Siembra

Great salsa album. Only flaw is my inability to speak Spanish.

it's ok. i'm not a music expert. i know there's a reason it's on this list, but i'm not sure what makes it stand out. maybe this is the one that started the genre? it sounds like you're walking around in miami.

Normally when I get an album I've never heard of I'll do a quick read of the wiki to get a bit of context, but here I decided to go in blind. Within 30 seconds I knew I was hearing something truly great. No suprise then to read that this is considered an all time masterpiece of it's genre. The virtuosity, the scope, the production, the passion and the palpable energy are spectacular. An amazing listen.

Listen, if you've got ears and a pulse, and SOME taste for real music or, you know, wanna pretend you CAN dance—yeah, this salsa album's the ticket. Every damn song, it's like, BAM! Dance floor time!

This is a hard album to not like. Some of the lyrics are thought out well and go deeper than other music of the period did. Without being too familiar with salsa, I'm seeing some clear inspiration taken by Bad Bunny and other more modern Latin musicians from this album.

Slapping salsa. Maria Lionza - Major lazer sample: Watch Out for This (Bumaye) – Major Lazer (2013)

This is such a fun album, all the 1001 non-English albums are bangers, wish it was longer!!

I like salsa (and Latino music in general) even if I don't know a thing about it. This was solid from start to finish.

majestic asf

10/10 - So glad to see some salsa on here, and what salsa, arguably two of the greatest of all time along with Hector Lavoe, Celia Cruz and Joe Arroyo. People still dance to this every weekend, so many good songs on this. I'm just sad I never got to see Willie Colon live, but Ruben Blades was incredible in concert

I only started to get into salsa recently but I absolutely loved this album. So much positive energy and not a dull moment.

One need not know of its best selling status to figure out it's an excellent album. Fun, thoughtful, top tier musicianship, I plan on listening to this on repeat!

Firme

Plástico // Buscando Guayaba // Pedro Navaja // María Lionza // Dime //

Rip Willie Colón

Holy shit that was electric!! Tightest horn section ever! More of this please!

Some long ass songs but this was lively and a perf album to drive home with

This was fantastic. Really nice guitar and bass at times. No clue really what was said bit singing and energy there.

💃🕺🏻

Oh my god this is incredible. Need all the bad bunny baddies to listen to this as well. Appreciate our roots! Practically perfect

I'm sorry everyone, but this white boy got too zesty while listening to this.

this album fucking rules. start to finish, nothing but bouncing-off-the-wall energetic bangers. i WOULD insist on poorly dancing to this at a function, i'll have you know, and i'd be right for it! it's hard to pick a favourite because it's all exceptional, but the title track might be it for me. it's electric. i really love the vocals from rubén blades who has a fantastic voice for a genre like this and is complimented wonderfully by these trombones. i'm a big fan of the piano montuno rhythm too because even when it's de-emphasized in the background it carries the momentum so well. really catchy in a way that i find doesn't get stale. fantastic album.

Music originating from outside English-speaking cultures (even if they were largely from the United States like in this case) get a big boost from me for actually sounding different then most of this list, and that goes here too. From the, sorta scat-adjacent singing on Buscando Guayaba, to the stripped back start of Pedro Navaja, to the excellent Trombone work throughout this was a joy to listen to. Perhaps some of the songs were a little too long, but they're just dynamic enough that it works well and the album is short enough it doesn't get tiring.

The energy on this album is undeniable. I DARE YOU to listen to this album and not dance a little bit. I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of songs on this album, and loved the playfulness shown in songs like Pedro Navaja. I would happily throw this album on and listen to it in it's entirety.

1001 Albums Generator 241 (3/5/2026) First of all, I found out that Willie Colon just recently passed away less than a month ago. RIP to a man who made an incredible salsa album. Secondly, this is an incredible salsa album. I have absolutely dabbled in salsa, but I haven't heard this one before, which is a damn shame. It's absolutely crazy that this album starts with a straight up disco song that morphs into a proper piece of salsa. I had no idea disco made its way down to Panama. This album just makes me want to move. It's so fun. Listen to those bing bang bongs in Buscando Guayaba. Compared to other salsa I've heard, Siembra is very diverse. Like I mentioned, there are hints of disco here, and there is also some funk on songs like Maria Lionza, as well as a jazzy sheen over the whole thing. Wide, busy orchestration characterizes the sound of this album, and it ends with the title track, which may well be my favorite song here. It's definitely the most jazzy, and it's got some amazing strings and horns. Honestly, Siembra is almost a perfect album. Ojos is weaker than the other songs, but it's still really good. 4.5/5, rounded up to 5! Favs: Plastico Buscando Guayaba Siembra Least Fav: Ojos

This was a great time did I know any of the words hell no but that’s a skill issue on my part but I enjoyed every song on this album. I was at work cleaning up a waterpark while I was listening to this and walking to it too just fit the vibe very well done we’ll definitely listen to it again.

One of my favorite finds on this list, bring on the salsa disco.

I want to knock this down to a 4 for its godawful album art, but the music is too damn good!

In Spanish! Salsa

No question, a definitive salsa sound. I know the sound well from music school, but I am not fluent with Spanish, so I have no opinion on the lyrics. After hearing this album I could see listening to this music while relaxing before a night in with a home cooked meal. I would have preferred shorter tracks to concentrate the grooves, but I as I understand it, particularly in this time frame, that Salsa was intended for dance first and appreciation second, so it makes sense that the vast majority of the tracks are over five minutes each. A pleasant album of Música tropical. I'm not sure if it is required anymore, but back in the day, at music schools, drum set performers were once required to master Rock, Funk, Pop, Jazz, Bossa Nova, and Salsa rhythms if they hoped to pass their Bachelors of Music Performance degrees.

What an incredible introduction to salsa for me. This made my soul dance.

This was awesome! "Plastico" "Buscando Guayaba" and "Pedro Navaja" were great and I enjoyed "Dime" as well.

This is awesome. No notes.

Taking Salsa and Disco to the HNL* *(hole nother level)

I had no idea Ruben Blades did music, but it’s good! Really good!

LOVINGGGG

Another album I would never have heard of, let alone listened to, and absolutely loved.

