Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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Collection includes 8 studio albums, 1 compilation and 2 live albums by Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz. For his work, Sanz has won a total of fifteen Latin Grammy Awards and three Grammy Awards.

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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The most commercially successful Spanish singer of all time, Alejandro Sanz earned a reputation as an industrious hitmaker in his native country during the 1990s, and by the decade's end, he'd expanded his fan base internationally as he broadened his style beyond romantic ballads and began collaborating with fellow Latin superstars, most memorably Shakira. A talented songwriter with handsome looks, Sanz proved immensely popular even with his debut album, Viviendo de Prisa (1991), which was a number one hit in Spain. It wasn't until several albums later, Más (1997), that he was able to break into the international market, however, thanks to a key hit single, "Corazón Partío," that transcended his core female audience. He began focusing on the Americas during the early 2000s, beginning with MTV Unplugged (2001), which was recorded in Miami and subsequently released as an album intended to showcase the highlights of his back catalog as well as a newly written single, "Y Sólo Se Me Ocurre Amarte." He then retreated to his studio to record his most broadly appealing album yet, No Es Lo Mismo (2003), which found him breaking away from audience expectations and exploring his own musical interests. He did much the same on his next album, El Tren de los Momentos (2006), which was highlighted by "Te Lo Agradezco, Pero No," a passionate duet with Shakira, whom he'd collaborated with the previous year on her massive Grammy-winning hit "La Tortura." Even as Sanz broadened his style over the years, he never ventured far from his strength: romantic songs, generally ballads, tinged with flamenco and sung wholeheartedly with his distinct voice.

Born in Madrid, Spain, on December 18, 1968, Alejandro Sánchez Pizarro was the youngest son of María Pizarro and Jesús Sánchez, both of whom are Andalusians. His father played guitar professionally and was a significant influence on Alejandro, who learned to play guitar as a boy. As a teenager, Sanz performed at local venues and eventually became acquainted with Miguel Angel Arenas, a music industry maven perhaps best known at the time for his association with Mecano, a successful Spanish pop/rock group of the 1980s. Arenas helped Sanz find work in the recording industry, and the young performer initially signed a contract with the Spanish label Hispavox, which issued Los Chulos Son Pa' Cuidarlos (1989), an album that was met with indifference upon its release and is now a curious collector's item. Sanz was billed as Alejandro Magno on the album. Remaining aligned with Arenas, Sanz subsequently moved to WEA Latina, where he began recording music under his present billing. His early albums – Viviendo de Prisa (1991), Si Tu Me Miras (1993), Basico (1993), and 3 (1995) – were loaded with hit singles and consequently were all successful, each reaching platinum status many times over in Spain. Comprised largely of romantic songs, these early albums connected well with sentimental listeners, particularly women, who tended to be as taken aback by the music as they were by Sanz's handsome looks. "La Fuerza del Corazón," from 3, was his first major hit to have an international reach, opening a door to greener pastures.

The stage was now set for the breakthrough success of Más (1997), which boasted "Corazón Partío," a hit so big it changed the course of Sanz's career. Driven by the across-the-board appeal of "Corazón Partío," as well as additional singles "Y, ¿Si Fuera Ella?," "Amiga Mía," "Aquello Que Me Diste," and "Siempre Es de Noche," Más became the most successful Spanish pop record ever, selling millions worldwide. El Alma al Aire (2000) was a comparable commercial success, selling well internationally. However, the album wasn't as solid as its predecessor and accordingly spawned fewer hits: "Cuando Nadie Me Ve," "Quisiera Ser…," and "El Alma el Aire," each of which was a big hit nonetheless. By this point, Sanz had garnered a sizable following across the Atlantic, and his next recording, MTV Unplugged (2001), was a clear effort to further his growing popularity in the Americas. The intimate concert performance featured a newly written single, "Y Sólo Se Me Ocurre Amarte," which became a hit, as did "Aprendiz," a song written by Sanz previously recorded by Malú in 1998. MTV Unplugged moreover showcased the bounty of career highlights Sanz now had to his credit, as one hit after another was performed during the concert.

