Amar Sin Mentiras (CD - 2004)

Personnel: Marc Anthony (vocals); Jennifer Lopez (vocals); Oscar "Chino" Asencio (acoustic guitar); José Luis Pagán (electric guitar, programming, background vocals); Andrew Synowieck (electric guitar); David Amaya (flamenco guitar); Guillermo Vadala (bajo sexto, bass guitar); Mauricio Gasca (quena, programming); Daniel Avila (drums); Eduardo Avena, Juan Jose "Chaqueno" Martinez, Eduardo Avena, Samuel Torres (percussion); Alex Batista, Claudio Ledda, Diana Pereyra, Ana Karfi, Dorita Chavez, Vicky Echeverri (background vocals); Julio C. Reyes (piano, programming).

Photographer: Richard McLaren.

Arrangers: José Luis Pagán; Julio C. Reyes.

Delivering an album like Amar sin Mentiras shows that Marc Anthony isn't concerned right now with grabbing new fans. Instead he's focused on those who swoon and scream whenever he "brings it down a little." Urgent, passionate, and very limited, this is Anthony's Latin pop album, not a pop album nor a salsa album. If you were unaware that he was being so strict with the motifs, you're not alone, but it's an easy way to steer away anyone expecting something fiery or light. The album is heavy, heavy with passion and heavy with heartbreak with barely any percussion. The light beats of "Valió la Pena" and "Tan Solo Palabras" break things up just a little, but Anthony gets breathy just to make sure dancing doesn't overtake swooning. He's in fine voice throughout, the arrangements are lush without being drippy, and the melodies are solid. There's also the ballad with new "not-talkin'-about-it" bride Jennifer Lopez which will give fans plenty to discuss but just adds to the single-mindedness of the album. Can you fault Anthony for recording an album that a certain faction of his fans will devour? Not when he's so good at it. To paraphrase a cliché, the little, teen, middle-aged, and golden-aged girls will understand and the rest should just stay out of their way. ~ David Jeffries

Latin-pop superstar Marc Anthony's seventh record, AMAR SIN MENTIRAS, translates in English as "to love without lies," a title which perfectly captures his impassioned, ingenuous style of torch singing. As a child, Anthony was a fan of Air Supply, and "Ahora Quien" and "Se Esfuma Tu Amor" have as much in common with the aforementioned Australian crooners as with Willie Colon and other Latin luminaries. Anthony proves he can also pick up the pace ably with the danceable pop of "Valio La Pena."

The week of 2004 that AMAR SIN MENTIRAS was released, rumors swirled about Anthony's purported marriage to larger-than-life movie star/singer Jennifer Lopez, and her appearance on this record does nothing to deny it. J. Lo gives what might be the most torrid vocal performance of her career in a duet with Anthony on "Escapemonos." AMAR SIN MENTIRAS sounds like the musings of a man in the throes of passion, a moving record from a genuinely emotive singer. minimize