Putumayo Presents: Republica Dominicana

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Alongside son and merengue, Republica Dominicana tightly focuses on the unmined treasure of bachata music: a particular style of Cuban music featuring intense African percussion, wily ringing guitar, and exotic Iberian-flavored melody. First on the bandwagon of what's sure to be an international explosion, Putumayo brings a fresh and exciting sound to fans of Afro-pop, Cuban, and various Latin music. A sampler rather than a cumulative compilation, Republica Dominicana highlights genre superstars from Juan Luis Guerra to Chichi Peralta and stylistic forefather Ramon Cordero, offering the listener choice cuts from which to further explore bachata and its relations. As with all the label's releases, this disc comes with extensive and finely detailed liner notes. The other side of the coin, in a manner, Republica Dominicana in its contrast of dark and light is especially recommended for fans of 1999's Putumayo Presents Cape Verde. --Paige La Grone

Tracks:

Tranquila - Luis Vargas
Para Que Me Mate Un Hombre Que Me Mate Una Mujer - Juan Manuel
Procura - Chichi Peralta
Los Bodegueros - Joseito Mateo/Luis Kalaff
Lo Que Le Paso A Juan - Alfredo Polonia
Pegao De Que - Juan Bautista
Nuestros Lazos - Ramon Cordero
Cana Brava - Alberto Beltran Y Su Conjunto Tipico
Mi Nina - Cheche Abreu
Inmenso Amor - Bolivar Peralta
Anoche - Raulin Rodriguez

Amazon.com

Alongside son and merengue, Republica Dominicana tightly focuses on the unmined treasure of bachata music: a particular style of Cuban music featuring intense African percussion, wily ringing guitar, and exotic Iberian-flavored melody. First on the bandwagon of what's sure to be an international explosion, Putumayo brings a fresh and exciting sound to fans of Afro-pop, Cuban, and various Latin music. A sampler rather than a cumulative compilation, Republica Dominicana highlights genre superstars from Juan Luis Guerra to Chichi Peralta and stylistic forefather Ramon Cordero, offering the listener choice cuts from which to further explore bachata and its relations. As with all the label's releases, this disc comes with extensive and finely detailed liner notes. The other side of the coin, in a manner, Republica Dominicana in its contrast of dark and light is especially recommended for fans of 1999's Putumayo Presents Cape Verde. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews:

Not what I was looking for!!.......2007-04-15

Well, I was looking for more of the classic bachatas and meregues. I was hoping to hear artists like El Ciegito de Nagua and Cuco Valoy. Those are some of the true legends in "perico ripiao"(which is the classic merengue) and bachata. This cd doesn't sound like it's all dominican, but more of a compilation of whatever they could fill it with.

Music you've never heard--for a good reason.......2006-06-23

This CD claims to have the "best music you've never heard." It's not one of Putumayo's best."Tranquila","Pegao de Que","Anoche","Immenso Amor"&"Lo Que Paso a Juan" are catchy tunes;each one unique."Tranquila" counts as Latin easy listening.Unfortunately,most of the tracks sound the same.

If you're looking for fun Latin music,get yourself a Bebel Gilberto album,or anything Brazilian.Putumayo's Brazilian compilations are flawless and a SURE THING when you're looking for,as Putumayo's CEO Dan Storper says,"All hits,no filler."

Great compilation.......2005-10-05

This really is a great collection of (primarily) bachata songs, by a wide choice of great musicians, mixed with one or two more traditionally Dominican merengues. The songs are very well picked, excellently produced and combine a great latin feel of 'Ron y Baile' with the traditionally sensual, happy undertone of Bachata. So no, if you're looking for merengue, search elsewhere. If you're looking for a fantastic CD of great Bachata's, buy this CD and enjoy it.

A nice cd but not exclusively Dominican...per se.......2004-04-08

I bought this cd a few years ago because I recognized a few of the artists on the cover but I was surprised with myself that I couldn't really recognize the other artists. However, once I heard the music I knew why. The music is "tropical" but I would not say Dominican. I think if you consider the cd from that perspective it's nice. It has a nice mix of tropical sounding music but the bachatas are weak. Good artists- Raulin R & Luis V but the songs could have been something more representative of bachata "del pueblo" which better identifies Dominican culture. I don't know what criteria Putamayo uses when combining these cultural compilations but they have to ensure that the music is a true representation of the people and it's culture. Like I said as a tropical cd (and that's how I rated it) it's okay. As a Dominican cd...it needs to have more authentic merengue & bachata.

Noooooooo..........................!!.......2003-07-28

I consider this CD as barely of Dominican nature, musically. Although the Cd is composed of Dominican artist, it seems that only rythms other than Dominican folklore were selected for this album. The only artist that artistically represents a pure Dominican rythm is Chi Chi peralta, Fernando Echavarria and him are the originators and creators of the "Meren-son" a mxture of merengue and Dominican son. Basically, all the songs are not purely of Dominican nature, they are mixture of rythms, all influenced entirely by cuban music. To better understand Dominican music, I would advise you to listen to the following artists:

**Juan Luis Guerra(merengue & Bachata)
*Sergio Vargas(merengue)
Jossie Esteban(merengue);(the older the CD, the better he is)
*Los hermanos Rosario(merengue)
*Johnny Ventura(merengue)
*Luis Vargas(Bachata)
*Luis Segura(Bachata)
Anthony Santos(Bachata)

These are just a few artist that you will fall in love with.

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