anyone who can appreciate it for his impeccable presentation – this is not your typical bubblegum pop for which he is most famous, and thank goodness, because "Life" is a really good listen.
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