WEA
Pop, 2000

Embarrassing confession: I had no idea who Alejandro Sanz was when I bought this album. I hadn’t heard of his music at that point, and I bought this CD because of the gorgeous hunk on the CD booklet cover. I mean, look at him man, with that sexy grin and ooh, that shadow of a beard that invites my eager hands to run all over his chin!

Anyway, I know now that this Spanish guy is a really big singer in the Latin charts. But if El Alma Al Aire is anything to go by, Mr Sanz must make a killing selling his music to insomniacs. The album is filled with ten long, rambling ballads with little hook. After doing some translations on Babelfish, I discover that this album is actually written and produced by Mr Sanz, and is philosophical in nature. If the title isn’t any indication, but then again, my Spanish is limited to bad words.

Ergo, songs like Hay Un Universo De Pequeñas Cosas. All deep thoughts about universe, love, and all, but really, where is the music? There are songs where Mr Sanz just ramble in monotone non-stop, trying to cram as many words as possible in a line before the line runs out. It can be amusing, but ten of such slow, stillborn ballads are too much even for me to take.

Still, ooh, that smile, that smile. Too bad his music bore me to tears.