Siembra

Fun!

Yeah, this was fun! No fault of their own that I missed something by not understanding the lyrics

pas pire mais je préférais l’autre

Enjoyed the sound but I wouldn't particularly seek this out again

It’s nice to hear some Latino music in these lists. Overall it sounds pretty good, nothing too crazy though.

Pretty cool, not really into listening to salsa but I liked it--would prefer dancing to it.

Kinda fun but not my thing. Good dinner party music which sounds dismissive but I don't mean it to be. Might be just because of my English speaking, western acculturated ears.2/5

It started off a bit more disco than I expected but I enjoyed the slice of samba and Latin music this gave. Will I listen to it again? Probably not.

4/5 Rating Fav Tracks: Plástico Dime Siembra

I like salsa! I like the tropical vibes, the amazing percussion, the toe tapping rhythms. But I do not like this much salsa all at once. It's good, it's fine. But unless I'm down south on a beach or by the pool or exploring a lil Spanish town...I doubt I'd be throwing this on in its entirety again anytime soon. 2/5

Is salsa a condiment? What is a condiment? I'd say it's a food that is typically eaten on top of another food. Do people eat salsa by itself? No, they don't. On top of chips, burritos, tacos. Never alone. Is this a debate or am I making it up? I love a good salsa. As far as salsa music goes, I can take or leave it.

Listened Before? N Yep. Spanish language music with horns. Ok. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Pedro Navaja

Solid samba album. As it's apparently THE samba album, it gets the bump.

yeah I would dance to this 5/5

I probably lose a lot by not understanding the subject matter as I don't speak Spanish, that said, musically, my interest dissipated as the album progressed. It is a solid album but not to my taste. There's little that is poor about the album but there's also little that raises it above "okay" or "decent". 3* Would I listen again? No! Would I buy this album? No! 1. "Plástico" Rubén Blades 6:37 - The orchestration at the beginning was excellent, and I thought we would be taken into something akin to the Philadelphia sound. Instead Salsa rhythms. 3* 2. "Buscando Guayaba" 5:43 - Who knew Cowbell could be so annoying? Once you hear it it, that's it. 3* 3. "Pedro Navaja" 7:21 - A little different to the previous two tracks. Vocally, the singer has a nice enough voice. The cowbell is back! 3* 4. "María Lionza" 5:27 - 3*. Oh some funky bass comes in half way through. "More Cowbell?" The horn section is nice. 3* 5. "Ojos" 4:50 - 3* 6. "Dime" 6:59 - 3*. 7. "Siembra" 5:21 - Now this starts dramatic, almost like a theme tune to an American, 1970s, TV Cop show. Orchestration is nice. Best track on the album. 3* 21/35

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

Already like straight away

Didn't properly listen to any salsa album before. I really enjoyed it, will probably listen it again.

4/5

Enjoyable

I would have appreciated this more if I understood Spanish.

Fun and dancey

Not usually into Latin music but very good

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.

Not my usual style but fun for a while. Buscando Guayaba stood out as particularly cool.

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

A fun, upbeat album and a great way to celebrate being done for summer break. I feel like the next time I listen to it should be at the beach or something.

My wife and I took 3 years of Salsa dancing lessons about 7 years ago. We listened to a lot of Salsa at that time. This album doesn't standout from any of the other songs we listened to back then. It's good music to dance to, but I don't know how it's claimed as the best Salsa album of all time.

Not surprising that it has great energy since it's salsa music, but the similar tempos and drum patterns made it sound repetitive. It also didn't wow me - there were some songs I wouldn't mind listening to again but others were boring, though I'll admit I may be too hard on the album because it's so far outside of my usual tastes.

This was a fun listen. Likely not something I would listen to regularly. 2/5

Sadly, it falls off towards the end. The first few tracks are bangers tho.

Nice enough Salsa, but it does feel a bit repetitive at times. Good for the background, but not overly exciting.

fun but ultimately not really my jam. i liked dime

very fun!

It was good for background music. Maybe if I spoke Spanish, this album would have more of an impact. All the compositions blended together where I could not distinguish one song from another.

A real moment of heat and rhythm. I’ve taken my share of salsa classes and this is the sound for the dance floor.

Funkier than I expected. Would probably rate higher of it was more my taste.

This was a fun listen. I don’t speak or understand Spanish very well, but this album was fun of fun and soul.

Interesting

legal

Nice vibe

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.

3.5

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

Feels like the club in the movie the mask

Unfortunately for me even the best Salsa (which I'm sure this is) just fades into background music - very pleasant but ultimately forgettable. If I understood Spanish I may have a different view or if was in a beach side bar with hips to die for .. but as it is I'm working on my PC with a cranky back. It does have a great brass section and it is now my goto Salsa album - although cannot really ever seeing me needing to go to Salsa town.

Siembra I found this very enjoyable, more so than I was expecting. Although I’m still slightly ambivalent about Salsa, I found the undeniable energy with added disco accents quite pleasing. The Sly Stone disco funk bass and string intro to Plastico is excellent, and although it shifts more into salsa it’s a great track. Maria Lionza also has some nice disco bass, both of these kind of highlight the NY latin influence on disco. Pedro Navaja must have been an influence on Escape by Rupert Holmes, the verses are very similar. I like the refrain of Buscando Guayaba, the change of tempo with Dime and the slightly sinister tone and strings in Siembra, but it’s easy to let this drift off a little, as to my unknowledgeable ear the songs do broadly sound quite similar. Nevertheless I do like the breezy charm and generally upbeat nature, despite, from what I gather, the socially conscious lyrics. I suppose this type of music always carries the tang of Salsa classes in village halls on Tuesday evenings, but the little bits of disco and the obvious quality of the playing make this a very listenable mid to high 3. 🕺🕺🕺 Playlist submission: Plastico

The most entertaining thing about this album is that 'Willie Colon' sounds like a gay man's bum condition; and Ruben (pronounced rubbin') Blades sounds like a lesbian sexual position. Aside from that, the big highlight is that intro - the album opens like any Pharell Williams via Nile Rodgers production you care to mention. It's from 1978, and it sounds like something from 25 years later, with a disco beat and sumptuous strings. It's marvelous. Unfortunately, that soon gives way to samba stylings that I'd have difficulty picking apart from the backing track of a Mexican salsa class on a Tuesday night in the Midlands. It takes from the ready-made salsa toolkit of percussion-driven rhythms, brassy horn stabs and montuno piano - and to my untrained ear I hear nothing here to differentiate it from countless others. I'd much rather Beuna Vista, I didn't really get the great appeal of this. The music feels saccharine and the words, if that indeed is where the magic lies, are over my head. Some nice touches sprinkled throughout.

8/10

Not the album for me, it was just the same sounding song over and over, probably my least favorite album I've listened to yet!

Decent, bounces along in enjoyable fashion,, sounds clean, obviously talented musicians, though no idea what’s being said but sounds fluid, nice mixed in funk and disco. . 3.5 Star

Pleasant enough background music in a lively environment... Not something I'll put on for myself though

I appreciate the quality of music here but I have no emotional attachment to this album.

Its very chill and nice but got redundant

Heh, Willie Colon

not really my jam.

One of the very few non Anglo albums to pop up on my list so far. Very refreshing as this list seems to have some inherent biases. Do I know what they are on about? No. Do I care? Not really. This was a fun record. Starting out with an incredible disco vibe and evolving into some very interesting Salsa. The horns and bass were great. I see a lot of comments on how it all sounds the same, but that makes me wonder if the album was listened to at all as there is some significant (within genre) diversity between tracks which makes each stand on it's own.

I am a big fan of Latin/Salsa, but I don’t know how this stands out. Tito Puente is more traditional and a lot more fun. This had a little bit of cringy disco on a couple of tracks, but was great at times.

Får lyst å spilla Sims 2

Favorite Track: Plástico

Its good. Perhaps really good. At the end of long night, it’s just background music to a stained and soaking dance floor, sweat, booze and vomit commingling to remind the janitor he’s probably better off.

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

If you like Salsa this is the pre-eminent example of the genre. Uplifting tunes, tuneful horns and that driving beat . I do not like Salsa.

I’m glad I finally know Reuben Blades the musician. Yet another genre that isn’t one I frequent but I love the vibe. Makes me want to drink a mojito in some sweltering city near the ocean. Wouldn’t mind revisiting this place

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!!

arrrriba seniores buonas dias cumbia, gute morge album boyzzz, sali welt. No america & no britain = abwechslung Nenned mich mathematiker. Also mich heds da mit chräftiger Manier zrug uf Colombia teleportiert, links-rechts-links, tatatata Lebensfreud und lockerheit und vibes sind ahcho. Trotz minere Cumbia expertise und mim Südamerikanische Bluet hani das nani kennt. ABer sowiit souverän, gid sicher na geileri Cumbia Albe, aber hed spass gmacht. Muy bien, miguelito esta terminado cuatro bailes de alegría

okay okay das hani nöd erwarted durs cover hani eifach immer müese an biggie denke aber da hemmer scho chli was anderes on hand ich gluabs das isch au erst szweite album ih die richtig, chan das si? drum segi mal muenis au ih de album-ih-dere-richtig hackordnig under de current cha-cha-champion!!!!! tue (buena vista social club isch da gmeint) drum chlauemer dem schmucke stück es baby vom cover dases mit de sterne überihstimmt drü chind im bluemefeld verlore, bitte ah de kasse 3 go abholeeeee!

vaaaaaaamos, amigos & amigas der kultur: da simmer wieder! han churz angst gha am ahfang, dass de willie mal en churzi discophase duregmacht hed woni verpasst han… aber die latinkläng hend mi wieder uf de bode vo de realität zruggholt. han so freud gha, dass es mi fast us de socke und um eis haar fast de sombrero vom chopf ghaue hed han jede track gspeicheret, aber ihr kenned mich ja: es paar devo sind eifach für mini cumbia / musica tropicale sammlig gsi woni vermuetli nümm oft ahtreffe wird (ussert weni mi döt dureshuffle) – das heisst ich gib trotz allem glaub nöd cinco estrellas, aber abgrundeti quatro gids uf jede fall! cinema muy grande!

This album is great fun. Was expecting a hard listen at first with it not being in my language but it perfectly suited a sunny drive to work - felt like I was in a Tarantino film at times. It’s just good vibes, and some great musicianship - especially the bass. Part of the fun was trying to pick out the few lyrics I did understand and guessing the context of the subject matter, sometimes though that didn’t even really matter and I just got lost in the brass section or the vocal melodies. Not sure when I would listen again - maybe whilst cooking a nice slow brunch or doing some housework as it makes good background music - in the nicest possible way. Will pick it up if I find it on my travels and will definitely revisit. 3/5 Standout tracks; Plastico Maria Lonza Ojos

Made we want to get up and dance, and I hate dancing. Sounds like they pioneered the Salsa genre. Not my vibe, but fun.

Duo didn’t prepare me well enough for this one. At first, I wanted to get up and dance, but I was driving down the freeway, so wasn’t going to do that. After a while, all of the songs started to sound the same, and I was ready for it to end. I think I need to plan my next vacation to Mexico.

I had fun with this album! After a while the song started blending together because I don’t speak any Spanish, but I enjoyed the trombone section and the scat sections

I only made it halfway. Seems like they were having fun I guess but it was so boring

I had a little fun with this. Definitely not worse than other music I listened to in Argentina, but still definitely not my taste

Would be one star but I liked the bip bop boop Kanye part

I know very little about salsa music. If I'm being honest here, my initial enjoyment of this album is that it kind of reminded me of being in Mexican restaurants, as it's probably the only place I was ever really exposed to the genre (in a pure form at least). But that exposure was just background music and all kind of sounded the same. On this album, I've heard something different, including just how varied salsa can really sound in the right hands. True, it borrows a bit from disco here and there, but there's still a lot of versatility despite this. My high school Spanish doesn't help me much with the lyrics, but the book describes them as covering social and political themes that resonated across Latin America. No wonder then that this was the first salsa album to go platinum.

So much funkier than I thought it would be? Salsa is funky?

Don't listen to much salsa, but this was nice.

This has come up on a perfect day, when the sun is blasting. Very pleasant.

Such a classic sound.

I enjoyed this. Great rhythm.

Who doesn’t love Latin music?? So fun and energetic. Definitely needed this.

Other than Celia Cruz, I hadn’t really listened to much salsa music, but this album (along with videos of salsa dancing) really turned me onto the genre as a whole. I really liked most of the songs, especially the last two and my overall favorite track. Despite what people may say, the tracks do *not* all sound the same. Favorite Track: Pedro Navaja

Upbeat and lively. But also can’t understand a word they’re singing so no idea if the lyrics are crap or fantastic. 🤷‍♂️

Panamanian musica

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

I’m not the biggest fan of salsa, but this was really good. It’s like a funky salsa. Kind of reminds you of eating dinner in a chi chis.

decent record, sounded okay

I enjoyed this. The horns and strings were a nice touch.