When Sanz returned to the studio to begin recording his next album, No Es Lo Mismo (2003), he decided to broaden his musical style to reflect his own interests. The album is harder-hitting and more street-savvy than past ones, even including a bit of rap and touches of electronica. The romantic songs are still front and center, granted, but Sanz wrote an album that is far from generic, illustrating his growing reluctance to cater to the expectations of his audience (for the first time, he co-produced the album himself). Though bolder than before, No Es Lo Mismo was yet another international smash success, reaching number 128 on the all-inclusive Billboard 200 album chart – a notably high ranking for a Latin pop album circa 2003 – and generating several hits, none bigger than the title track, which broke the Top Five on the Hot Latin Tracks chart (the first time Sanz did so since 1998) and was licensed by Coca-Cola for a promotional campaign in Latin America. Furthermore, No El Lo Mismo won a Latin Grammy in 2003 for Best Latin Pop Album, and Warner Music Latina issued a special CD/DVD edition of the album the following year in commemoration of Sanz's Latin American tour. In 2004, Warner also released a pair of greatest-hits compilations, Grandes Éxitos 91_96 and Grandes Éxitos 97_04, as well as a three-disc package, Grandes Éxitos 91_04, that includes a disc of rarities.

Sanz didn't release the follow-up to No Es Lo Mismo, El Tren de los Momentos, until late 2006, but in the meantime, he was featured in the biggest Latin hit of 2005, Shakira's "La Tortura." He co-wrote the Grammy-winning song and co-starred in its heavily aired pair of videos, which featured the two Latin pop stars in some rather sultry positions. "La Tortura" exposed Sanz to an even greater audience, and when he finally released the lead single to El Tren de los Momentos, "A la Primera Persona," the reception was rapturous. The song was among his biggest hits yet, his first to break into the all-inclusive Hot 100 chart, and El Tren de los Momentos was likewise well received. Stylistically similar to No Es Lo Mismo yet significantly more refined, El Tren de los Momentos is notable for its several superstar features, which include collaborations with Shakira, Juanes, Alex González of Maná, and Residente of Calle 13.

Biography by Jason Birchmeier, Allmusic.com

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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Viviendo Deprisa (English: "Living in a Hurry") is the debut album recorded by Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz (although he previously had recorded Los Chulos Son Pa' Cuidarlos under the name Alejandro Magno). With this album he was announced to national level, all the tracks were composed by Sanz but were credited to A. Medina (Algazul Medina) pseudonymous that Sanz used initially in his career. The official singles of the album were "Los Dos Cogidos de la Mano" and "Pisando Fuerte", which were a boom in the musical Spanish panorama, other songs that received radio airplay were "Se Le Apagó la Luz" and "Lo Que Fui Es lo Que Soy". He shoot videos for the songs "Los Dos Cogidos de la Mano" and "Pisando Fuerte".

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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Si Tú Me Miras is the second album recorded by Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz, where he counted with the inestimable collaboration of musicians as Paco de Lucía (in the tracks "El Escaparate" and "Mi Primera Canción") and Nacho Mañó (in the album production). In this album appear tracks as "Si Tú Me Miras" and others in which the author begins to appreciate a musical evolution. The official singles of the album were "Si Tú Me Miras" and "Cómo Te Echo de Menos", and he shoot videos for both songs.

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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Basico may offer the basics from Alejandro Sanz, but in this case, that's entirely welcome. Sanz has a flair for infectious Latin pop, and while there are some weak moments on the record, his sheer force of personality makes Basico a pleasure.

Review by Terry Jenkins, Allmusic.com

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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3 is the third studio album recorded by Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz. This album reaffirmed the success obtained with his previous albums and made him popular in Europe and Latin America. The album was also recorded in Portuguese and Italian. All songs were written by Alejandro Sanz except "Quiero Morir en Tu Veneno". The official singles of the album were "La Fuerza del Corazón", "Mi Soledad y Yo", "¿Lo Ves?" and "Quiero Morir en Tu Veneno", and he shot a video for each single.

