Wisin y Yandel - Wisin Y Yandel Present La Mente Maestra (Dig) (CD)

All Music Guide

The third in a series of variousartist albums featuring the roster of WY Records, Wisin Yandel Presentan: La Mente Maestra showcases the lesserknown associates of reggaetón superstars Wisin Yandel. The roster of associates is slightly different on La Mente Maestra than on its predecessors, Los Vaqueros (2006) and Los Vaqueros Wild Wild Mixes (2007), showcasing vocalists Jayko, Franco "El Gorila," and Gadiel as well as producers Nesty "La Mente Maestra" and Victor "El Nasi." In addition, Tony Dize, Alexis Fido, and Tico "El Imigrante" show up as featured guests. Relative to its predecessors, La Mente Maestra doesn't offer many thrills over the course of its 48minute running time. The couple highlights are sequenced early, beginning with the lead single, "Me Estás Tentando," one of only a precious few Wisin Yandel contributions to La Mente Maestra. Driven by an electrofashioned beat and graced with a melodic hook, "Me Estás Tentando" is one of Wisin Yandel's better singles and should do a lot to promote La Mente Maestra upon the album's initial release. Unfortunately, the only other clear highlight is the subsequent song, "Sex," a solo showcase for Jayko that is strikingly similar in style. This turn toward cluboriented electro productions and RBleaning melodies served Wisin Yandel well in the past, as "Noche de Sexo" and "Sexy Movimiento" in particular come to mind. Both of those songs were produced by Nesty "La Mente Maestra" and Victor "El Nasi," whose talents are on vivid display throughout La Mente Maestra (hence the album's title, a nod to Nesty, whose longstanding alliance with Wisin Yandel was evidently valued enough to earn him such billing). In fact, once the albumopening highlights pass, the production work of Nesty and Victor becomes the most interesting aspect of La Mente Maestra the Alexis Fido feature, "Superheros," standing out above all as they push reggaetón in new directions stylistically, toward American RB and European dance in particular.

- Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide