1. Ricardo Montaner - 'Las Cosas Son Como Son'
I'm not sure if Ricardo Montaner is better as a songwriter or a singer, that decision is probably a matter of taste. But he did receive the 2009 ASCAP Latin Heritage Award for his contribution to Latin music so ASCAP certainly acknowledges the prolific and popular nature of his compositions.
With Montaner's new album the listening public will get the best of both sides of Ricardo Montaner. It contains 12 romantic ballads, deeply felt and - in the words of Montaner himself - it is "the most beautiful album of my life and my career ... I did not hold anything back..."
Will fans feel the same? Listen and decide.
2. Ilegales - 'Hecho En El Patio'
From the Dominican Republic, Ilegales new album Hecho En El Patio is full of urban music, mostly merengue and bachata fused with hip hop and R&B. It's a natural combination with the high energy or melodic Dominican music getting a makeover when mixed with the music of the streets. Not to be confused with the group Ilegales from Spain.
3. Kinky - 'Barracuda'
Rock band Kinky is originally from Monterrey, Mexico although they're currently based in Los Angeles. They define their music as 'danceable rock', sing in both English and Spanish and named themselves 'Kinky' because of the twisted way they handle Latin rhythms.
4. Los Dareyes de la Sierra - 'Corridos Con Banda'
Los Dareyes are from Sonora Mexico and are known for their norteno sound; with Corridos Con Banda the group is focusing on telling stories with a banda flavor.
5. El Tigrillo Palma - 'Al Cien Por Millon'
Sinaloa, Mexico's drug cartel is currently making headlines but that doesn't stop Efren Aguilar, also known as El Tigrillo Palma, from singing banda corridos and narcocorridos. Here's a new collection of corridos for his many fans.
6. Eddy Herrera - 'Siempre Firme'
It's looking like a better year for merengue as Dominican Eddy Herrera adds his new album to the list of 2009 merengue releases.
