After a long string of records with Sony International, somehow Ole Music was able to woo Elvis Crespo away. Considering the instant and lasting success that he enjoyed with Sony, a switch to a comparatively small, off-the-grid label seems curious. The difference is notable, and not just from a marketing perspective. The general tone of the record is a step away from Crespo's typical super-polished epic pop production. It's not that the crew over at Ole chooses a different aesthetic, or that Crespo was reaching for a new concept. They just don't have the big-budget reach that fueled previous releases. The rhythm tracks feature the mix of live instrumentation and electronic elements that they always have, but now with a plastic, opaque quality. Similarly Crespo's vocals sound one-dimensional and lacking in texture. This could be partly caused by a relatively novice production crew, a feature of the youthful label. These factors don't get in the way of a very fun, exciting play list. The record features some very hip writing, and even a mediocre Elvis Crespo release is a step above the rest. However, Crespo fans might feel that the lack of sophistication in production and performance is a step backward. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez

From his child-star roots performing with various Puerto Rican orchestras to his emergence as an adult pop-star, Elvis Crespo has been a powerful force in Latin music. Here he pulls out all the stops for his fifth American release, SABOREALO. From the effortless merengue swing of "Hora Enamorada" to the sultry sway of "Pan Comio," the beat never lets up for a minute throughout this almost entirely uptempo set.

Crespo's voice has matured from his days as lead singer of the boy band Grupo Mania, lending authority and vitality to such tracks as "Donde Estaras," "No Se Que Paso," and the tight, danceable "Como Yo," with its incendiary brass arrangement and percussive piano. Featuring horn-heavy arrangements and an insistent pulse, SABOREALO goes a long way to consolidating Crespo's reputation as one of merengue's foremost exponents in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.