Catchy music, not generally for me but enjoyable! Solid 3.

Good times. Muy caliente

Wish I had some chips for this salsa. This was pretty enjoyable.

This album art is something. Music is fine but not really my taste

This is #day254 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I consider myself an open-minded person, especially after 254 days of this, but not quite enough to embrace Salsa. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing bad about the music, it's just way outside my wheelhouse. That said, I can now say I've heard something from Panama. Yay! This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day255.

Something about the vocals are just amazing. You’d have to be in the mood to listen to something so different and Venezuelan like this, but it’s so enjoyable and only a short album. I feel like Escobar listening to this. Would create a drug empire off the back of this, 7/10.

Not for me

Salsa deluxe! Love the groove

I have always liked salsa music 🥰 This album would be something I would put on during an outdoor barbeque party! Album rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

hmmmm

Oke echt wel een cool album. Onverwachts, buiten mijn comfort zone, maar wel een vibe. Bij hogere temperaturen had ik dit misschien een ster meer gegeven. 3.4

I don't know much about salsa music but these guys clearly do.

Terrible album cover. Got them horns. Now I'm no salsa expert but this sounds like a fine example of salsa. Nice mixing and production quality. The vocals are very solid but are missing something that would run electric vibes across my brain. Catch me on some other day and this could easily go up to a 5. I think more than anything it's the album cover holding it back.

strangely i found this really entertaining despite it being quite different from my normal listening material

I didn't know what I was getting into, but did not use a private spotify session. I like the rhythms, did not understand the lyrics. I meant to go back and listen to it again in the afternoon, but did not get a chance.

Bellissimo album, mi sono piaciute un sacco le sonorità più latineggianti. Uno stile diverso ma che apprezzo assai.

amazing

Muy bien.

Despite understanding mayhe 10 words it was well produced with good instruments

Siembra kind of gave me flashbacks to playing the Tropico games — laid-back, tropical vibes with a political edge hiding underneath. The mix of salsa, funk, and commentary works well, and the musicianship is solid. It’s got a smooth, chill sound that makes for great background music, even if it didn’t completely blow me away. Definitely a cool listen, just not something I’d keep on heavy rotation.

I enjoyed the general vibe, but a lot of the tracks over stayed their welcome. Maybe the lyrics would’ve kept my interest better if I spoke the language, but normally the music is enough on its own.

I'm not a big salsa fan, and this hasn't changed my mind. It just makes me think of background music for films.

I love dancing to it, just listening to it was less fun but still enjoyable

No entiendo

Never heard them, quite like it

Album 733 of 1001 Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Siembra (1978) Rating : 2 / 5 I know nothing of Salsa music so can't really compare. It was an entertaining listen. Nice blend of brass and tropical vibes.

I enjoy this. I’m not super into salsa and I think it may be a bit lost on me. But that’s probably just me not getting it.

Great album, great vocals. Really fun

I loved listening to this because it counts for my spanish class' weekly log

Salsa is not really my gig. I’m sure that many enjoy this type of music.

What a nice surprise. Great album with great musicians!

Capital eye Iconic

I didn't know I needed Trombone Salsa in my life, but this was fun on a rainy day, and helped lift my spirits just a little from where they've been. Real sharp musicianship here. Everything’s crisp, energetic, and full of motion. Released on my birthday (before I was born lol) too! Didn’t really blow me away, but I was into the mood it set. Vocals carry a lot of weight. Felt serious but not too heavy. I let it ride. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions: - Plástico - Buscando Guayaba - Pedro Navaja - Dime

Good tunes nothing spectacular.

bangers

Spicy latin music that gets the blood flowing

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.

Muy bueno , mi gusta , mi ENCANTA! Divertido y batería bueno. Good shit man

first listen it's great

## 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.

Südamerikanisch - Salsa

I love Willie Colón's funky sounds.

Good

Salsa.

Why does he like guyaba so much?

A perfect mix of dance-worthy beats and genuine emotion – a classic for good reason

great summer vibes

Willie Colon? Didn't he do an album with Fanny Pancreas?

Reminds me of holidays in Cuba!

