Slow week, only 83 songs submitted this week for review, but some good ones
Caminando, single by Anthony Almonte with Stevie Van Zandt. A high-profile collab, the gentle Latin jazz piece blends traditional salsa with pop and rock and melodic writing. Almonte’s vocals make it very personal, keeping it gentle, but with the organ and brass wails in the background. It’s danceable salsa, but I think it is just a joy to sit and listen to. Spanish -mostly. Stream on major platforms
Instrucones Para Ser Feliz, album by Monsieur Periné. A softly determined feel-good song, lyrically it is about happiness, migration, identity, love, and the stories that connect people – al done in a warm, optimistic tone. The duo blends pop en español with guaracha, cumbia, vallenato, salsa, reggae, swing, Caribbean rhythms, and electronic music – quite a mix! But it works; it does what it sings about, it makes you feel good. Spanish. Stream on Spotify and other major platforms.
Entre Tus Alas, single by Camilia with Colbie Caillat. A romantic, anthemic Latin pop ballad by Mexican band Camila, released as the fourth single from their 2010 album Dejarte de amar; this version features Colbie Caillat in a bilingual duet that really, really works. As a result, it has become a cross‑border love song that has tracked well on Latin pop radio, including a top‑five peak on U.S. Latin Pop Airplay, and has been used as the main love theme in the 2011 Mexican telenovela La fuerza del destino. It moves through various moods, including rock guitar, as it tells its story. Bilingual. Stream on all major platforms.
Moonlight, single by Kali Uchis. The single from the album of the same name was first officially released in 2023. The song is a nod to the 4/20 weed culture with the “get high with my lover” hook and its languid, stoner‑romantic mood. It’s one of Uchis’ better‑known English‑language tracks, although it is really bilingual. It comes at you as a dreamy, neo‑soul/alt‑R&B track with a funky bass line, synths, and lots of reverb on her very highly-pitched vocals. Altogether, it is mesmerizing. Steam everywhere.
Llylm, single by Rosalia. “Lie Like You Love Me” is kind of unusual even for Rosalia. It is a bilingual rumba‑pop single with flamenco clapping and pop and electronic production, all used to tell a story of knowingly accepting a fake love just to feel wanted. It moves through breakdowns and storytelling that make it even more interesting. Parts of it are danceable, but it is not a dance tune; it is a statement to be listened to and enjoyed. Stream everywhere.
Pepito, single by Ile. “Pepito” is just plain silly – and fun. The 2025 single by Puerto Rican singer‑songwriter iLe is a new version of a classic bolero written by Carmen (T.) Taylor and Arthur (Jonathan) Truscott, but it is stripped‑down and yet still emotionally charged. It’s built around her voice, using guitar, contrabass, and subtle percussion, as a kind of nod or tribute to the golden age of bolero. Spanish. Stream on major platforms.
