SHAZAM

Ricky Martin's first full-length in six years finds him liberated from feeling compelled to devote the record to the English language. His two English cuts, the Joss Stone duet “The Best Thing About Me Is You” and “Shine,” are buried at the end of the record -- but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Musica has a distinctly Latin lilt in its rhythms. This is clean, gleaming dance and lite-pop, all shepherded by Desmond Child, the studio pro responsible for co-writing hits for Kiss, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, and Cher, not to mention Ricky’s own “Livin’ la Vida Loca.” Child helps steer Musica + Alma + Sexo toward a high thread-count upscale pop that knows no borders, with Martin's effortless charm keeping things light and engaging. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi