Pa'l Mundo (CD - 2005)

Duo Wisin & Yandel cover all the expected reggaeton bases on PA'L MUNDO, dropping churning, head-bobbing beats, slinky, Latin-inflected hooks, and rapid-fire raps en Espanol. But it's Wisin & Yandel's willingness to deliver on expectations that makes their music satisfying: these tunes can rock the party with booming beats and, likewise, remain plenty catchy with their chanted, sing-along choruses. PA'L MUNDO is a multi-purpose reggaeton release, good for the club, the jeep, or the house party.

Reggaeton mainstays Wisin & Yandel upped their profile significantly with Pa'l Mundo, an outstanding genre exercise that put them over the top with major hits like "Rakata," "Llamé Pa' Verte (Bailando Sexy)," and "Noche de Sexo." The duo had been releasing albums as early as 2000 (Los Reyes del Nuevo Milenio), and they'd been featured on such popular albums as Daddy Yankee's Barrio Fino and Luny Tunes' Mas Flow, Vol. 2. But they hadn't yet enjoyed a major hit of their own. Well, Pa'l Mundo certainly changed that, as it's laced with major hits. Each of the aforementioned songs were Top Five hits on the Hot Latin Tracks chart, with "Rakata" topping the chart and "Llamé Pa' Verte (Bailando Sexy)" peaking at number two. Furthermore, "Mayor Que Yo, Pt. 2" is essentially a continuation of the Top Three original, which had been featured on a Luny Tunes album, while "Noche de Sexo" and "Paleta" also got lots of airplay and charted high, all of which only furthered the sense that Wisin & Yandel had finally entered the esteemed ranks of reggaeton superstars like Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, and Tego Calderón. Certainly, they did so with key production by reggaeton's go-to hitmakers, Luny Tunes, who co-produced the bulk of Pa'l Mundo. Luny Tunes were assisted here by Nely, Tainy, Thilo, and Nesty, and the contributions of these co-producers help make the album sound more well-rounded than the average reggaeton album. In fact, the 19 tracks of Pa'l Mundo exhibit a lot of variety for reggaeton circa 2005, and that in itself is to the album's credit, given the often-heard complaint that the style is musically monotonous, driven by subtle twists on one stock rhythm track. What above all helps Wisin & Yandel stand out from their peers, however -- beyond their knack for hits and their stable of ace producers -- is the way the guys complement each other vocally. Their years of experience on the reggaeton circuit finally paid off with dividends on Pa'l Mundo. It's the breakthrough album they'd long worked toward, and it couldn't have happened at a better time, just as reggaeton was breaking into mainstream consciousness. ~ Jason Birchmeier minimize