** Albita, “Son,” Times Square.

Could Albita be the most overrated singer in Latin music? Her macho, overworked vocal chops turn Cuban standards such as “El Manicero” and “Veinte An~os” into grotesque chunks of clave-infused melodrama. The talent is clearly there--the woman is a skillful composer and an arranger with glamorous ideas. But her unpleasant salsa shenanigans make you pine for a more subdued, elegant take on Afro-Cuban spice.

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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.