Marc Anthony comes on like a suave, less jumpy alternative to Ricky Martin on this mostly English-language album. Having already introduced itself to the pop mainstream with the salsa-tinged single "I Need to Know," Marc Anthony offers several other obvious crossover hits, ranging from the Rodney Jerkins-produced Latin-funk fusion of "She's Been Good to Me" to the lovelorn midtempo ballad "When I Dream at Night." However, Anthony's agreeably keening voice is too often applied to the sort of colorless adult-contemporary material typical of Michael Bolton and Mariah Carey mainstay Walter Afansieff, who produces or coproduces three tracks here. The result is often more interesting in sociological terms--Anthony fans who, like the star, were born to Latino parents in America are as sure to eat this disc up as his new Caucasian admirers--than in musical ones. Ain't that America? --Rickey Wright
There will likely be lots of scoffing at Marc Anthony's interpretation--both on disc and onscreen--of late salsa singer Hector Lavoe. But let's not forget that Anthony is a salsa superstar in his own right. He has anchored some of the genre's most thrilling moments and has taken salsa to audiences not normally exposed to the sweltering sound. The El Cantante soundtrack is a solid effort, notable for Anthony's dedication to recreating Lavoe's distinct delivery and phrasing. He puts aside his own emotive stylings for a more subdued performance on several tracks, including the celebratory "Mi Gente" and the mournful "Escandalo." Anthony is virtually unrecognizable during "Che Che Cole," "Quitate," and the standout "Que Lio," which makes the project all the more intriguing. Jennifer Lopez, Anthony's wife in real life and onscreen in El Cantante, croons pensive closing ballad "Toma de Mi." Even without the film, the soundtrack stands as an earnest homage to a tragic icon. --Joey Guerra
