TS: Angel Canales vs. Hector Lavoe; Angel Canales: C or D

Actually I've only heard one entire Canales album, and I've heard a lot more Lavoe. There's more Lavoe that I've heard that I haven't liked, but probably at least as much Lavoe material I've heard and liked as there is Canales material that I've heard and liked. El Juicio is still one of my favorie albums, I think. (I am playing it now, to check this out.)

(What awful typing on my last post.)

amateurist?

never heard Canales (though will check 'im out now), but Lavoe is mostly unimpeachable: "El Cantante" and "De Ti Depende" alone have me hooked 4 life.

there was a great article on classic Salsa in Tower's Pulse magazine before it shut down.

I'm sorry I missed that article. (Kind of funny since the Tower near me as a real pathetic salsa section, for the most part.)

To me, "El Cantante" drags too much (and I don't like the violin section), but I guess it was his theme song, so maybe I am just missing something.

I would recommend the one Canales CD I own: El Sentimiento del Latino en Nueva York.

Classic if only for having created his own label: Selanac Records.

'Sup Al?

Just came from a Mars Volta show less than a mile away from my house here in San Juan, which is one hell of an anomaly, I tell ya. 'Twas very nahz.

As for this debate, it is over by default. Lavoe wins hands down, AS IF THERE WAS ANY DOUBT!

I beg you to immerse yourself in Spanish culture. You're RIPE fer it. It's all in the way he emotes. He makes you feel the lyric. Learning Spanish won't be enough. Only through understanding the cultural context on which the songs are based, does one begin to make sense of it all. Lavoe makes me cry and he makes me nostalgic for a Puerto Rico that has never really existed but in our minds, and yet it seems so familiar. Canales, simply put, cannot evoke that state of mind.

FW, I'd like to, well, I'd at least like to learn Spanish (though you say that's not enough), but I have other things to deal with right now. Maybe in a year or two. (I say that each year.) I might be leaving my job and relocating next year--possibly, depending on how certain things turn out here.

Except next year I'm planning on buying more Anglophone music than I have for a while. (Everything I really want to buy along those lines is fairly old.)

FW, forgetting about the Lavoe comparison, what do you think of Canales as a band-leader, and his overall sound? And do you like his singing at all?

Francis, one more question for you not to answer: Do you think that Canales would be a good sonero for Corin Tucker fans? I think he's a better singer (technically and all around), but he sort of makes me think of her.

Angel Canales is a freak.

Oh my god, "Sabor Los Rumberos Nuevos"!

Don't sleep on Angel Canales, sleep on a bed, right N.?

I mean, you still pretty much have to say Lavoe, but Canales is great in his own right (and deserves credit for his skills as an arranger, bandleader, and to a lesser extent, writer).

Angel Canales or Hector LaVoe? Depends on what you want and the time you want it if that makes any sense. :) I listen to Hector Lavoe when I want a Salsa Opera. You can dance to it sure, but I'd rather listen to it and enjoy the music and the storyline within the music. Most of his music is quite heavy with strings, thumping horns, bass lines, etc. Too much of a story go on there to waste in dancing with exeption of maybe "Para Ochun", or "Alejate".

Now, when I want to dance, I listen to the "Slick Rick" of Salsa. :) I love his slick, funky approach to salsa. Not to diminish his ability. This is a true musician in my opinion. I like that his approach is the in your face type rhythm with no apologies. ;)The rebelious slick horns, the unusual voice or should I say vocal instrument, the infectious hot drum section. "Hace Tiempo", "Lejos De Ti", "Panama Soberana", "Baby Please Don't Go". Yup! See the "Different Shades of Thought" CD. I am a restocking my CD collection at the moment and yes this guy is first on my list.

Yeah, I need to get my act together and grab up the available Canales albums that I don't currently own.

I think some Lavoe is surprisingly good to dance to (especially some later songs): Juanito Alimaña, Rompe Saraguey, El Todopoderoso (once it gets going), Loco, Isla del Encanto (except when he starts into "Borinquen Bonita, Te quiero. . .", I just want to fall down, his attack is so intense).

(It's kind of weird how ambivalent I apparently was about Lavoe even just three years ago, when I started this thread under another name. There are still some songs I don't like, but overall I think he's great.)

Yes, I didn't get to Lavoe until late as well and Canales even later. I also like their approaches to boleros on their CDs. Very different stylings and phrasing. Most people probably would like like Canales doing boleros but I like them.

He definitely makes "Dos Gardenias" his own, which is not easy to do for a bolero that has been covered so often. Love Lavoe as a bolerista as well.

Oh, I meant to say: Most people probably would NOT like Canales doing boleros but I like them. LOL! A little slip of the keyboard again.

Anyway, I remember one day taking some Canales music to Salsa class. Did not go over well with the other students or should I say beginner students. They seemed to think it was "advanced" music. Whatever that means. LOL! I guess for a beginning ear to Salsa, Hector Lavoe is more palatable than Canales. Not sure why that was but...

Who else is busting out the Angel Canales on this warm sunny day?