Julieta Venegas
Los Momentos


4.0
excellent

Review

by RuanCSC USER (6 Reviews)
May 15th, 2013 | 13 replies


Release Date: 2013 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Stop shooting. Please.

Ours are violent times. While it is true that this is more evident in some places than others, violence is present everywhere, one way or another. Whether it’s just two drivers flipping each other off or someone being mugged and shot dead by some criminal, brutality—and death—are a constant presence in modern society, and they take a very heavy toll on all who witness, or hear about them. That toll is the main topic of Mexican singer-songwriter Julieta Venegas’s newest release, Los Momentos, an extraordinary collection of modern, adult pop tracks.

The album is not by any means a political one. Instead, Venegas chooses to focus on the consequences of violence on a personal level. It’s not dark or overly pessimistic, but it is introspective and thoughtful. In interviews, she’s said that it saddens her that Mexico is no longer known as a festive country, but as a dangerous one. Add the fact that she lives in Tijuana, perhaps the most violent urban center of the nation, and that she just became a mother, and you’ll have an artist deeply concerned with where all this is going. By sharing her concerns with the listeners, Venegas put together an album that is as beautiful as it is profound.

Musically, Los Momentos is filled with electronic beats and synthesizers on every track. But Julieta always adds a few piano, accordion, violin or guitar notes, whatever’s necessary to create the mood she wants to. Opener “Hoy” is deceptive, as it is the only truly cheerful song. Everywhere else, this is a thick record. At times, a splendid one. Even the lead single is intensely thought-provoking. “Tuve Para Dar” sees Julieta embodying her city in lines such as “I used to be so happy... / Today, I inspire fear / Nobody wants to get close to where I am”. The highlight of the album is right in its heart. If “Tuve Para Dar” conveys the sadness of the city in general, “Vuelve” depicts life inside of it. It’s the only track that contains the sounds people usually associate with Latin America, combined with heavy beats, and in the verses, a friend uses the weather as an excuse not to go visit Julieta in her city, because he’s heard about the curfew imposed by the drug traffickers upon the population, as she begs for the return of a lover who fled from the violence. Los Momentos means “the moments”, which is an apt title, because if the density of tracks such as these weren’t lightened by other, less afflicted ones, the weight would be crushing.

Coming from one of the most popular Latin American pop singers, Los Momentos does contain a few commonplaces. Although none of the tracks gives completely in to catchiness, the (sort of) bright moments do provide an escape valve. But the album’s merits are on the fact that it, in addition to being an above-average pop record, addresses a serious theme in a relatable, human way. Julieta does not overload her listeners with eleven repetitive tracks, thus the less heavy songs play an important role. Which is not to say that they are not good. As far as pop music goes, Venegas’s work is far more consistent than most, and that strength shows in tracks such as “Te Vi”, “Nada Importante” and “No Cre*”.

She chooses to end the album with a track that sums up everything that led to it. The song is little more than a request. “Un Poco de Paz” means “a little bit of peace”, and that’s really what Los Momentos is all about. Is it a groundbreaking, game-changing album? No. But it is a good one nonetheless. It can’t change the world and it can’t save anyone from a bullet. But it can ask for a little bit of peace. Is it too much to ask for?



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user ratings (5)
3
good


Comments:Add a Comment 
RuanCSC
May 15th 2013


134 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Again, the accents are messed up when I write a review of a Spanish-language album.



Anyway, maybe I'm a little overly enthusiastic about this album because I relate to it a lot. São Paulo has also become such a terrifying place to live in lately that I'm kind of scared. But the album is very good.

NapalmCrusader
May 15th 2013


1738 Comments


Never liked her, to be honest. Her's 90's material was more oriented to rock, but since 2004 she became just a pop artist with nothing new to offer

RuanCSC
May 15th 2013


134 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah, she's full-on pop now, so if you're not into the genre, you're not gonna like this. Although it is profound in the way I described it. I like her 90's work too.

NapalmCrusader
May 15th 2013


1738 Comments


Don't get me wrong. I like some Latin pop artists, but her music never caught my attention and also this is really overexpossed in my country ( Colombia). Well, at least I prefer this than the new material of Shakira which is awful and as you can expect is more overexpossed than Julieta Vengas songs.

RuanCSC
May 15th 2013


134 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

No, no, I get it.



It's just funny 'cause I really like Shakira's new material as well.

NapalmCrusader
May 15th 2013


1738 Comments


I understand, anyways this was a decent review and I'm glad that some people analyze albums like this. I thought to review heroes del silencio or catupecu machu but I lack of the proper english level to write a review in this website

RuanCSC
May 15th 2013


134 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Not many Latins here in Sputnik, huh?

NapalmCrusader
May 15th 2013


1738 Comments


There are a bunch of latins but this isn't exactly a representative group right here. Also almost every latin group is really ignored by staff and the other users

Atari
Staff Reviewer
May 15th 2013


28009 Comments


sounds interesting. nice review man have a pos

Digging: Ceres - Magic Mountain (1996?2022)

Capablanca
May 16th 2013


219 Comments


She's alright as far as latin pop goes which isn't saying much. There's one song i really like of her "De mis pasos", from her alternative phase. Pos amigo, I might check this out.

RuanCSC
May 16th 2013


134 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

@Atari



Thanks, that means a lot coming from you.



@Capablanca



Thank you. Yeah, I know that Latin pop (or all pop, really) can be very very bad at times, but Julieta is a notable exception for me. Or at least this album is. I like "De mis Pasos" too. Yeah, give it a listen.

NapalmCrusader
May 16th 2013


1738 Comments


Julieta at least doens't follow the cliches, besides, she has a better lyrical work than a lot of her contemporaries

project86fan
May 18th 2013


26 Comments


Limon y Sal is one of my all time favorite pop albums. Looking forward to this one.



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