Oscar de la Hoya

Coming from one of the best boxers of the last decade or so, this is a ridiculously lightweight record. The songs are all within the vein of the Latin pop ballad, with only an occasional foray into the American pop ballad (penned by no other than Diane Warren and the Bee-Gees). The vocal ability is certainly promising, and the songs and instrumentation, if formulaic, are at the very least well-executed. So while the album is relatively unsurprising and uncomplex, it's not bad within its own little pigeonhole. The main things that one might find missing are a few more up-tempo numbers -- if de la Hoya is going to ride the Latin wave, he ought to be considerate enough to ride the whole thing and include a little salsa, roots, Cuban, and mariachi. Fans of Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, and the Backstreet Boys should pick this up. Those who are not pop fans should avoid this album heartily.