Libre  (Audio CD) 
by Marc Anthony

There's a palpable sense of joy in Marc Anthony's voice. The salsa star and pop sensation may be slight in stature, but when he opens his mouth to sing, the sheer power and passion of his tenor grabs a hold of your heart and makes you sit up and pay attention. The king of contemporary salsa was born and raised in New York City, but as good as Anthony is in his native tongue, he is triumphant when he sings in Spanish. Like Youssou N'Dour, Celia Cruz, and other great voices, Anthony's intensity and purpose transcend language barriers: even if you don't understand his words, it's difficult not to feel what he is expressing. On his first salsa collection since 1997's potent Contra la Corriente (and his first CD since his 1999 self-titled, slightly watered-down pop smash) Marc Anthony allows the emotionality of the rhythm to take control. Backed by a topnotch band, Anthony's supple voice carries the beat along, and on tracks like the propulsive "De Que Depende" he soars. His joy and the joy of hearing a great singer are contagious. --Amy Linden