CD Review: Juan Luis Guerra - La Llave De Mi Corazon

There's been a lot of advance press on La Llave De Mi Corazon, Dominican Juan Luis Guerra's new album and the first since 2004's Para Ti. That kind of build-up always makes me a little suspicious, wondering whether the album will live up to the advance press.

In the case of La Llave De Mi Corazon, there was no need to worry. The CD fully lives up to the prerelease hype, full of Dominican rhythms mixed with r&b, blues and pop. Guerra's voice is still smooth with just the right amount of rough edges and the recording itself is impeccably produced.

This is one album that was well worth waiting for.