Ricky Martin: MTV Unplugged

By all indications, Ricky Martin's Unplugged opus should be an easy, effortless sell. The charismatic singer is in fine vocal form, backed by a tight band. He makes some interesting set list selections ("Gracias Por Pensar En Mi," "Asignatura Pendiente"). But Martin is also coming off 2005's commercially disappointing Life, which didn't even reach gold status (sales of 500,000 copies). That's a long way down from his Loca peak. It gives Unplugged, then, the whiff of an artist grasping for old glories. Martin was wise to include standouts "Perdido Sin Ti" and "Vuelve," which still shimmer with a lush pop sheen. Both are from 1998's Vuelve disc, still Martin's strongest effort to date. But new tracks "Con Tu Nombre," "Tu Recuerdo," and "Pegate" come off like unremarkable rehashes of past hits. Instead of looking back, this talented singer should be searching for real ways to reinvent his sound and to make his music exciting again. --Joey Guerra

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