Willie Colón is an asshole, but he's mainly an asshole because he's so aware of his impact on salsa music that he's a stuck up arrogant little bitch. He's not wrong, and he's probably the reason this particular effort made it to the list. It's also arguably Ruben Blades' best piece of work, and it's definitely his most recognized. The entire A-side is the kind of hits all Latin communities will recognize, but the album as a whole is a salsa standard. You won't meet a cocolo that hasn't heard these songs, it's like sacred pages. The production quality of this effort is of the top tier, it would've been a hit regardless because of Ruben Blades' poetic story-telling capacity. He really paints a picture with his words as he admires the musicality of the genre. We start off with the classic Plástico, a song about shallow, hollow, plastic individuals. After the main descriptors he mentions a classic line that echoes towards the end, it feels something like "Recognize you can see their faces, but not their hearts." That's followed by Buscando guayaba, this song is a little more vague about the search for ones treasure, how hard it might be to find the fruit, but it lends itself to potentially imply a romantic encounter or even the highest high of a drug. The point is an incessant search for that highest quality, and what it might mean to finally snag it. Finishing off the A-side is Pedro Navaja, the lyrics to this have the potential for an entire movie, or at the very least a well shot short-film. It follows a trenchcoat thug, Pedro, he feels cool, walks with security, flashy gold tooth. He catches sight of a woman, presumably a prostitute having an unlucky day, and he marches towards her with a fist in his pocket. As he hurries behind her, she pulls her .38 Smith and Wesson from HER coat pocket to place in her purse so it's no longer in the way, when he pounces and presses his dagger into her— only to receive a gunshot in return. She stares at him bleeding on the ground, and says she thought she was having a bad day, but Pedro is worse off, he's just lost it all. Despite the bang, there were no curious neighbors, nobody cared for what happened, except for a drunk who stumbled onto Pedro's body. He took the revolver, the dagger, and the few dollars Pedro had on him, he then leaves singing the outro to the song: Life is full of surprises. My original vinyl copy has Plástico all scratched up and for good reason, it's hard not to dance to that track. The next few songs keep with the idea of the record, they hold their own weight, they're recognized classics for the salsa loving community. Then it gets to the end with the title track. The title of the album falls short when literally translated, "Plant" or "Planting" doesn't sound as pretty as the metaphor, it has more to do with reaping what you sow. The title track finishes the album off with the message: our future is the children, the love with which you plant that seed will provide the fruit of tomorrow. 4.8/5

Sure did enjoy this. Where is my mojito? Perhaps my time living in Miami has given me a profound appreciation for latin / Caribbean music. Still can't dance to this but love to listen. Would like to be at the Ball and Chain in Miami listening to this LIVE.

> the Beatles Fantastic

Cookin!

Such a classic!

Great Latin discovery! Never heard of these guys before, but man, what a joy to have on. Would love to add this to my collection.

Unexpectedly amazing. It's time like these I wish I understood Spanish. The whole thing oozes soul Edit - listened to this half a month ago now, just found out Willie Colon died a couple days ago. RIP

A delight.

fantastic salsa

I had never heard this album! I liked it, clearly a very influential album!

ohohohoho YES we funkin good tonight

Even from a cold flat in Scotland I felt the Latin warmth.

I was unsure on this album at first, I didn't think a Salsa album would interest me much, and on my first listen through I was still not sold. A solid 3 I thought. How foolish I was. I cannot keep myself from coming back to this album, and each time I do I find myself enjoying it more and more. If you find this album dull, or that every song "sounds the same" I urge you to listen again, take in each layer sound, enjoy it on its terms, not within the box of what you expect Salsa music to be. Enjoy the back and forth between Ruben Blades' vocals and the backup singers, the horn section, the percussion. There is an energy radiating from the performance here that is utterly captivating. Its fucking awesome. Favourite Track: 7 - Siembra Best Three Track Run: 1, 2, 3

This was great! I thoroughly enjoyed this album. Amazing musicianship.

Perfect album

Very fun

Was not expecting such a wide variety of music in a salsa album, but I was pleasantly described by the melodies, harmonies and musicianship.

Labaaai geras. Labai groovy, užbeda tiesiog. Primena stone flower.

Now THIS is my vibe. Sounds like a lot of music was inspired by this. 10/10. Good stuff

Listened Before: No Wowwww I thought this was already good and then the HORNS came in which sent it into incredible territory. Get me some chips and I'm gunna SALSA 5/5 Playlist Add: Buscando Guyaba

Love!! We should be dancing to salsa at clubs. Sexy by essence of the thing, makes me wanna swing my hips

Fun!

My taste for Salsa has been growing as I get older. Being a latin kid who didn't dance Salsa you get a contempt for it and not fitting in the culture. But years later you're a jazz head, who discovers fusion jazz and latin jazz, finally going full circle discovering Fania and all the same songs you hated as a kid, which you realize sound amazing. This album is Salsa perfection and a pillar in Latin culture. Long live Fania.

My fave MJ album, now and forever.

Very-very nice!

Overall Rating - 4.50/5 (9.00/10). I do love me some Latin Jazz.

I haven't listened to that much salsa music but found this a really enjoyable album.

5/5 Ritmicamente impressionante, rico em texturas e irrepreensível harmonicamente.

You know, it felt like last year there was about a month where my Spotify weekly recommendations were just “oops, all tropical.” This album stood out among others I’ve listened to in the genre

Un artiste genial, legendario. Amplio diversitad aqui. Puedo escuchar a artistes como asi cada dia. Absolute legend Willie Colón. Amazing artist with so many songs to love. Resonated really well with this album. For anyone who also liked it please look at more of his music, because its a treat for sure. Hope to find many more albums from him here. Goated. Sin Somoza claro que si.

Wow this is simply amazing. A wonderful breath of summer air between all of the 80's and country music. The instrumentals are mixed clearly and make you swing around in your seat. Will definitely be listening again. 9/10

Willie Colon and Ruben Blades created a masterpiece of an album. When I heard the opening of Plastico I thought they were dabbling in disco a bit before the salsa groove kicked in fully. Baldes’ lyrics speaking a sort of social commentary on material wealth. This is still relevant today. Most of these songs are timeless and just beautiful written. The music is played well arranged perfectly. I can see why this album is listed as the top on so many lists. It’s just so good.

MUUUUUUUUUUY BUENO

Not even finished this album yet but have already had so much fun from it. Really, really great music that I'm chuffed to have heard! :) Yay for new discoveries! :)

Outstanding. Right up there with the Buena Vista Social Club.

Loved

Siembra feels definitive. The horns are bold and muscular, the rhythms are infectious, and the album balances joy with substance in a way that’s hard to pull off. This is music that moves your body immediately while still rewarding attention, whether you’re focused on the arrangements or just letting it fill the room. Willie Colón’s trombone gives the record its spine. It’s punchy, gritty, and confident, grounding the grooves and giving the music a physical presence that’s impossible to ignore. Rubén Blades brings intelligence and narrative weight without ever draining the fun out of it. The songs feel lived in, communal, and deeply connected to real people rather than abstract ideas of genre. What really seals it is how naturally this album fits into life. It’s not precious or distant. It sounds great while things are happening around you, and it also holds up as a focused listen. That combination of accessibility, musicianship, and cultural impact is rare. This is a clear five stars for me. A high-water mark for a style of music I enjoy, and one that earns its reputation not just historically, but in the present moment as well.

Life gives you surprises, indeed! Because this album was a relatively new discovery for me, and I LOVED every minute of it! The rhythms and melodies are delicious, and vocals and lyricism are magnificent. I now wish that this album list had more salsa in it.

A very upbeat and fun listen, couldn't help but dance along. All tracks added to my liked list on Spotify, all a bit long to be regular plays but will be nice to revisit once in a while. Also nice that I can practice my Spanish whilst listening trying to translate and repeat the lyrics.

Loved this. Added a couple to my cooking playlist.

Tasty salsa. Love it!

Après la semaine que j’ai eu, cet album encapsule tout ce que je pouvais rêver: groovy, dansant, joyeux et totalement salsa sur le moineau. Masterpiece, je le veux en CD!

Favorite track(s): Plastico, Pedro Navaja, Siembra

very nice vibes

This was fantastic. I don't have enough Salsa in my life. And I like the disco element.

Maybe cause I listened to this night after New Form but what else do you even need out of music other than this

From the opening bass line on the first song I was already sold. Incredible salsa album, felt like it had hints of jazz and even disco in some of the bass work. Infectious album. The varied instruments with the horns and different percussive's kept everything fresh throughout. Every song had me moving

Het album begroet ons met pakkende discoklanken. Na een minuutje start onverwachts een zonnig zuid-amerikaanse / caribische zang. (Het komt uit Puerto Rico, wiki ik). Het is een switch, maar geen vervelende switch. Gelukkig maar, want dit blijkt de basis voor het album. Het geeft een vakantie-gevoel, maar tegelijk staat het ver af van een bandje dat je zomaar op straat zou kunnen aantreffen. Het komt over een vrij geproduceerd en uitgedacht geheel. Enigszins richting de zuidelijke klanken die rond de eeuwwisseling ook wel eens onze hitlijsten versierden. Maar dan iets minder catchy, of wellicht beter geformuleerd: muzikaal wat interessanter. Waar de latere varianten toch vervlogen in lekkere achtergrondmuziek, verdient dit album het meer om aandachtig te luisteren. Een ontdekking die ik graag beloon met 5 sterren!

Truly joyous, wish I knew what they were saying. Anything with this great of a brass section will keep me coming back forever

Great album. Lots of interesting samba beats.

Don't know a single thing theyre saying but I really love the vibe and music. The very first track started with a bit of disco sound? Wish I heard more of that through the album

Made me feel like dancing, thoroughly enjoyed

Wow. Musicianship is fantastic. Love the horns.

I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. There’s only two salsa albums on the list; this one & Tito Puente’s “Dance Mania”, which we got in April of this year. There’s a 20 year gap, so it’s certainly an interesting look at the difference in production, instrumentation, & the boldness of the lyricism, all while maintaining a pretty similar core. “Dance Mania” does feel like it’s constantly pushing upwards, trying to lift its energy up with a mostly musical showcase, though it certainly hit some stagnant points, with not a lot of space given to the vocals. This album, while a little more “stagnant” in the sense of really sticking to a particular groove / beat, makes up for that with some soul / R&B-infused horn sections & vocal stylings, with some more political / “life”-driven lyrics, partially influenced by Stevie Wonder to some degree (“Siembra”, in particular, feels like it’s trying to channel a little bit of “Another Star”). As with “Dance Mania”, most of the rating boils down to “how much can you tolerate 43 minutes of salsa music”, as it’s very easy to ignore the lyricism here; I certainly did, given the language barrier – I only skimmed them after translating to get the vibe. I do think this isn’t as energetic as “Dance Mania” is, & I do wish it had infused just a bit more into some of the instrumentals after they settle, but there’s still a total groove that a lot of these tracks hit, and even with the longer runtimes occasionally making tracks feel like they’re dragging, I never found myself actively bothered by anything. It’s a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5; it’s not as danceable & not the breeziest runtime, but it’s still damn good salsa music, and I just had a really fun time.

Loved it. I could even understand some of the spanish.

Pretty fun.

Fundamental, imprescindible, uno de los mejores discos (latinos) de la historia. Desde esas mágicas cuerdas y ritmo funky de plástico, hasta el clásico Pedro Navaja... todo es esencial. Buscando Guayaba transita por ritmos cubanos más clásicos. María Lionza, es imponente con ese ritmo. Marc Anthony se la sabe de memoria. Siembra cierra de forma magistral con una instrumentación fabulosa. Fania, Nuyorican salsa, música para disfrutar. Salsa urbana que puso banda sonora a historias que se han instalado en la memoria colectiva.

Fun

I don’t know if this is a great example of samba or not, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Usually it takes me a few listens to get into music from genres that I am not familiar with. However, from the opening funk bassline of Plastico I was all in on this one. The musicianship is great and I am a sucker for a good horn section.

buenisimo

My favorite moments in this album were when the bass decides to just get absolutely FUNKY out of nowhere. I need to learn to dance. Just an absolute blast and something I never expected I would love listening to.

Get it.

I can't dance for shit, but I thought this was some sweet salsa.

Amazing. No notes.

This is musically exciting and technical. This is great.

SALSAAA 💃

What a pleasant surprise! Such a fun, energetic album with great vocals and fantastic musicianship. This list should have more albums like this gem and the fact that there are only two Salsa albums (Tito Puente, Dance Mania) while we keep getting beat over the head with talentless bums like Tom Waits and Nick Cave should be criminal. 9/10

Had me dancing in the kitchen ngl

Genuinely a bop. I'd love to know what they're singing about though...

Uff, discazo. Gran sorpresa de la lista. Mi canción favorita es la primera: "Plástico". Posiblemente la primera canción que haya escuchado de Rubén Blades (no me acuerdo si este disco o Buscando América fue lo primero que escuché). Una canción MUY actual para escuchar en la Argentina de Milei, en el Brasil de Bolsonaro o en cualquier otro de nuestros países tan vapuleados: "Era una ciudad de plástico De esas que no quiero ver De edificios cancerosos y un corazón de oropel Donde en vez de un Sol amanece un dólar Donde nadie ríe, donde nadie llora Con gente de rostros de poliéster Que escuchan sin oír y miran sin ver Gente que vendió por comodidad Su razón de ser y su libertad" Impresionante. "¿Qué falló?" Se preguntan Blades, Colon en la canción y es imposible no hacerse la misma pregunta. Los arreglos de la canción también son buenísimos. Una cosa que me encanta de Rubén Blades, pero que creo es común a la salsa, es como en las outros el tipo empieza a decir cosas, muchas improvisadas, muchas veces humorísticas. Obviamente, el disco tiene mucho más para ofrecer. Está la "mejor canción" de Blades. Al menos para casi todo el mundo: Pedro Navaja, gran personaje del inframundo. Imaginario, pero no tanto. Todo el mundo conoce este tema, así que no me voy a detener en él. Solo voy a recomendar que tiene una segunda parte, Sorpresas, que me gusta más y creo que no recibe tanto amor. Otro tema que me parece fantástico es María Lionza (la canción se refiere a una deidad venezolana producto del sincretismo religioso). Con Plástico me parece la canción más alejada de la salsa. Desconozco si la música tiene motivos musicales venezolanos. Es posible que sea así, porque la precusión es más prominente y, en mi opinión, muy afro (más allá de que en la salsa haya obviamente mucha influencia de África). La otra canción para destacar es la homónima, "Siembra", que es un temón que podría ser el soundtrack de una película imaginaria sobre la liberación de América, con unos arreglos orquestales de otro planeta. El disco se completa con unas tres canciones algo menores: dos más romanticonas: Buscando Guayaba y Dime, y una más salsera típica: Ojos. Gran disco. Aquí me dirimo entre 4 o 5 estrellas, pero me decido por CINCO porque las canciones que me gustan, me gustan MUCHO. Es un disco de 9/10 estrellitas.

I never would've expected Willie Colón to show up on this list, but he's SUCH a deserving candidate. "Best-selling salsa record" is no joke! His songs are still getting played at latino functions half a century later, despite it being more of a "conscious salsa". You just can't help but dance to these thoughtful narratives and social commentary. To that point, Pedro Navaja -- a catchy tale about street violence in New York -- was a staple of my years growing up, and it’s awesome hearing it here in its original context, within an album that manages to maintain the same level of brilliance the whole way through. Hearing him call to every Latin American country at the end of the first song was a very special kind of hype -- both thematically fitting and especially powerful given the rarity of hispanic entries in this English-dominated list. Overall, it's a stellar piece of music with enduring cultural relevance and deep personal meaning to me. This is as strong a 5 as I can give. Standouts: Plástico • Pedro Navajas • Ojos • Dime

Awesome!

BANGER

Que cosa más hermosa el ritmo, sabor y sazón de mi gente. Talento y swing. 5/5

This is absolutely top-tier. Amazing production, arrangements, it has everything. Very reminiscent of Spanish band Alameda too. Favourite tracks: Plástico, Buscando Guayaba, Pedro Navaja, María Lionza (those discordant piano chords are epic!), Siembra.

This slaps

Excellent musicians and superb songwriters

Surprisingly fun! Personal enjoyment: 5/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5

Love it

Literally listened to this all day. The funk infusion is pretty clever. More more more please

What a brilliant album, no wonder it's such a highly regarded salsa album, often making THE top spot in lists. Impeccable playing. Always groovy. That bass is insane!! Also, Willie Colón has some of the most badass album covers I've ever seen, check out those ones from 1968!

yeah I would dance to this 5/5

Wow, right off the bat the groove and funky rhythm invited me vibe to this.

Fun and dancey

I really liked it! I guess I’m not familiar with Latin American music at all. Without the background of the existence of other albums/artists, this is amazing amazing. I enjoyed tight percussions a lot, argh, the chord progression as well, very tasteful.

I think this is the most fun Spanish speaking album I’ve listened to in a long time. Definitely my favorite Latin album on this list so far. Immediately listened to a second time yesterday and super enjoyed it. Just because you don’t know the words, doesn’t mean you can’t get down to it

Apparently the best selling salsa album ever, and if I know anything about salsa (I do not), then that is completely deserved! Enticing rhythms and all-around good times. My 7 month old daughter loved it.

On “Mariá Lionza” they open up with one of the greatest horn intros of all time just to totally abandon it afterwards. Legendary. The partnership between Colón and Blades works perfectly and Siembra is a testimony to both musician's craft.

Love - listened to it twice. There’s some killer Latin percussion and great bass playing on this record.

Another album I never would have given the time of day if not for this list. Whar a fun, upbeat gem. 5/5

Ay caramber, zum glück hani mini tanzbei züglet will die hani hüt ganz fest brucht! Fantastischi Musig zum s Zimmer putze, mit chline Salsa-ihlage mit em Staubsuuger, chli flamenco-ihlage mit em schüüfeli und biz bachata mit em bäseli. Macht sehr lust uf summer, ferie, bädele, bierle im park und alles was eus tatsächlich erwartet. Git grad es feuf fachs Arrrrrriba!!

Panamanian musica

Fantastic recommendation. I was wondering when Spanish albums would pop up.

Salsa deluxe! Love the groove

amazing

Muy bien.

What a nice surprise. Great album with great musicians!

Capital eye Iconic

What can i say, 3 out of the 7 songs in this album are in my regular day to day playlists. I actually didn't realize they were all part of the same wonderful collection.

## In-Depth Review of *Siembra* by Willie Colón & Rubén Blades Released in 1978, *Siembra* is widely regarded as one of the greatest salsa albums of all time. This groundbreaking collaboration between Willie Colón and Rubén Blades revolutionized the genre, blending infectious rhythms with profound social commentary. Below is an in-depth analysis of the album, focusing on its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, as well as its strengths and weaknesses. --- ### **Lyrics** Rubén Blades' lyrics are the cornerstone of *Siembra*'s brilliance. The album is a masterclass in storytelling and social critique, addressing topics ranging from materialism to urban violence and Latin American identity: - **"Plástico"**: This track critiques superficiality and prejudice in society. It begins deceptively with a disco-inspired groove before transitioning into salsa, symbolizing the rejection of shallow values[1][3]. - **"Pedro Navaja"**: Inspired by Bertolt Brecht's *Threepenny Opera*, this seven-minute epic tells the tragic tale of a street gangster. Its vivid narrative incorporates street sounds like sirens and even references *West Side Story*. The song’s moral—*“La vida te da sorpresas”* (Life gives you surprises)—is both poignant and sardonic[1][4]. - **"Siembra"**: The title track calls for Latino unity and pride, referencing historical figures like Ramón Emeterio Betances. Its lyrics are a rallying cry for collective consciousness and social change[1][3]. Blades' ability to weave complex themes into accessible salsa songs elevated the genre beyond its traditional boundaries. --- ### **Music** Musically, *Siembra* is a vibrant fusion of salsa with elements of jazz, funk, disco, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms: - **Instrumentation**: Willie Colón’s trombone arrangements are rich and layered, providing a soulful backbone to the album. Tracks like "Buscando Guayaba" feature lively brass sections and rhythmic percussion that are quintessentially danceable[2][5]. - **Innovative Elements**: The album incorporates unconventional sounds like street noises in "Pedro Navaja" and a vocal "guitar solo" in "Buscando Guayaba," showcasing its experimental nature[3][5]. - **Variety**: Each track offers something unique—whether it's the disco-inspired intro of "Plástico," the folkloric chants in "María Lionza," or the epic crescendo of "Siembra." This diversity keeps the listener engaged throughout[3][5]. However, some critics have noted that certain arrangements feel overly complex or cluttered, particularly on tracks like "María Lionza" and "Siembra," where brass, strings, and choirs intertwine extensively[2]. --- ### **Production** The production on *Siembra*, led by Willie Colón, is polished yet daring: - **Sophistication**: The album was meticulously crafted to merge salsa's traditional sound with modern influences. Colón’s expertise in layering trombone riffs shines throughout[2][4]. - **Experimentation**: From disco grooves to theatrical storytelling elements in "Pedro Navaja," the production pushes boundaries without losing salsa’s essence[3]. - **Remastering**: In recent years, *Siembra* has been remastered from analog tapes for vinyl reissues, ensuring its timeless sound remains pristine[4]. While innovative, some critics argue that the slick production occasionally sacrifices raw energy for style[2]. --- ### **Themes** Thematically, *Siembra* is groundbreaking for its focus on sociopolitical issues—a rarity in salsa at the time: 1. **Social Critique**: Tracks like "Plástico" condemn materialism and racism, while "Pedro Navaja" explores urban violence with dark humor. 2. **Latin American Identity**: Songs such as "Siembra" celebrate Latino pride and call for unity across borders. 3. **Spirituality**: "María Lionza" pays homage to a Venezuelan goddess, blending mysticism with cultural pride. These themes resonate deeply with listeners across Latin America, making *Siembra* not just music but a cultural manifesto[1][3]. --- ### **Influence** The impact of *Siembra* on salsa and Latin music cannot be overstated: - **Commercial Success**: It became the best-selling salsa album in history and remained a record-breaking LP for decades[4][6]. - **Cultural Legacy**: By incorporating sociopolitical messages into dance music, *Siembra* expanded salsa’s artistic scope. It influenced future artists like Marc Anthony and reshaped perceptions of what Latin music could achieve[3][6]. - **Recognition**: The album was inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007, cementing its status as a timeless masterpiece[4]. --- ### **Pros** 1. **Innovative Lyrics**: Rubén Blades' storytelling elevates salsa to new intellectual heights. 2. **Musical Diversity**: The fusion of genres keeps the album fresh and engaging. 3. **Cultural Impact**: Its themes resonate deeply with Latin audiences worldwide. 4. **Production Quality**: Willie Colón’s arrangements are sophisticated and polished. 5. **Timeless Tracks**: Songs like "Pedro Navaja" remain iconic staples of Latin music. --- ### **Cons** 1. **Overproduction**: Some arrangements feel overly intricate or stylized, detracting from their raw energy. 2. **Language Barrier**: Non-Spanish speakers may miss out on the lyrical depth. 3. **Repetitive Patterns**: Despite its variety, some listeners may find the salsa formula predictable over 42 minutes. --- ### Conclusion *Siembra* by Willie Colón & Rubén Blades is more than an album—it’s a landmark in Latin music history. Its blend of infectious rhythms with profound social commentary set a new standard for salsa as both an art form and a vehicle for cultural expression. While it may occasionally lean toward overproduction or complexity, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. For fans of Latin music or anyone seeking an introduction to salsa's potential as an intellectual genre, *Siembra* is essential listening—a timeless masterpiece that continues to inspire generations.

4.5

Brilliant, so much fun

This is so damn pleasant, I love Willie Colón. In reality, this is probably more of a 4.5 / 5, but lets round up to 5/5

Excellent, fun album. Great instrumentals and fitting vocal work. It does lean into samey territory, but not such that I didn't enjoy it. 'Ojos' was my fave.

Very nice

1978 Salsa

Great collection of fun dance songs here, love hearing new non-English albums! Amazing musicianship, great vocal performance, overall very fun listen!!

Loved it!

Oh wow! This album is mostly a ton of fun. The vibes, groove, feel, or whatever you want to call it are all perfectly on point. Different instruments (or families of instruments) are given moments to shine. It's also musically excellent; the harmonic progression of some songs, while probably very salsa (I'm not familiar enough to comment there), are different from most other styles you'll find, and they keep you engaged musically. Everything is also locked in together very tightly. It doesn't really feel like there's any note or instrument played out of place. I could understand if someone complained that it was all too much. Too many instruments, leading to too much noise. But I have to assume the people that would think that are a small percentage of listeners. This is an album that I'm surprised to have ranked so highly. But there's just not a lot holding it back, and I'll be damned if I didn't love listening to it. Favorite Song(s): Buscando Guayaba, Dime (specifically the ending)

Calming to listen to

I think this is the first album on the list I danced to while listening to, that’s gotta warrant 5 stars

Absolute brilliance. Reminds me of my travels in Latinoamérica, and makes me want to book another trip there right away. Salsa can sometimes lose my interest after 20mins or so, but this was awesome, varied, fun, groovy, sexy. 10/10. Two legends of the game. Péru, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, and the rest to come!

I'm gonna be honest. I'm a sucker for Sumba and similar music. It's my escape and fantasy music.

All I knew going into this album is that it’s a “salsa album” I had absolutely no idea that it was going to be this funky! This is the first record in a very long time that made me wish I knew how to dance to it. The rhythms throughout are totally and completely infectious. It’s smooth, cool, and very very fun to listen to. The horns on “Dime” really stand out to me. However they were recorded gives them a very cool feel, intangible delight. My only complaint about this one is that I wish it was longer. I can’t overstate how fun this record is.

funky as f***

This is the kind of music that just makes you want to move. This is definitely my style of Latin music and is a quality production overall. Don’t need to understand the lyrics when the music is that good.

Surprised how much I enjoyed this!!

the Far Cry 6 soundtrack slaps

4.5/5 Fantastically enjoyable album with instrumentals made for dancing, and smooth vocals on top. The brass sections in particular are great, and the closer Siembra ends the experience brilliantly. Perhaps the enjoyability of the album is not much more than the sum of its tracks however, with not a lot of variation. Plástico 4/5 (LEAST FAV) Buscando Guayaba 4.5/5 Pedro Navaja 5/5 María Lionza 5/5 Ojos 4.5/5 Dime 4.5/5 Siembra 5/5 (FAV)

Absolute bangers

swingy

Для учёбы нормально

Lin-Manuel Miranda, is that you? I loved the upbeat vibes of this album and would definitely re-listen.

Fantastic easy listen

I wouldn’t have previously considered salsa a genre I would go out of my way to listen to. But my god, if ‘Siembra’ doesn’t make me consider doing a deeper dive then I don’t know what will. This is a fantastic album in nearly all areas. It’s got funk, it’s got soul, it’s got jazz. Putting aside the language barrier (which I believe is easily broken down in the world of music), the music alone is worth listening to. Funky bass lines, phenomenal horn sections, salsa flavoured piano; and phenomenal vocals layered on top of it to create this absolute VIBRANT world through the 7 songs on offer. I’m pretty sure we’re all mostly familiar with the track ‘Plàstico’. But looking deeper into the tracklist, other standouts include ‘Buscando Guayaba’, with its infectious melody. The absolute banger ‘Pedro Navaja’. The mid-tempo, and best vocal showcase in the album, ‘Ojos’. And the fantastic, epic crescendo of the title track ‘Siembra’. It’s an absolute blast from start to finish. I don’t really hand out 5/5 ratings too often (at least so far during this list). But this one was easy to place in that exclusive club. And if my experience is anything to go by, it is a perfect place to start a potential journey into this genre.

This is when I wish I had kept up with my Spanish lessons back in high school and college. The rhythms! They just make you want to move your ass! There’s also a nostalgic element to this type of music for me, as it reminds me of a family (and life) that is just a distant but still very, very fond part of my past… 🤔🤔🤔 Another highlight of the benefits of doing this challenge, for sure. It’s how I found out about Jorge Ben; now I can happily add Willie and Rubén to the list of new discoveries to enjoy 💃🕺💃🕺

Granted, I don't speak Spanish so I have no idea what the songs are about. That said, fun music and enjoyable to listen to.

Outstanding album. This is a welcome departure from the other items on the list recently - I dont normally listen to salsa albums, but when I do they are Siembra. 5/5

This album is a timeless masterpiece. Just as relevant today as it was during its release.

Como para 4'5 (hay tramos que no me molan tanto), pero subiendo parriba

Found myself enjoying this way more than I expected. Salsa isn't a genre I have a particular affinity for, but this just hit the mood. I can see myself putting this on the next time the sun is shining, the BBQ is out, and the rum is flowing.

Espectacular. Este disco demuestra el potencial de la salsa y lo inmensamente creativa que puede llegar a ser. Tiene lo básico, ritmos bailables y una alegría caribeña muy propia del género. Pero "siembra" va más allá, tiene una musicalidad asombrosa, desde piano, a unas trompetas fantásticas, hasta un violín y un solo de "guitarra vocal". Rubén Blades es el unico liricista que puede hablar de una sociedad basada en falsas apariencias y materialismoen una canción, y en la siguiente hablar de guayabas. Las canciones con suerte bajan de los 6 minutos, pero no se sienten tan largas y cada tema tiene un sonido único. Siembra es una oda a la música latinoamericana, una de las mejores colaboraciones musicales de la historia y uno de los mas grandes discos de salsa de todos los tiempos.

Tong tong tong ting ting..... :-) It's getting sweaty on the dance floor! Theses guys are wonderful! Such wonderful grooves, singing, horns, percussion... Damn it's good! 5 stars

Another surprise! I loved this album even though I hadn't heard it before. The percussion is unbelievable as are Colon's trombone solos.

it's fantastic

Elite

Man what a fun salsa album. Tons of variety in terms of sound and lyrical content. I have a major soft spot for music like this since I lived in the Dominican Republic for 2 years. This was also such a breath of fresh air for this project.

Hard to criticize this one. Total classic sound. If you like salsa, this might be the best example out there.

Disco fundamental de Rubén Blades, uno de los tipos que más le dio otra poética a la salsa, más crítica y social, demostrando una vez más que cualquier ritmo que invita al baile, también puede hacer un llamado a la consciencia social por un mundo menos hostil. Excelente trabajo.

Ooh noice

Some records are so good, so effortless to listen to, so enjoyable, that 45 minutes feels like no time has passed at all. It’s like the musical equivalent of gliding on air. ‘Siembra’ is one of those records. It’s superb from start to finish.

BANGER AFTER BANGER

Loved this album! A real showcase of what the trombone can do. Colón’s tone is aggressive, yet refined.

What a privilege to hear this record. I don't know Spanish so quite a bit flew over my head but the music is fantastic and I love the little nods to different genres, e.g. the bit of disco in the first song, and later the West Side Story nod, as well as the big band bits. These guys are large and in charge!

Right from the beginning, it grabs you by the waist and you can't help but dance and sway to the beat. Salsa/World/Disco, blended and fused to masterful effect. I found myself singing along even though I had no idea what the lyrics were. The rhythm section is top notch and the bass in particular sweeps you away and fills you up. Siembra is insistent and overwhelming in the best of ways. An excellent record, start to finish.

10/10 based and joyful as fuck

Salsa mit Disco-Musik verbinden, das funktioniert? Und wie es funktioniert. Anspruchsvolle Tanzmusik mit hervorragenden Arrangements, das geht in die Beine. Dieses Album hat mich in jeder Hinsicht geflascht. Ein Meilenstein in der Musikgeschichte, keine Frage. Komisch, dass ich von diesem Album bislang noch nie was gehört habe. Danke, dass ich es jetzt erleben durfte.

I enjoyed this

I've found a new album I otherwise never would have thought to listen to on my own. Amazing, every song a hit, thoroughly enjoyed this one Plastico especially, I like that it starts with almost disco vibes and rolls into salsa, just great.

Outstanding. An album like this is what this list is all about. I never would have found this otherwise and I absolutely loved every second of it!

"La vida te da sorpresas, sorpresas te da la vida, ay, Dios"

The description says salsa but this starts funky as hell? I'm into it. This is ageless. I have heard these before, just not sure where (Buscando guayaba). A solid album, just good vibes. 5* Each track is unique and doesn't just have the same salsa rhythm, it's layered with so much more. Highlights: plastico, maria lionza (cool starts and groovy bass)

Very well done latin/Puerto Rican music! Both these artists are super accomplished musicians! I can definitely see why they've won so many awards! Loved listening to the beat and energy of a type of sound I have appreciated too little.love the trombone!!

Perfect for keeping the Puerto Rico life feel every day.

I loved this. Terrific salsa!

Is it just me or did this album make anyone else feel like dancing?

Enjoyable Latin sounds with a tinge of late 70s disco. Fun!

Salsa was just the thing I needed to reinvigorate me today, and this is some kick as salsa music! 💃🏽

FANTASTIC! What a breath of fresh air in the never-ending slog of old white man music. More like this, please.

This album was really cool! Nice blend of jazz, Latin-American music, funk, and disco. Just a party, overall

Holy smokes, this is what the project is about. Great music I never would have listened to on my own. Not sure what anyone was saying but the fun Latin music with brass really hit right today

Puntazo plástico!

Mexico music hee hee haw

wow i loved this! never heard this album but every song pretty much is a banger. I could see how someone might feel every song has a similar sound, but they all hit to me, and the album is not long. amazing horns. standout song is Pedro Navaja. 5/5

Un Clásico

Delicious! Is this the first time I ever consciously listened to a salsa album? Yes! But it was unforgettable. So many fun surprises around every corner. It’s like jazz, man… sounds all the same, but then you go in deeper. And deeper. Except this is approachable and fun and you can put it on in all fun times! Very heavily colored by being in Costa Rica as I’m listening to this. The horn arrangements! I’m going 5/5. Rightfully should be in the canon!

Def pulled me in with those trumpets and percussion <3 Great jam.

Salsa is an easy 5 for me. Sunny dancey vibes

I don't care what anyone says, this is the best music ever.

Probably the best salsa album ever recorded

Fabulous. Totally new to me and incredible

First listen Saved 6/7 Top track: Plastico

I loved this. I listened to it now than once and I'll probably add it to my rotation. It's super bright and fun, the horns and strings sound amazing, and it's so outside my normal wheelhouse, I get excited knowing I have something this different to listen to.

Salsa is not really my genre but this seemed pretty much perfect to my unsophisticated regard.

Big fan of this album Had me doing a little dance while making dinner. Big fan willie and Cecilia too

Yes please.

I have no recollection of listening to this, but I also know it was great. I'm not entirely sure how I know this, but it is completely true.

Like that

It's very rare for me to dance instead of walk to work. This album gave me those vibes to let go, and dance all the way. Fantastic.

I've read the wikipedia article for tumbao. I've watched a dozen videos about clave rhythms. My limited musical experience means that I only barely understand the basic structure of salsa but the more I listen and study the more I appreciate it.

Cool découverte!

Wow this was a fun listen! I can't say I've really given salsa much of a listen before this, and I don't know Spanish but I really wish I did now. The horns and instrumentation are excellent, and the lyrics seem great, even if I don't exactly know what's being said. It's the kind of album that just makes me want to dance, and it makes me wish for a warmer day than this one. Favourite: Plástico

I missed this one, it was well before I got into Latin music. Clearly he nailed this long before Gloria Estefan. Great album, and I will be listening to it again.

I've heard some of these songs on compilations, but never had the pleasure of hearing them together as intended until today. This album is a high water mark for the salsa genre. It's also one of the great Latin music albums, not just of its era, but of all time. Spectacular, nuanced musicianship and rich, flawless vocals from Ruben Blades. Not to mention, this album is just deeply, deeply fun. No hyperbole, this is a pretty perfect album. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Pedro Navaja, Dime, Plástico, Buscando Guayaba, María Lionza, Ojos, Siembra

Yesssssssss this is exactly the kind of thing i signed up for.

During the first minutes I was thinking "yep, this will get three stars, usual spanish stuff, pleasant but nothing interesting". NO, that's beautiful, carefully crafted and addictive. Will definetely look up other stuff of this genre

Enjoyed this more than I might have thought.

Great atmospheric Latin jazz, upbeat but also easy listening

Salsa-esque bops! Good for working

Not all the way through yet, but I'm very very impressed. I just read that it's one of the best salsa albums pretty much ever and I can see how. It seems like it's got an extra layer compared to salsa you'll hear just anywhere.

I normally wouldn’t listen to this but I really liked it. It’s happy and lively. Good music.

This whole thing's a mood. Loved it. Last song sounded like something out of a James Bond movie.

Joyous music, made me want to move my feet and sway my hips.

I will mot explain myself. Great time

Really enjoyed listening to this one- will definitely come back to this.

Killer band!! Loved this one. the strings remind me of chic.

I listened to this twice. I could listen to this once a day for a whole month. Presente!

makes sense after listening to "if i should fall from grace with god"😃 thanks for the music expansion again👍

Fun salsa! I can definitely see why this has sold so much. What a great album, makes me get out of me seat and want to dance the night away!

Un cuatro alto, para distinguirlo del resto de cuatros le doy un cinco.

bom demais os fadinho, latino e pa

Great samba album

Muito bom! Excelente para um domingo de sol

I lack the linguistic ability and context to appreciate Siembra. The record is clearly positioned in a part of this country I have never visited, and is absolutely accessible from here. Part of me knows there have to be better salsa deep cuts out there, but the rest of me just loved listening to this whole album. It has unspooling in spades, but no tracks that drag on in the same style. Just songs which groove in a sonic space and give way to the next, doing something a little different. The vocals are the least remarkable part, but, as I led with, I can't understand the words.

OOOOO the slick funked out groove immediately has my attention. I like this salsa. I have absoltely heard Pedro Navaja before. And it fucking slaps.

Unexpected

Solid album

Cuban dance vibes

Latin music is God-sent!

Yeeeeeees, this is my jam. 9.5/10.

Great! Lots of uptempo jazz and Latin fusion, hard to listen to and not want to dance!

meu paiero virou um charuto ayyyyyyyyy

plástico é um dos pontos altos do álbum, amei a fusão salsa/disco e realmente, "salsa intelectual" 💯

What a great album. Great vocals, lush instrumentation, catchy little rifts throughout. Each song feels so warm and sends me right back to a beach in Mexico. 9/10

Fun to listen to, great for cooking to!

PR

Lush and beautiful

Excelente

I like to hear more of this music but rock n roll of some bands that were rubbish.

Fantastic Salsa. Really enjoyable. Makes me realize I need to seek out more of this style.

This was a surprisingly incredible album with ballads, bops, and even a banger or two.

oooh salsa baby. yeah this was great. impeccable vibes and each song was different from the last. mwah

That intro is amazing, you wouldn’t expect with that funky rhythm that it comes the amazing salsa songs after

Big fan of this very groovy actually

With many foreign albums, I am clueless about the lyrics’ meanings. I can simple enjoy the voices as another instrument. My smattering of Spanish knowledge leaves me frustrated as I can make out bits of the lyrics, but cannot fully comprehend them. With the emphasis on Ruben Blades’ vocals, I am reviewing this record with one hand behind my back. Siembra was one of the first records I purchased when I first began exploring salsa. I can’t say I have listened to salsa enough to qualify as an expert, but I have developed likes and dislikes. There is enough in my head to discern a few qualities that make this collaboration a strong record. Blades’ vocals never demand attention in the percussive or trumpet-like yowls of some singers. He complements the music rather than seeking to shine above it. Knowing Blades’ political activism I can sense some wisdom being imparted in lesson-like fashion. In a song like “Pedro Navaja” he sensually walks alongside the music. It sounds both friendly and seductive. The music matches his measured mannerism as it keeps pace with him without ever looking to blast away. The opening bars of the album on “Plastico” had me worried. It’s 1978, let’s have a disco song. While some disco traits remain throughout the song, “Plastico” finds an original groove rather than mining a certain soundtrack for possible nuggets of crossover success. That is what makes this album appealing. These guys had created a new musical genre and become major stars in an overlooked market. Seeking bigger success with more accessible music and English lyrics would have made sense, but Colon and Blades stick to their guns. The material offered the chance for a bigger audience. One of Blades’ best performances is on the mid-tempo ballad “Marie Lionza” sounds like prime material for a dance hit if English lyrics were used. The title track would have made an electrifying cut to use in a film as a pulsing bass adds both groove and darkness to the songs while strings give it a soundtrack touch. Willie Colon showed similar restraint in this more mature version of salsa. Still eminently danceable, Colon (and I assume it is his band) never mug for the camera as the brass and percussion sections accent the music rather than dominate. This album would not be the first selection to give to someone new to salsa, but it deserves the high marks given here.

Love it.

sounds really cool. Wish I could understand what bro was saying however the vibes were vibing with this one.

I’ve never listened to any salsa albums before and this was a great first album for the genre. Fantastically enjoyable, album that has made me want to listen to more of this genre.

I don’t know much about salsa, but this was quite good! Definitely funky and danceable

Omg okay Bad Bunny Superbowl roll call!!

Not my thing, but I still liked it

Very fun, probably won't listen again

I really liked this album. I enjoyed Plástico. Not so much Buscando Guayaba Pedro Navaja i think referenced West side story which was cool. Siembra was good as well. Overall a nice album that suits my tastes

This is a wonderful collection of sounds. A truly captivating sonic landscape and some real funky stuff! Massively enjoyed this experience.

8/10

Really enjoyed this! I was catching a proper summer vibe. The last song Siembra really puts this ahead - such a cool track.

Pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this one. It was real good fun

Overall: 7/10 This was a really fun album with some great instrumentation. I may not have understood what they were saying but I think I was able to pick up on the vibes. I'd listen to this again. Fav Song: Siembra

Latin & Salsa, genau das richtige für den Sommer. Entspannte Musik mit tolle Rhythmen. 3-4/5

Listening to it all the way through makes it completely clear why it became the high-water mark for the genre. It’s the perfect companion for a relaxing day at home

8/10

Not as nice as other Willie Colon albums I knew, but very nice nonetheless.

very cool vibes, listening to it made me feel like i was in a movie fsr

no pensé que iba a haber música en español en la lista, la verdad si fueran más equitativos con los idiomas estaría buenísimo. me parece bien que estos ingleses escuchen salsa, por más que no la puedan entender (mental, física o espiritualmente lol) creo q les va hacer bien. 4/5 me gustó.

Nice album for the summer

This one is like a diary. With no other readers intended to flip through the pages, the writer can bring their own unique voice to the pages. Words, scribbles, and drawings all erratically fill pages, forming a stream of consciousness, or chunks of it, that best represent their mind. This one is a lively read.

Great variety across these, I just had a great time listening. Maybe it's the unfortunate nature of listening to a new album every day but the shorter albums are consistently ranked higher for me. It's just so easy to relisten to a 40 minute album twice than it is to listen to an hour 30 of a single album. Love that slap bass on Maria Lionza

💃

Однозначно плюс вайб

очень даже понравилось, хотя не фанат latin jazz... достойно 4ки

This album was like eight parts Latin music and two parts jazz, and not just because of the lush horn section, but also the harmonies and other jazz fusion elements that were sprinkled throughout. Even if it were just straight Samba (I am pretty sure that's what to call this..?) I would've liked this quite a lot. I absolutely love the percussion in South American music. But if that were the case, I probably would have checked out mentally at some point. But this album always had something that held my attention, whether it was the horn section, an unexpected B section, background vocals, jazz, Harmony, bodily percussion, there was always some additional element of creativity that kept every song interesting on top of the already solid Latin foundation

Glad for this one to show up, too. Between a 3 and a 4. Biggest complaints: 1) I don't *love* Blades's (pronounced "blah'-dess") voice (he's a decent singer, but his voice is just a little . . . flat? toneless?); 2) (and this may just be my problem, not the music's) it starts to sound (a little bit) kind of the same, after a while, one song to the next. But the band is tight, and cooks, and it's a great sound. I remember being vaguely aware of buzz about Blades when I was in New York (1984-87), but never really heard much of his music until later. Anyway, I think I'll give this another "low" 4, because it's such a great sound. First song: very disco, at first (maybe equating disco with being "plastic" -- i.e., fake?). I didn't love the "West Side Story" quotes in the 3rd song, although it makes sense, I guess, since the record was recorded in NYC, on NYC-based Latin/Salsa label, Fania Records, a reflection of the growing strength of Latin culture in NYC in the 60s and beyond. Five years before this album, in 1973, Willie Colon, with singer Hector Lavoe, did my favorite salsa song of all time, "El Dia de Mi Suerte" (worth listening to, if you're not familiar) - also recorded in New York, also on Fania Records.

Unfortunately I can't really tell what they're saying or distinguish this from other Salsa, because I don't have Spanish or listen to a lot of Salsa. But I like it I like how rhythms are superimposed. The driving bass lines, fiery horns. It's life-affirming

Puerto Rico day parade while on a run

This album did the trick. Three people who came into my office did a little shuffle when they heard it. I want wallpaper of the border on the cover.

I am no expert on salsa music, but I can’t help but be bowled over by this album’s rich rhythmic complexity, brassy brio and joie de vivre, even when I know it occasionally deals with darker subject matter. Really good.

Good to see some Latin music on here, Willie Colon is a legend, the Fania label people are dickheads (also, how often do you see the label name on the front of the album of the cover) but glad to see this one.

Listening session: june 12th, while mealprepping and while eating lunch Listened to before: no Thoughts: what an album! I like salsa even more than I thought and this had me dancing the whole time Favourite tracks: Plástico, Pedro Navaja & Siembra

Swinging, driving - the joy of Fania, bringing salsa from the hotbeds of Manhattan to the world

not bad

J’ai trouvé ça sympa comme tout ! Mais c’est parce que j’écoute Bad Bunny depuis quelques mois donc mon oreille est habituée

J'adore la bossa nova, vraiment ma came donc belle découverte !