Serenatas isn't all ballads, but it certainly focuses on them, beginning with a smooth, six-minute "Medley Serenata" featuring Héctor Acosta sweetly crooning his way through four selections. The heavily synthesized backings permit little room for organic, imaginative playing, and though a few of the members of
Los Toros Band appear (including trumpeter Jose Luis Mateo), their contributions are mysteriously difficult to hear -- even the guitars sound artificial. Acosta is front and center for every song, softly caressing his lyrics on "Sin Sangre en Las Venas" and "Ansiedad." Overall,
Serenatas makes for some sweet Latin pop, but fans of Latin music won't find anything to enjoy. ~ John Bush