Top 10 Latin Albums

This is not the Top 10 albums of 2011 nor is it a definitive Top 10 Albums of all time. This is simply 10 albums worth spending money on, obviously this is in our humble opinion.  Hopefully these will provide a insight into some real quality Latino music, as we realise that if you are not familiar with Latin Music it can be quite daunting searching through all the genre’s and all too often people end up buying some generic mass produced rubbish compilation with awful renditions of old classic’s, or simply over-rated Latino Pop regurgitation. We feel that these 10 albums set a very high standard in Latin Music, whether it be Tango sung by a world class Flamenco singer, an out spoken Puerto Rican Rap group, a grammy nominated chilean female for her Hip Hop album, some eclectic Brazilian compilation, an old skool classic album or an englishman’s view into Cuban urban music, you will find something that will get them toes tapping, the head bobbing and most importantly that booty shaking. So please check out some of the best Latin American Albums that are on this list.

 

Calle 13 | Entren Los Que Quieran

 

Calle 13 smashed the 2011 Latin Grammy’s with nine out of possible ten awards this achivement was done without the backing of main stream media as Calle 13 are a very out spoken group on the injustices and attrocities that are being commited in and around Latino America. Calle 13 won best album  Entren Los que Quiran and best song with LatinoAmerica. Residente has shown solidarity with the students of Colombia and Chile.

This is a hair raising performance by Calle 13 at the Latin Grammy

is available on iTunes, Amazon, HMV.

 

Calle 13 | LatinoAmerica | YouTube | Latin Grammy 2011

Diego el Cigala | Tango

 

Diego el Cigala is arguably flamenco’s greatest singer who has turned his talent to singing in various genre’s, this time, Diego puts his voice over some serious Tango flava’s, check out Hermanos (a Milonga) This is also a Grammy Award winning album in 2011. Pure Class!

Also have a listen to Bebo and Cigala an album of Cuban classics by Bebo Valdez (father of Chucho Valdez) with the vocal of a famenco genius. On iTunes it’s under the Brazilian genre although it’s more Cuban than Brazilian.

is available on iTunes, Amazon, HMV.

 

Diego el Cigala | Andres Calamaro | Live | YouTube

Oi! A Nova musica Brasileira | Compilation

 

This is a brilliant Brazilian compilation, it showcases the vast variety of rhythms, sound and ideas that Brazilian’s play with.

 

 

is available on iTunes, Amazon, HMV.

 

 

Amaralasse | Mini Box Lunar | YouTube

 

Fania All Stars | Our Latin Thing | Cosa Nuestra

 

A classic live performance and documentary by one of the greatest Latin American ensemble’s ever. This group of people helped push the boundaries of Latino Music and in particular Salsa to a new level.

 

is available on iTunes, Amazon, HMV.

 

 

Our Latin Things | Nuestra Cosa | YouTube

Cumbia Cumbia (1993)

 

Cumbia Cumbia is a brilliant Cumbia compilation with some serious classic floor filler’s, this is one of those albums that you can just play from start to finish and will have the dance floor filled with Cumbia dancers. The CD seems a little over priced but much more favourable on mp3. Either from Amazon and/or iTunes.

The Cumbia Cumbia Album is available on iTunes, Amazon, HMV.

 

 

La Colegiala | Rodolfo y Su Tipica | YouTube

Ruben Bladés | Siembra

 

Ruben Blades with his Siembra album who many consider to be one of the greatest salsa album’s of all time. Most of Ruben’s song’s have social and/or political overtures, a qualified lawyer to boot.

One of the nice guys of the music industry.

is available on iTunes, Amazon, HMV.

 

 

Ruben Blades | Pedro Navaja | YouTube

 

Rumillajta | Hoja De Coca

 

For me this one of the best if not the best andean folk bands and album. Rumillajta have since disbanded but not before leaving us with four albums of real genuine quality. A bolivian indigenous andean folk band showing the world that pan pipes can not only sound but bloody amazing!

is available on iTunes, Amazon, HMV.

 

 

Rumillajta | Leño Verde | YouTube

 

Rodrigo Y Gabriela |  Rodrigo Y Gabriela

 

Brother and sister combo who are massive heavy metal fans but play beautiful, melodic acoustic guitars, check out their version of stairway to heaven. It will blow you away as well as the album.

is available on iTunes, Amazon, HMV.

 

 

 

Stairway to Heaven | Rodrigo y Gabriela | YouTube

Ana Tijoux | 1977

 

Only the 2nd Chilean to be grammy nominated, Ana Tijoux was born in France to exiled Chilean parents, She later moved back to Chile with her parents during her Teen years bringing with her the French influnce and their quality knowledge of Hip Hop production to Chile. Ana Tijoux played a gig in 2011 at London’s Favela Chic.

 

is available on iTunes, Amazon, HMV.

 

 

Ana Tijoux | 1977 | YouTube

Havana Cultura Band | Gilles Petreson

 

Gilles Petreson’s Cuban oddesey continues with this 2nd Havana Cultura album and this time looking into Habana’s urban music.  “Lagrimas de Soledad”, “La Mulata Abusadora”, “Check la Rima”. A few of the stand out tracks from this well re-searched out album.

 

is available on iTunes, Amazon, HMV.

.

 

 

Danay Suarez | Lagrimas de Soledad | YouTube

Wara | Wara EP

 

Cuban London Latino band, discovered by Dj Cal Jader of Movimientos. This is Wara’s 2nd EP and is the brain child of  Eliane Correa whose Cuban Musical education shines through as does her sexy husky voice. A class act who also has a solo album. Wara is totally Cuban, very much Latin and without doubt all London. Wara also supported Calle 13 at the Hackney Empire in London 2010.

is available on iTunes, Amazon, HMV.

 

 

 

Wara | Caprichosa + Flesh and Bone | YouTube

 

Creole Chior of Cuba

 

 

We check them at the Barbican Centre earlier this and they are nothing short of amazing. Tande-La is a stunning album and their live performance is just as breath taking. If you ever get the chance to watch them, then do, it will be money well spent and good for the soul

You can buy the Album in iTunes, Amazon and HMV

 

 

 

 

Creole Choir of Cuba | Tanda-Le | YouTube

 

All the above can be found on Spotify as well. So why not check out our various playlists of Latino Music

Our Playlists on spotify

• Argentina
• Chile
• Cuban
• Latino Party Mix | of Cumbia’s, Porro’s, Salsa, Hip Hop, Rock, Timba, Son, Reggaeton, Electro Tango, Latino Fiesta Time
• Cumbia | In all it forms
• Tango | from classic, traditional, to modern Tango fused with Jazz or Electro Tango
• Flamenco
• Latino Folk | Andean, Nueva Cancion, Folk etc..
• Latino Hip Hop

We are continuously updating our playlist’s when ever we can so keep checking them out.

 

By the way I realise that there is in actual fact 12 Albums and not the best 10, what can I say, I got carried away.

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