Alma Caribeña

1	Por un Beso 5:01
2	Punto de Referencia 4:51
3	Dame Otra Oportunidad 4:03
4	Como Me Duele Perderte 4:28
5	Te Tengo a Ti 3:56
6	Tres Gotas de Agua Bendita 4:18
7	Nuestra Felicidad 3:00
8	La Flor y Tu Amor 4:23
9	Me Voy 5:01
10	Solo Por Tu Amor 4:03
11	Tengo Que Decirte Algo 3:18
12	No Me Dejes de Querer 3:37
13	No Me Dejes de Querer "Flores" del Caribe Mix 4:43

Barnes & Noble

The Latin Pop explosion of 1999 proved that there is indeed a market for Hispanic stars willing to sing watered-down salsa in English. But if the doors have truly opened for genuine Latin music, count on Gloria Estefan to be the first one through. After catering to both Spanish- and English-speaking markets for years, Estefan's in a better position than anyone to get Latin music on mainstream radio. And as its bilingual title indicates, Alma Caribeña -- Caribbean Soul is aiming for nothing less. But the Estefans -- Gloria and superproducer husband Emilio -- have made few concessions to American pop on this all-Spanish album, relying instead on the former Miami Sound Machine vocalist's sheer starpower to muscle her music onto the charts. A dizzying array of Latin styles that echoes her vibrant Abriendo Puertas, the new album features romantic pop, Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Colombian dance numbers, plus two high-profile duets. The legendary Celia Cruz joins her paisana on "Tres Gotas de Agua Bendita," and Jose Feliciano contributes "Tengo Que Decirte Algo." Contributing vocals and arrangements throughout is brother of Ruben Blades, Robert, and Sonora Ponceña's Papo Lucca guests on piano, surrounding Gloria's Caribbean reminiscences with top-notch talent. Mark Schwartz

All Music Guide

Alma Caribeña (Caribbean Soul), Gloria Estefan's third Spanish-language album, is another assured, varied effort in the tradition of its predecessors, Mi Tierra (1993) and Abriendo Puertas (1995), both of which were popular successes. The album is a virtual tour of the Caribbean Islands, not only presenting styles from the singer's native Cuba but also from other Latin American countries. Much of the record has a traditional feel with acoustic instruments prominent, but that doesn't prevent a wide range of rhythms and musical approaches from being used. Salsa, son, murga, bolero, bachata, and Afro-Cuban styles are mixed, sometimes several in one song. Estefan sings with assurance and is joined for one song each by Latin music forbears Celia Cruz and José Feliciano. Though the album is intensely rhythmic, there is little for the singer's dance audience until the end, when a remix of the first single, "No Me Dejes de Querer (Don't Stop Loving Me)," provides the requisite dancefloor entry. William Ruhlmann