Aventura didn't become the kings of bachata by deserting their large and devoted fan base to cater to the mainstream, and it's no different on
The Last -- despite the fact that the album includes features for a parade of crossover suspects:
Wyclef Jean and
Ludacris on one track, plus
Akon and
Wisin y Yandel on another. No, the lead track on
The Last -- the number one Latin hit "Por un Segundo" -- is straight bachata, rhythmic and sweet, and there happen to be plenty of tender ballads to follow it. Not only that, but the crossover features are held to the last half of the album, where
Wyclef Jean produces his own surprisingly sugary "Spanish Fly," and
Akon and
Wisin y Yandel appear on the Auto-Tuned reggaeton track "All Up 2 You." As usual, the band is anchored by
Santos brothers
Lenny and Max, along with longtime collaborator Eric "Bori" Rivera. Consolidating the quartet's power,
The Last became
Aventura's biggest album hit yet, reaching number five on the charts. ~ John Bush