Album Review: Ron Havana Club De Cuba Viene by Various Artists
Alright, let’s talk about Ron Havana Club De Cuba Viene. It’s one of those albums that feels like a warm breeze on a Havana street corner—sticky with heat but full of soul. The genre? Latin, obviously. But more specifically, this is Cubano and Son gold, straight outta Cuba via the Areito label. And shoutout to Armando González for the photography; it's got that vibe that makes you wanna sip something strong while staring wistfully into the distance.
Now, I’m not gonna lie—the whole album has its charms, but two tracks really stuck in my brain like rice to a pot lid: “Con La Mayor Elegancia” and “Preciosa Cuba.” Let me break it down for ya.
First up, “Con La Mayor Elegancia.” Oh man, this track hits different. It starts off smooth as butter melting on fresh bread, then BAM—it kicks into gear with rhythms so sharp they could cut glass (okay, maybe not that sharp, but you get what I mean). The horns? Chef’s kiss. They’re punchy without being overbearing, kinda like your cool uncle who always knows how to liven up a party without embarrassing himself too much. This song feels classy, like wearing a linen suit even if you’re just grabbing empanadas from a street vendor. You can’t help but bob your head along to it, even if you’ve got two left feet.
Then there’s “Preciosa Cuba,” which honestly might as well be Cuba’s unofficial anthem. Like, seriously, someone should look into that. This tune wraps you up in nostalgia before you even realize it. The vocals are dripping with pride and longing—like when you scroll through old vacation pics and suddenly miss places you didn’t know you loved until now. There’s this lil’ guitar riff running through it that’s smoother than a mojito on a hot day. Honestly, listening to this feels like getting hugged by an abuela who smells faintly of cigars and coffee. Weird analogy? Maybe. Accurate? Absolutely.
As for the other tracks, yeah, they’re solid. “Tradicionales No.1” does exactly what it says on the tin—classic vibes all around. And “Pensamiento”? It’s got depth, like pondering life while sitting under a palm tree. But those first two tunes are the ones I’ll probably hum randomly at work, confusing my coworkers who think I’m just having a moment.
So here’s the thing: Ron Havana Club De Cuba Viene isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it polishes the heck out of it and rolls it down a hill lined with maracas and trumpets. If you’re looking for music that feels authentic, vibrant, and unapologetically Cuban, this is your jam.
And hey, fun fact—if this album were a person, it’d probably have excellent dance moves and an impressive rum collection. Just saying.
-En los Yuma lo hicieron conocidos los músicos de la Típica 73 - ´Somos dos´. (en voces de Camilo Azuquita y José Alberto, "El Canario").
Saludos desde El Callao; Perú.