Aventura - Los Infieles Video

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"Los Infieles" Video Review

A New Yorkbased, Dominican boy band with their roots deep in bachata? If that sounds unlikely, well, Aventura have managed to cope with it. Formed in 1994 in the Bronx by a group of four boys (Anthony Santos, Lenny Santos, Max Santos, and Henry Santos Jeter) who were determined to break Dominican bachata music out from its traditional base and fuse it with the other sounds they heard every day, like hiphop and RB. Interestingly, unlike other youths seeking success, they didn't give themselves over to a producer who might mold their sound; instead, they proceeded to learn all the skills they needed themselves, from production to instruments. Their real break came in 1999. Signed to BMG, they released their debut with an outside producer.

The material, however, was their own, and they resisted the attempt to turn them into a cookiecutter boy band in the Backstreet Boys, N'Sync style by ensuring the bachata element remained dominant. However, it fell between the cracks of both the burgeoning Latin movement, and the pop/RB charttoppers. Three years would pass before they released We Broke the Rules, in which time they worked hard to refine what they were doing, and find a true direction. Whatever they did, it appeared to work, as the single "Obsesion" became a hit with Latin youth, finding a strong crossover into hiphop. However, as the album's title promised, they did break all the bachata rules, bringing the style very much into the new Millennium without sacrificing the style's roots. While catching a growing U.S. audience, they also became popular in Europe, thanks to frequent touring and a different sound. In 2003, they returned with Love Hate, which saw them progressing even further with their sound, adding merengue into the mix, and upping the RB/hiphop quotient without losing touch with their background, singing in Spanish, English, and Spanglish.(Chris Nickson, All Music Guide)

Bachata supergroup Aventura has never been shy about its musical prowess. In fact, the K.O.B. in this disc's title stands for "Kings of Bachata," and the cover shot pays homage to a certain fab foursome. A heady rep, to be sure, but Aventura backs it up with solid, sexy tunes and equally compelling showmanship. K.O.B. Live mixes old favorites, new tracks and live footage, giving fans the full package. The live bits were recorded at Madison Square Garden, a nice homecoming for the Bronx, New York-based group. Tunes such as "Los Infieles" and "Llorar" can-and do-induce swoons. Just listen to all the screaming, and prepare to be seduced.

--Joey Guerra

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