On
Alas y Raices
, his first all-new album in four years and tenth album overall, Italian singer/songwriter
Eros Ramazzotti
once again worked closely with longtime collaborator
Claudio Guidetti
, who is credited as co-producer and with co-writing ten of the 11 songs. The result is in many ways a typical
Ramazzotti
album. The songs are both lyrical and vocal showcases for
, and though the music is secondary, it's nonetheless amazing -- a symphonic style of pop/rock whose string arrangements are the work of
Paul Buckmaster
, a master whose illustrious career spans several decades, going all the way back to early-'70s pop/rock classics by
Elton John
,
Harry Nilsson
, and
Carly Simon
. Moreover,
is a dynamic album that ranges from the album-opening kickstart of
"Apuntes y Notas,"
to the tailor-made hit single
"Dimelo a Mi,"
to the heart-touching ballad
"El Horizonte,"
to the lilting piano pop of
"Afectos Personales,"
to the soaring power ballad
"Alas y Raices,"
to the surging symphonic rock of
"Flor Incluidos,"
to the orchestral highlight
"Nosotros Incluidos,"
to the edgy electro-rock of
"No Podemos Cerrar los Ojos."
While all of this is in many ways typical for a
album, his post-millennial output in particular,
is a better all-around effort than predecessors such as
Calma Aparente
(2005) and
9
(2003), which are at times rote and random. In contrast,
sounds inspired and focused, as if the four years since
helped refresh
's album-making creativity. It also might have helped that
used the time off to release
E2
(2007), a double-disc greatest-hits compilation comprised partly of newly recorded versions of past hits -- collaborative versions that are relatively experimental in style, perhaps a reflection of his desire to break free of audience expectations. In any event,
is
's best overall album in years, and while it's not brimming with potential smash hits (the perfect lead single
"Dimelo a Mi"
being the exception), it's definitely filled with highlights and lacking the filler that sometimes found its way onto previous albums. ~ Jason Birchmeier