From his native Azua, a coastal Dominican city, to the streets of Washington Heights,
Andy Andy fans are pleased. With
Ironía,
Andy joins the groundswell of Latin American artists giving voice to the experience of the urban immigrant. Along with artists like
Aventura and
India,
Andy certainly stays loyal to his community of origin, but also nods toward his current surroundings. From the occasional English phrase to the Urban Box Office label on which this work was released, it is clear that
Andy Andy is a voice true to his generation's experience. While very much a bachata album, more contemporary influences can be heard, even if subtle. From the funk-inflected bass playing of Isaias Leclerc to the edgy, inventive arrangements and lightening-quick lines of guitarist/musical director Robinson Hernandez,
Ironía is a standout in the genre. The vocal work of
Andy Andy himself is silky smooth and expressive. Though never flashy nor virtuosic, he delivers every song with a suave, confident approach that charms and soothes the listener. From the title cut, "Que Ironía," offered up both as a sexy bachata and synth-heavy reggaeton, to his inventive remake of "Dock of the Bay," which he tailors slightly to fit his own melancholy experience of Nueva York,
Ironía will continue to help and define the new urban Latino sound. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez