Jencarlos Canela's sophomore recording, Un Nuevo Día, was a collection of romantic ballads that appealed directly to the singer and telenovela actor's fan base. That all changes with the simply titled
Jen, his debut for Universal Latino. For starters, for the first time in his career
Canela takes a bilingual approach on this set, evidenced by opening party jam "Enjoy," the single "Irreparable," and the dance tracks "I Love It" and "Give It Up Tonight," the latter an anthemic collaboration with Korean vocalist
PSY (of the historic video "Gangnam Style"). This is not to say there aren't ballads here.
Canela is also a judge on Univision's popular reality talent/beauty contest Nueva Bellaza Latina, and he delivers to those fans as well with "Volveré," "Bandera Blanca," and "Si la Ves." Latin pop and dance numbers dominate the collection, however, and even the latter ballad -- a waltz, no less -- has a dramatic, layered sense of dynamics. The bubbling Caribbean flavor in "Junto a Ti" is also notable. ~ Thom Jurek