IT'S SUMMER

It was kinda fun but sounded SUPER generic to me, also relatively short album

How to charm me? Have a horn section. That'll do it.

4.5

very enjoyable.

This was fine. Fun, even. But will I ever seek it out again? Almost certainly not.

Lively, warm and engaging

One woulda preferred they stick with the direct disco beats with which this opens, but this is fine otherwise. Not that one's moved to anything like transcendence, though it's undeniably bright and warm and clave-swings pretty steadily throughout, with some lovely touches by both castanet player and backing vocalists. This feels no better than replacement level and sorta below average for this list (even grading on a curve for the language barrier). One should probably be expected to speak salsa to know how good this is. Glad it sold so well.

nice.

Great album!

Fun album Must be more enjoyable in the summer

Not a bad listen for a Saturday morning!!

Brilliant, so much fun

SALSA! pretty good fun album. Good background music.

Plastico - 5/5 Buscando Guayaba - 4/5 Pedro Navaja - 5/5 Maria Lionza - 5/5 Ojos - 5/5 Dime - 3/5 Siembra - 4/5 Average score - 4.4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ not really much of a salsa listener so i struggle to say much about this. i can say that this is a fun listen, and probably the most attention-catching salsa i've heard

Disco era salsa?! Yes, please!

"Siembra" is the second studio album by Panamanian singer-songwriter Rubén Blades and Puerto Rican-American singer and trombonist Willie Colón. This album is considered the best selling salsa album in the history of salsa music. It's also known for its rousing social commentary and unconventional sound. The album was produced by Jerry Masucci and Johnny Pacheco, recorded at LA Tierra Sound Studies in NYC and included 15 musicians. "Plástico" starts outs funky and groovy with bass, horns and, yes, a disco beat. The beat changes to a Carribean/salsa beat and rhythm and Blades' vocals come in. A nice and clear mix of the horns, percussion and bass. Blades, in Spanish, is criticizing those with plastic or false personalities and lifestyles. Blades calls out specific political figures in the end. Sirens, horns and a more complex beat open "Pedro Nevaja." A jazzy start gives way to percussion only as Blades tells the story of a criminal who stabs a prostitute and in return gets stabbed and they both lay and die together. A Carribean beat, horns and backing vocals are slowly added. They cover Johnny Ortiz's "Ojos." A more optimistic song about the future of Latin America being in the hands of the younger generation who are ready to fight for their people. Congas and strings are added to the horns and piano in the self-titled closing song "Siembra." A similar theme to the opener "Plástico" but a better hope for the future as the backing vocals repeat "siembra" or sowing time. With the horns, this song kind of reminded me of the "Rocky" theme. A great piano-horn-violin combination. This album has a great sounding mix of the vocals and each instrument. Blades has a great voice and hats off to the excellent NYC musicians. With each song in the five to seven minute range they really let these songs groove. My head was bobbing the entire time. A high recommendation.

Pedro Navaja is the obvious biggest hit here, but there are a lot of other good tracks as well from these two Fanias members. I guess this is the top selling salsa album ever, which kind of makes it an odd inclusion on this list, which I've found so far has tended towards experimental and innovative rather than just plain good and universally liked. Anyway, back to the album. It starts off super strong, with a lot of the salsa dura type stuff I prefer, and none of the whinier type of "corta veina" salsa I don't like. For that alone, this rises above some of the other Fanias classic albums that I don't find as easy to listen to all the way through. Many of the latter just seem to have more filler. Ojos is a solid track, and Siembra super solid. Only seven songs and no faults here.

A vibe for sure

I have a complete lack of opinion on this and I don’t like the babies on the cover

Sounded fantastic, enjoyed this listen all the way through.

This was my favorite one so far!

It's good. I enjoyed it. I probably won't listen to it ever again, unless I boot up Tropico or go to a coffee shop that isn't playing jazz. 4

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.

That was a fun album!

Siembra is definitely one of the more different albums that i have looked at. I wasn't really expecting to see any salsa music on this project but this album corrected me on that front. That's not to say the album is a bad one. The songs here are decently catchy and definitely scratch that salsa itch if there is one. The songs can tend to get a bit repetitive in some places but the album was short enough to the point where that was not too much of an issue. I still can't seem to get over how much i wasn't really expecting to see an album like this, guess i should have expected it from the salsa tag being there. I still think this album is alright. Best Song: Maria Lionza Worst Song: Ojos

Very nice

a pretty cool listen!! seemed more funk influenced than i originally assumed it was going to be which i think definitely made it better. tough between low 4 and high 3

1978 Salsa

Geef me gewoon Engelse muziek aub

я может быть быдло невыкупившее, но чет скучно

Not for me

2.5

Kinda the same issue I had with Tanto Tempo. The unfortunate association I have with this music is either soundtrack or dance music, and not listening music. It's really good for those things, but not something I'd ever go out of my way to just put on and listen to.

