Record Rack

** Luis Enrique, “Evolucion,” WEA Latina. While most artists in the tropical field have finally abandoned the lukewarm trappings of the salsa romantica style, this gifted singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist walks right back into them as if stuck in a 1989 time warp. Sonically, the Nicaraguan has concocted a powerful party album of larger-than-life bass lines and Marc Anthony-like pop gloss. Emotionally, though, the smoothness of the material works against him in a genre where a return to Afro-Cuban roots is the only route to ensuring dancers’ satisfaction.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.