Notes & Personnel Info |  | KINGS OF BACHATA: SOLD OUT AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN is a triumphant homecoming for New York City natives Aventura. Formed in the Bronx with the intent of infusing Dominican bachata with the sounds of contemporary American R&B, Aventura released their first album in 1999, and built their following steadily but surely over subsequent releases. This 2007 two-disc live release, which finds the group playing to a sold-out crowd, is an enjoyable sampler of their smooth, tropical flavor (Aventura fall more on the traditional side than the hybrid or R&B side) and charismatic performances. | | A year after K.O.B. Live (2006) was a commercial blockbuster, Aventura released another double-disc live album, Kings of Bachata: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden, that likewise features them performing their bounty of hits while a stadium full of girls scream in the background. Documenting their sold-out performance at Madison Square Garden in the group's hometown of New York City on September 1, 2007, the album finds Aventura joined on-stage mid-show by superstar guests including Don Omar (on "Ella y Yo"), Wisin ("Noche de Sexo"), and H?ctor Acosta ("Me Voy"). Besides these guest appearances, plus the incidental fact that Kings of Bachata: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden documents a single show rather than a series of shows from a tour, there's little difference between this album and its predecessor. Fans can be assured that both Kings of Bachata: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden and K.O.B. Live feature more or less all of the group's biggest hits, including "Hermanita," "Angelito," "La Boda," "Los Infieles," "Un Beso," and "Mi Corazoncito" (with the exceptions of "Obsesi¢n" and "Llorar," key songs that are oddly missing from the Madison Square Garden performance). ~ Jason Birchmeier | | A year after K.O.B. Live (2006) was a commercial blockbuster, Aventura released another double-disc live album, Kings of Bachata: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden, that likewise features them performing their bounty of hits while a stadium full of girls scream incessantly in the background. Documenting their sold-out performance at Madison Square Garden in the group's hometown of New York City on September 1, 2007, the album finds Aventura joined on-stage mid-show by superstar guests including Don Omar (on "Ella y Yo"), Wisin ("Noche de Sexo"), and H?ctor Acosta ("Me Voy"). Besides these guest appearances, plus the incidental fact that Kings of Bachata: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden documents a single show rather than a series of shows from a tour, there's little difference between this album and its predecessor. Fans can be assured that both Kings of Bachata: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden and K.O.B. Live feature more or less all of the group's biggest hits, including "Hermanita," "Angelito," "La Boda," "Los Infieles," "Un Beso," and "Mi Corazoncito" (with the exceptions of "Obsesi¢n" and "Llorar," key songs that are oddly missing from the Madison Square Garden performance). Moreover, both albums include several medleys and are marred by excessive crowd noise that proves irritating from the get-go (and clearly this is a production choice -- a poor choice, unfortunately, for those who prefer to hear the singing and the music rather than a stadium full of screaming girls -- as the noise level is dramatically raised and lowered in the mix throughout). Only hardcore fans need to hear this second live album in two years, and even the most devoted Aventura fans may find themselves wondering whether there's a substantial difference between K.O.B. Live and Kings of Bachata: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden. After all, even the titles are nearly identical, so much so that a fan would be forgiven for thinking this follow-up album is just another of the myriad "deluxe edition" re-releases so widespread in the Latin pop marketplace. ~ Jason Birchmeier |
Musical Guests | | Gerry Grimaud, Jr | | Henry Santos Jeter | | Hector "El Torito" Acosta | | Don Omar | | Miri Ben-Ari | | Wisin y Yandel | | Anthony Santos |
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