Never listened to salsa before but this is fun. This is probably the best album I’ve never heard of that this generator has shown me. Highlights include: “Buscando Guayaba”, “Pedro Navaja” “Maria Lionza” and “Dime”.

Not my stuff

Wow. That was too much fun. Couldn’t stop my hips from shaking. Needs another listen or six.

Enjoyable Latin Jazz. Lots of spirit and energy

This was fun! Some of it has definitely been sampled in stuff I've heard before. Great bass lines.

I don't know anything about salsa but this sounds pretty good to me. I can't help but smile along to the backing vocals on Buscando Guayaba, while Plástico fondly brings to mind the 'vengeful Latin rhythm' of Tito Puente's ode to Mr. Burns.

Salsa music recorded in 1978 so with a bit of disco feel and a funky bass. Great brass.

I dug this one a lot. Really impassioned vocal delivery, good grooves, and a nice melding of a lot of disparate 70s dance sounds. Great slap bass!!

Salsa is not typically a genre that I listen to, for no other reason than I didn't grow up in a home that had cultural ties to the music. I've always appreciated it, but it means nothing to me. This is a good album. It sounds great, front to back, especially considering the age of it. I wouldn't be able to differentiate this album from any modern salsa album, which probably speaks volumes for the quality and stylism of Siembra.

Looking at the cover art and reading the description I did not have high hopes. When that bass started on the first track I thought whoa maybe this is going to be awesome. Then about 40 secs later that all just evaporated…..

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

Loved it!

Nice

A perpetual motion machine created out of layers and layers of rhythm from the rich percussion, bass, even the way the piano is played like a drum at times, and the multiple melodies from vocals, horns, guitars & piano to create rhythmic counterpoints.

Spanish, salsa, disco, funk album. Not my thing but they do play well together

Bumaye 4/5

Tämähän oli kova! Täytyy laittaa hankintalistalle keikkoja varten. Kunnon lattarikaahailua! 4/5

Ah mitkä lattarimenot. 4/5

This was awesome. Never heard of either Willie or Ruben but I thoroughly enjoyed this album. I kept expecting a Santana guitar solo to happen. Killer rhythms, killer horns, killer bass. Samba party.

Wanted to like this more than I did. Too urging for me and got the feeling that the music thought I was wrong for not being so into it.

Hehe, Willy Colon It was fun. All salsa sounds the same to me, and I more or less equally like it every time

Really nice actually

C'est super, je n'écoute pas tellement de musique latino mais cet j'ai trouvé cet album très bon ! Coups de cœur : - Plástico - Buscando Guayaba - Dime - Siembra

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

Holy shit I fucking love Willie Colón with all his effortlessly charismatic compositions that make it possible for Ruben to sound so cool. Blades’ lyrics complement both his own singing style as well as the rhythm and melodies laid down by Willie. This album is so much goddamn fun. Try not to enjoy it. I fucking dare you. No actually don’t. Let the whole thing take over and love it with no fucking thoughts whatsoever. I can’t understand most of what they’re saying and I believe that helps. Good shit, honestly. 4/5

io e la salsa non ci mescoliamo troppo, nel senso che un po' mi annoia. però a piccole dosi è groovy da morire e gli strumenti sono *chef's kiss*, quindi non riesco fisicamente a dare una valutazione negativa.

Отличная латинская музыка, такого здесь мало, приятно, что попался такой альбом

super salsa-y. really dug the vibe on this one. don’t think it’ll go on my main rotation, but i liked this album.

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

Artiste inconnu. Le premier morceau commence bien (slap basse sympa) mais très vite devient inécoutable pour moi. Je ne suis pas allé au bout. =>1/5

A very enjoyable album Thanks to Duolingo I understood parts of it. Not only did this album entertain me, but it educated Muy bien 4 ⭐️

One of my more off-kilter takeaways from this project has been the realization that I really needed to learn more Spanish in high school and college. I can't understand much of what is being said here but I really, really want to be able to connect to the music through the lyrics. Quite a fun album that gets my butt shaking. If you have not heard salsa music before, I would recommend this as a starting point.

