Azul  (Audio CD) 
by Cristian Castro

Mexican crooner Cristian possesses a swooning, dramatic voice that, when paired with the right material, can transport listeners to another world. He hit career highs on glittering pop singles such as "No Podrás" and "Nuncan Voy a Olvidarte," but Azul finds Cristian simply rehashing the overbaked balladry that weighed down many of his previous efforts. The title track and first single ride a wistful rock groove, but much of Azul is drenched in overproduced sentimentality that drains the album of any real emotion. Producer Kike Santander has done fine work on albums from Thalia, Gloria Estefan, and merenguera Gisselle, but his efforts here are bland at best. The only notable exception is "Gli Amori/Los Amores," a delicate ballad sung in Spanish and Italian. The song's highs and lows flow naturally and offer a glimmer of Cristian's potential in his still-evolving career. --Joey Guerra