Miles Peña - Miles Pena (CD)

All Music Guide

Miles Peña is among the artists who, in the 1990s, embraced salsa romantica, a style that mixed romantic Latin pop with AfroCuban rhythms. Salsa romantica is hardly straightahead salsa, and salsa purists complained that it wasn't authentically AfroCuban. But then, artists like Peña never claimed to be Beny More or Tito Rodriguezthey're pop artists, essentially, and their work must be judged as such. (Of course, even the great Beny More recorded his share of romantic pop ballads in the 1940sso arguably, More recorded some salsa romantica long before the term was coined). Judged by pop standards, this selftitled CD is pleasant and enjoyable, if less than remarkable. Sleek offerings like "Un Sentimental," "Aire No Viciado En Mi Existir" and "Es Mi Culpa" won't appeal to salsa's hardliners, although Latin pop enthusiasts who heard the songs could see Peña's potential. Peña has a strong voice, and he brings a lot of passion to decent but not fantastic material. Despite its imperfections, th...is disc isn't without its pleasures. - Alex Henderson, All Music Guide Read more Less