Saucy Salsa from a bygone era.

Maybe the most important Salsa record ever made. A cooperation between two of the most important figures in the genre: Rubén Blades and Willie Colón.

Interesting sound I will say. If I want to listen to Salsa music, I will put on this album though I don't know when that will happen. 2.5

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.

I was worried that an entire album of salsa would bore me, but this was actually great. Funnily enough, it begins a disco inferno before the salsa simmers down. It may well be satirical, adding to the songs commentary of the shallow, materialistic, soulless upper class. My Spanish isn't the best, but I made effort to read the lyrics, partially in translation. Make no mistake, this is a very political album. It's about the emptiness of consumerism and the injustices of the world order as it stands. It's an ode to Latino beauty, the struggles Latinos face in both Latin America and the US, a call for unity among Latinos to preserve culture, and indeed, to preserve more than culture. When they're talking about throwing away the plastic, they're not just talking about the plastic of the soul. Look at the cover. This album's got energy, and it doesn't dwell on musical passages for too long. The horns sound great, and I love the vocal harmonies, too. Overall, I think this was a great introduction to a genre I'm not particularly familiar with. Fav tracks: Plastico, Pedro Navaja, Maria Lionza

Solid musicianship, not really my style. Starts strong but I got tired of it quickly.

Perfectly fine, warm and sunny and upbeat. Plenty of worse records have sold more (and better ones fewer) so glad this enjoyed its commercial moment.

The only thing working against this album is the Scottish winter weather - would be exceptional on a Cuban beach with a mojito and a big cigar

Highlights: Plastico, Buscando Guayaba, Ojos, Siembra. In a nutshell: I dare you to keep still. This album was fun! Willie and Rubén trick you with a disco/funk intro on track one then they change gear and launch into funk salsa. If I wasn't dancing in my kitchen, my booty was wriggling in time with the beat while seated (my friend calls this "chair dancing"). This is why I'm doing the project - to discover new-to-me music. I can't wait to learn more about this genre now. Overall: 8/10

Solid musicianship but the songs did tend to bleed into another which dragged the album down a little bit. Still decent but salsa isn't totally my jam. Need to be in the right mood.

Never heard of them, but kinda liked it

Reino Unido - ¡presente!

Decent. *shuffles away playing maracas*

Salsssaaaaaaa! 3/5

I prefer my salsa with chips

Whoa, awesome! This was so much fun, I'm very pleasantly surprised - what a great find. I've heard like 3 Salsa albums, so not like I have much to compare this with, but this is some good ass Salsa. My favorite part was when he started doing the Jack Black "fligugigu". Shit's fire. More stuff like this, please.

Quite a fun album

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.

Hell yeah. I'm very grateful to not have been assigned some corny-ass british nonsense on my birthday. Thank you 1001 gods. This is a wonderful salsa album. The title track comes out absolutely swinging with calls for pan-Latin unity against the hegemonic capitalist influence of the US, a theme which they continue on throughout the album. I appreciate how clearly enunciated the lyrics are for those of us whose Spanish is mediocre at best. And the salsa itself is super tight and groovy. Very enjoyable listen 8/10

It always feels good to recognize one of the more out there albums on this list, and I knew two of these songs before listening! It's iconic and defining salsa. The instruments combined with the rhythmic political lyrics really encapsulate what I know as this genre of music, and has righteously inspired proceeding generations to keep with the variety of traditions

Didn't feel it

I’ve said many times that these Tropico-sounding albums are loads of fun. I’ve no doubt that 99% of the lyrics go right over my head, but from an entirely sonic point of view, I do really enjoy the sound of this. The album is 43 minutes long, which I’d say is pretty standard, but it felt shorter than it was, which says a lot about how much I enjoyed it. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this album really is just fun!

Fun change of pace! Loved the instrumentation. But this isn’t really my jam, especially for 7 songs in a row. 3/5

some really fun musical arrangements here. more variety than expected. the type of groovy that's equally good for letting loose and for locking in

Not much of a trombone guy

This is what the sims NPCs are dancing to at the Shrieking Llama.

funky as f***

Fun latin album. I enjoyed the nod to West Side Story. Probably not an album I'll listen to again because I have Buenavista to fill this itch when it needs scratching.

