Uno No Es Uno

Album Review

Uno No Es Uno is Noel Schajris' first full-length solo album effort after he and fellow singer/songwriter Leonel García concluded their partnership as Sin Bandera in 2007. The Latin pop duo experienced tremendous success prior to their breakup, releasing the albums Sin Bandera (2001), De Viaje (2003), Mañana (2005), and Pasado (2006), and scoring nearly a dozen Top Ten hits on the Mexican charts, including a half-dozen number one smash hits. In addition to Sin Bandera, Schajris wrote songs for numerous Latin pop superstars, among them Alejandro Fernández, Luis Fonsi, Paulina Rubio, Jessy & Joy, Reik, Victor Manuelle, Yuridia, and Fanny Lu. Embarking on a solo career as a singer/songwriter was therefore a logical step forward for Schajris, given his recognition was half of Sin Bandera's and his reputation as a first-rate songwriter. In fact, Schajris had been a solo recording artist prior to teaming up with García. He made his full-length solo debut back in 1999 with the little-heard album Cita en las Nubes. Released a decade later, Uno No Es Uno is a much more impressive album, a collaborative effort featuring elite Latin pop producer Sebastián Krys; co-songwriters Claudia Brant and Gian Marco; and guest turns by vocalists Yuridia ("Nadie Me Hace Mas Feliz Que Tu"), John Legend ("No Importa"), and Luis Fonsi ("Aunque Duela Aceptarlo"). There aren't many surprises here for anyone already familiar with Sin Bandera. The songs are emotional and generally in ballad form with sweeping choruses and often trembling vocals. The piano playing of Schajris and subtle string arrangements are the predominant musical elements, and with the absence of García, there isn't as much guitar as there was in Sin Bandera. Highlights include the excellent lead single, "No Veo La Hora," along with a couple of the duets ("No Importa," "Aunque Duela Aceptarlo"), which are sequenced in a mid-album bunch. Uno No Es Uno drags a little bit toward the end, once the duets and the uptempo song "Gracias por Entrar" pass, yet the album is solid overall and should delight fans of Sin Bandera.