The Bottom Line
Newcomer Jean debuts with On, a CD filled with lots of mellow R&B, a little hip-hop, some sung in Spanish, others in English / Spanglish. Original, contemporary and mellow, this is an album that knows how to set a mood.
Pros
- Smooth Latin R&B
- Not the same old thing
Cons
- None to speak of
Description
- Available in stores May 9, 2006
- Debut by native Puerto Rican artist Jean
- Latin R&B / Hip-hop that's musical and original
- Released by Sony BMG
Guide Review - CD Review: Jean - On
Jean Carlos Rodriguez, who sings under the name 'Jean,' has had an eclectic life – both geographically and musically. A native Puerto Rican, he first moved to Los Angeles to pursue his artistic dreams. After a couple years, he tried the other coast, performing at some of New York’s local clubs like the Cutting Room and Village Underground. Then, on to Miami where he went back to his roots, composing and singing Spanish tracks as well as hit songs for Olga Tanon and Luis Fonsi.
His debut album ON, for Sony BMG, takes a mix of influences from Latin, rock, hip-hop and blues, mixes them together, adds a big dollop of originality and cooks up a pleasing brew with strong vocals, compelling rhythm and interesting instrumental composition.
The album opener, “Duele” is a traditional R&B tune, backed by a big string orchestra sound. The breakout single “Juegas Con Fuego” (“Playing with Fire”), reprised on the album in English, opens with a really cool string duet that’s quickly livened up with upbeat percussion. “Curvy” blends in some of the near-eastern instrumentation that seems so popular lately.
A hip-hop/ R&B mix in Spanglish, “Spanish Holiday” is my favorite. The song evokes a tropical vacation with “Let me take you places far away, where the sand becomes the ocean”.
The true sign that I really like an album is lots of complaints. That is, household members telling me to “put on something else!”. I always seem to be in the mood to listen to On “just one more time!”. I think it’s time to invest in headphones.