Actually, it's a pretty good album. Kinda enjoyed it!

I like latino pop music, but salsa not so much. Nevertheless, there is no denying the talent employed by this outfit, so I'll give it four stars.

Classic

Probably would be higher if I spoke Spanish

Nice Samba, foe me not exceptional

it seems fine, not really my bag

Hispanic music

Nichts besonderes.

It’s alright 3/5

Just not my thing

Had some good moments but this is more background music for me.

Jess said this has been her favourite so far. Fun to dance to!

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.

Instrumentally lovely

A couple songs went pretty hard but otherwise it's what my uncultured brain expects from a Latin album and not much more

Not really my type of music

Interesting choice. I probably prefer Costa neustra and The Hustler only because I’m more familiar with those. Perhaps need a few more listens of this to compare but so far prefer those.

I've never really listened to salsa, but this was enjoyable enough that I let it loop a couple of times through. I really like his voice and the horns and the vibes!

no my style

I didn't listen carefully, so it's difficult to understand. But seems to tell a story, simply with the way the songs are sung. Delicate and intricate salsa. 4.5

This was nice, but not 200% mine. Still cool to hear some Latin American sounds here.

i think this is nice and lovely and it gave me a nice boost to finish my stupid project meeting presentation. olé

I've never listened to a salsa album before but this was really wonderful, great variety and excellent musicianship on show. Some really, really tasty chord progressions in here, I liked it a lot.

Trombone-forward latin

I liked this album more than I thought, because this is really not my style of music. I can't see myself ever returning to it, but it was upbeat, energetic, and an easy listen.

A very enjoyable album, I liked the sounds Plastico and Ojos the most.

There is a joyousness in Latin beats. Present here, and through out

Wasn’t on my radar but I kinda liked it

Solid 6 out of 7 tracks. And that last one wasn’t half bad.

Did you know Ruben Blades was Minister of Tourism in Panama?

Surprised how much I enjoyed this!!

Somehow made salsa sort of acceptable. The very start of the very first track, where it sounded like it was going to be a disco/ salsa blend set me up for a bit of a disappointment when this wasn't followed up in the rest of the album, but it wasn't too big.

Весело, но не очень интересно. Лучшая песня - María Lionza.

Cool album. While I am not fluent enough in Spanish to understand much of the lyrics, I like the overall melodies and tone. I did translate a couple songs and a couple were very socio-political which was interesting since the music wasn’t very hard edged. I liked some of the more modern sounds added to the salsa music. Made it feel more edgy that way but overall it’s just a pleasant background album that I could groove to while doing something else.

Cool Spanish album. 4/5

Noiosissimo mi dispiace, non riesco nemmeno a pensare a una vibe

samba

the Far Cry 6 soundtrack slaps

3/5

I thought I would enjoy this more with loving Gloria Estefan as a kid, but I was indifferent. This is not a reflection on the quality of the album, but on my personal taste.

Took a point off because of the sirens in the one track

I’m not the target audience here

Not my genre but pleasant background music

Fun global music but nothing that stands out to me

A genre I’m not going to actively listen to but great to put on for a vibe

No. 260/1001 Plástico 4/5 Buscando Guayaba 4/5 Pedro Navaja 4/5 Maria Lionza 3/5 Ojos 3/5 Dime 3/5 Siembra 3/5 Average: 3,43 Started out really strong, but lost some steam towards the end. Still enjoyable listen overall.

Good, but not for me. I imagine a cool vibed nightclub sound.

Pleasant

Was ok

äh inte så himla kul väl. helt okej. en stark tvåa

Unexpectedly boring.

Day264 - a fun album that deserves a drink in your hand

I have never listened to salsa. I can’t rate this album normally. I just listened to first two songs from album and understand: It’s 100% not for me. I like Spanish songs, but not like these. So 3/5.

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)

Spanish upbeat music , I liked it while doing the jigsaw

Absolute bangers

I can tell that I like this, but I have never listened to salsa before so I don't really know what to make of it or what to rate it.

Salsa. Pedro Navaja. Un 4.

Salsa. La vida te da sorpresa. Pero no me gusta la salsa.

Mmmmmm, sexy foreign music

Did not expect slap bass here.

swingy

Для учёбы нормально

Great album