La Historia (CD - 2007)

For highbrow music listeners, Latin pop supergroup Menudo may be more interesting for its impact as a cultural entity than for its music. Either way, LA HISTORIA represents both sides of the phenomenally successful teen outfit by tracing its evolution from its inception in the late 1970s through its incarnation in the early 2000s.

Menudo's savvy marketing gimmick revolved around the policy that its Puerto Rican members, recruited for the group in their early teens, would be ousted by the time they turned 16. While the sound has changed to reflect changing trends (a synth-pop sheen coats their '80s material while late '90s Menudo bears traces of urban contemporary), the core policy has kept Menudo's teen pop appeal fresh and authentic. Anyone interested in reviewing either Menudo's bubblegum tunes (including tracks with early member Ricky Martin, who, of course, went on to solo superstardom) or their singular status as a pop culture oddity will find what they're looking for on this comprehensive set. minimize