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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Nearly a decade into his commercial recording career, Alejandro Sanz reached new heights of success with the award-winning album Más (1997) and its abundance of smash hit singles ("Y, ¿Si Fuera Ella?," "Corazón Partío," "Amiga Mía," "Aquello Que Me Diste"). The Spanish singer/songwriter was no stranger to success at this point in his career, of course, having scored several hit singles with a handful of prior albums. Más elevated his career to a new level. Henceforth, not only was Sanz successful in Spain but internationally, too.

Review by Jason Birchmeier, Allmusic.com

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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While not as strong as his best albums like Más, El Alma al Aire does present a solid collection of ballads. Highlights include the title track and the leadoff track, "Cuando Nadia Me Ve." This album also features a number of well-known performers, including Ludovico Vagnone and pianist Emanuele Ruffinengo, as well as an impressive string section.

Review by Stacia Proefrock, Allmusic.com

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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Recorded at Miami's Gusman Center, Alejandro Sanz joined the MTV Unplugged series with a prolific acoustic performance, singing for the first time a Latin pop, flamenco-inflected ballad called "Y Solo Se Me Ocurre Amarte," dedicated to his daughter, Manuela, and the single hit "Aprendiz," previously recorded by Malú. Produced by Lucho Gatica's nephew, the talented engineer Humberto Gatica, Alejandro Sanz's MTV Unplugged features well-balanced versions of "Corazón Partío," "Quiero Morir en Tu Veneno," and "Amiga Mia," delivering his best songs in a relaxed and intimate way.

Review by Drago Bonacich, Allmusic.com

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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From the album title (No Es lo Mismo means "it's not the same"), Alejandro Sanz is showing what this effort is all about. At first, something that was already known: he is not the same as any other Latin heartthrob like Chayanne, Emmanuel, or even Ricky Martin. He composes and produces his own material and, although not a great singer, he's a superb guitar player. Second, this album is not the same as any other Latin one. Sanz affords various topics (like social issues and commitment) not only related to love, dancing, and having a good time (probably the most common Latin stereotype). Third, this work (his first studio album since 2000's El Alma al Aire) is quite different from all the previous ones. For example in "Try to Save Your S'ong" he tries to rap, and gets some help from GQ in it. To his classic sound (Latin ballads plus flamenco), he adds hip-hop, bolero, and son flavors. The problem is that not all the things melt together smoothly. Things are more familiar in songs like "He Sido Tan Feliz Contigo" or "Eso," in which he seems to be more comfortable. Although it's not a masterpiece, it's a pretty good album by Latin pop standards.

Review by Iván Adaime, Allmusic.com

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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Released in the wake of Alejandro Sanz's collaboration with Shakira, "La Tortura," which was far and away the most popular Latin song of 2005, El Tren de los Momentos is a continuation of the broad stylistic excursions of the Spanish superstar's previous album, the Grammy-winning No Es Lo Mismo. Sanz seems increasingly comfortable with moving beyond his comfort zone – that is, fairly generic romantic ballads laden with complex language sung distinctly – and here he refines the rough edges of No Es Lo Mismo for an album that is smooth while at the same time risky in its refusal to reprise the sturdy balladeering of his past. Notably, the album is graced with several superstar features, including collaborations with Shakira, Juanes, Alex Gonzalez of Maná, and Residente of Calle 13. These features are some of the album's several highlights, "Te Lo Agradezco, Pero No" and "La Peleíta" above all. The lead single, "A la Primera Persona," is another clear-cut standout. On the surface, it's an odd song, from its immediate opening tension to its concluding avalanche of breathlessness, yet its unconventional structure is a chief aspect of why it's such a memorable and moving song. In fact, if not for the brief trumpet solo two-thirds of the way through, Sanz rambles on almost violently through the song uninterrupted, not even stopping to catch his breath. There are numerous stylistic exercises here, namely "El Tren de los Momentos" (funk), "Se Molestan" (rock), "Donde Convergemos" (jazz), and "Te Quiero y Te Temo" (country), which are curious, though not necessarily impressive songs. Better is "En la Planta de Tus Pies," a beats-and-piano (trip-hop?) ballad reminiscent of Sanz's traditional material, of which there is painfully little on El Tren de los Momentos. Longtime fans, particularly those fond of his romantic songs, are sure to be frustrated, if not infuriated, by Sanz's apparent refusal to sing the kind of love songs that were long his stock-in-trade. However, those who are open to new sounds from Sanz will have little to complain about, for El Tren de los Momentos is perhaps his most willfully diverse album yet, and it's one on which it sounds like he's genuinely entertaining himself – again, not unlike No Es Lo Mismo.

