Ruben Blades

Blades released his solo debut in 1984, after he split with bandleader Willie Colon. Built around his hopes for and the realities of Latin America, the themed LP contains two of Blades' greatest tracks: a salsa-ization of the standard "Todos Vuelven" and the protest song "El Padre Antonio…" The upbeat "Decisiones" was banned across Latin America due to the word "abortion."

Buscando América is an album one feels obligated to like; it's the major-label debut of the
highly touted, Panama-born salsa star Rubén Blades. Unfortunately, though, Blades' talent
just doesn't translate. Blades wields great influence in Spanish-speaking North, South and
Central America, not just as a singer, songwriter and bandleader, but as a political
commentator. Several of the tracks on this album offer political statements embe... More >