José José - Mis Duetos [Norte CD/DVD] (CD)

All Music Guide

Compilation world is well worn territory in the Latin pop industry. For an artist as iconic as José José, with decades of hits to his credit, it's even plausible to release a collection of his most loved duets. The only thing unusual about José José's 2007 release Mis Duetos is that it made its way to number nine on Billboard's Latin pop charts. In a genre where compiling and repackaging proven material is as (or more) popular than original releases, it takes something special for a record like Mis Duetos to be noticed. The disc offers pleasant variety. The majority of the repertoire doesn't stray far from the sweeping, dramatic pop balladry that made José famous. That said, there are forays into other styles inside the Latin pop world. Some of these include a mariachi duet with Juan Gabriel, something mildly salsa flavored alongside Pimpinela, and finally a reggaeton/dancepop hit with the prepubescent Sarita (potentially the worst track in modern recording history). The tracks date from 1975 to 2007, displaying the breadth of the artist's career and the consistency in quality throughout. José's performances are second only perhaps to his stellar guest list, including Marco Antonio Solís, José Feliciano, and modern luminary Reyli Barba. The dualdisc package features a tentrack CD and a DVD presenting 14 live performances. [Norte released the CD/DVD in 2007.]

- Evan C. Gutierrez, All Music Guide