Mas Flow - Los Benjamins

Album Review

Luny Tunes, far and away reggaeton's biggest hitmakers, continued their relentless music output in 2006, releasing not one but three albums, only one of which, however, was comprised of entirely new music. That all-new album, Los Benjamins, is a continuation of their popular Mas Flow series of various-artists albums. Each of these albums features the trademark production of Luny Tunes (even if some of it is co-produced or credited to in-house associates like Nely, Tainy, and Los Presidents) as well as a bounty of reggaeton's most popular voices, with the notable absence of Tego Calderón, who had appeared on all previous volumes. The usual stars are featured — Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Wisin & Yandel, Zion, Hector "El Father," Tito "El Bambino," Alexis & Fido — along with the surprising inclusion of RBD, the as-seen-on-TV pop/rock group of exceptional renown circa 2006. The RBD song, "Lento," isn't all that impressive (sounding a little awkward, in fact, since the teens lack the lyrical dexterity for reggaeton), yet it is an interesting attempt by Luny Tunes to cater a hit for even the most unlikely acts (like Scott Storch working with Paris Hilton and Brooke Hogan, for instance). The standout song amid the bunch is "Noche de Entierro (Nuestro Amor)," a star-studded collaboration driven by a novelty production tricked out with odd flourishes, like a flute riff — not unlike the star-studded collaboration of Mas Flow, Vol. 2, "Mayor Que Yo," which had featured a sped-up rhythm. Don Omar's "Beautiful" is another standout song, as is Tito "El Bambino"'s "Esta Noche." Overall, however, Los Benjamins is a letdown. It's not a bad or disappointing album, granted; in fact, it's quite well executed and should please anyone fond of Luny Tunes' brand of reggaeton. But there are no revelations here. It's just more of the same, and after the relentless output of Luny Tunes in the lead up to Los Benjamins, it all began to sound similar. Perhaps if Luny Tunes slowed down their output — say, to maybe one album per year, not three! — their style wouldn't seem so routine, because indeed it is first-rate reggaeton. Yet when their music is so ubiquitous and their releases so unceasingly forthcoming, Luny Tunes are destined to lose some of the freshness they once had, no matter how well crafted their music may be. Then again, perhaps it is all about the benjamins to them.