Review by Jason Birchmeier, Allmusic.com

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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On Paraiso Express, his eighth studio album to date, Alejandro Sanz returns to the soft rock style for which he's best known, the sound of his most successful albums, the million-sellers Más (1997) and El Alma al Aire (2000). While those albums and their three predecessors, Viviendo Deprisa (1991), Si Tú Me Miras (1993), and 3 (1995), made Sanz the most commercially successful Spanish singer of all time, he veered off in new directions after the turn of the century with No Es Lo Mismo (2003) and El Tren de los Momentos (2006). These two albums, both produced by Lulo Pérez, are highly collaborative, often daring, and downright experimental relative to Sanz's prior work. These albums spawned their share of major hits, "No Es Lo Mismo" and "A la Primera Persona" in particular, yet they also alienated some of his fan base. To the sure delight of those alienated fans who prefer his soft rock style, no longer is Sanz pushing stylistic boundaries like he did on No Es Lo Mismo and El Tren de los Momentos under the guidance of Pérez. On Paraíso Express, he chose to collaborate instead with producer Tommy Torres, best known for his acclaimed work with Ricardo Arjona. Paraíso Express consequently often sounds reminiscent of Arjona's recent work, the excellent album 5to Piso (2008) in particular. This is a good fit for Sanz, who like Arjona is a talented singer/songwriter in need of a capable musical arranger with whom he can collaborate. The similarities between 5to Piso and Paraíso Express are most evident on the soaring ballad "Desde Cuándo," which sounds like a take on Arjona's smash hit "Como Duele." Yet for all the similarities between Paraíso Express and 5to Piso, there is the lead single "Looking for Paradise," a bilingual collaboration between Sanz and American R&B singer Alicia Keys. Demonstrating the same willingness to break free of boundaries that Sanz showcased on his past couple albums, "Looking for Paradise" is a fantastic collaboration that is well-sequenced three tracks into Paraíso Express and goes a long way toward diversifying the album's style and tone. At ten tracks in length and 42 minutes in duration, Paraíso Express is a fairly brief album, so "Looking for Paradise" stands tall amid the other songs, all of which are sung solo. There are plenty of highlights besides "Desde Cuándo" and "Looking for Paradise"; in fact, this is an album with very few weak links, just a couple songs sequenced late where the tempo drags a bit. With the exception of the collaboration with Keys on "Looking for Paradise," Paraíso Express doesn't offer many surprises overall for fans of Sanz, some of whom may have been put off by the experimentation of his past couple albums, especially El Tren de los Momentos. Indeed, the biggest surprise of this album is how it finds Sanz returning to the soft rock style that brought him so much success a decade ago – not exactly, however, as the Arjona-esque production work of Torres differentiates Paraíso Express from albums like Más and El Alma al Aire, whose stuffy arrangements now sound passé in light of Sanz's edgy work with Pérez in recent years, not to mention his affiliation with Shakira.

Review by Jason Birchmeier, Allmusic.com

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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Not counting his 2001's MTV Unplugged, Canciones para un Paraíso en Vivo is superstar Alejandro Sanz's first official live album in his 20-year career. Recorded during two concerts he performed in May 2010 at Madrid's Palacio de los Deportes, it features duets with Joaquín Sabina and Antonio Carmona. The concert was filmed in 3D and released in two formats, CD/DVD and CD/Blue-Ray.

Review by Mariano Prunes, Allmusic.com

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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Alejandro Sanz – Albums Collection 1991-2010 [11CD+DVD]

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