A + No Poder
| A + No Poder | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio albumby | ||||
| Released | September 11, 2015 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Latin rock | |||
| Length | 39:59 | |||
| Language | Spanish | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Alejandra Guzmán, José Luis Pagán | |||
| Alejandra Guzmánchronology | ||||
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| SinglesfromA + No Poder | ||||
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A + No Poder(English: "To the Max" ) is the fourteenthstudio albumby Mexican recording artistAlejandra Guzmán.It was released on September 11, 2015, bySony Music Latin.After the success of her previous live album,Primera Fila(2013) and its promotional tour, Guzmán recorded the album with original songs, composed and produced by her and Argentinian musician José Luis Pagán.
After its release,A + No Poderreceived favorable reviews frommusic critics,with one expressing appreciation for the balance between ballads and rock songs. The record peaked at number twelve on the USBillboardLatin Pop Albumsand number six in Mexico. To promote the album, three singles were released: "Adiós" featuringreggaetonperformerFarruko,which peaked at number 26 on theBillboardLatin Pop Songschart, "Qué Ironía" and "Esta Noche".
Background
[edit]In 2013, Alejandra Guzmán released her fourth live album titledPrimera Fila,selling 90,000 units in Mexico and launching the "La Guzman 1F Tour", which included dates in cities of the United States such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Houston, Miami and also Puerto Rico.[1][2]Two years later, Guzmán entered the recording studio to recordA + No Poder,which would become her first studio album in over five years. The album's songs were written by Guzmán and Argentinian musician José Luis Pagán.[3]The singer stated that the album "reflects maturity and growth that has also regains my rock essence since I was pigeonholed as a balladeer but not at all, that is what I am."[3]A + No Poderis Guzmán's first studio album sinceÚnico(2009), a critically acclaimed effort that was commercial unsuccessful due to lack of promotion, according to Ángel Rodríguez of ADN Informativo.[4]
Content
[edit]A + No Poderis dedicated to Guzmán's daughter Frida Sofia.[5]The album includes twelve tracks: eleven written by Guzmán and Pagán, with additional writers for three of them. "Adiós" was co-written by Carlos Efrén Reyes, "Esta Noche" was co-written by Karenka andReyli Barba,and "A Más No Poder" was co-written Sarah Lenore.[5]Another track, "Una Canción de Amor", was entirely written by Argentinean singer-songwriterAlejandro Lerner.[5]"Adiós" features Puerto-RicanreggaetonperformerFarruko.[1]"Te Esperaré" is a ballad, and "Malvada", a story about afemme fatale,hascountry musicundertones with a harmonica that resembles Mexican bandEl Tri.[1][4]"Malvada" and "This is Too Much Rock and Roll" arerock songs,with the latter reminds ofSoy,an album released by the singer in 2001.[1][4]"Esta Noche" is a pop/funk track withreggaeinfluences.[1]"A Más No Poder" has sexual connotations in its lyrics and as stated by Ángel Rodríguez of ADN Informativo, "brings back memories when Guzmán was produced byMiguel Blascoin the 90's ".[1][4]"Mi Debilidad" is a pop/rock song, while "No Puedo Parar" is aheavy metaltrack.[1]"Qué Ironía" is a rock ballad that recalls Guzmán greatest hits such as "Mi Peor Error".[4]About the songs included, Guzmán stated toTabasco Hoy:"In recent years I experienced many good and bad things, so I thought, why not transform them into songs. And so it began to take shape this new album, which I think is more intelligent, mature and planned than my previous work".[6]
Reception
[edit]Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| ADN Informativo | favorable[4] |
| Hey Espectáculos | 81/100[1] |
| Televisa Espectáculos | favorable[7] |
The album was met with positive reviews bymusic critics.Fabiola Hinojosa, ofTelevisa Espectáculosstated that the album "shows that despite being a rocker at heart, she has no problem recording in another genre and experiment[ing] with new rhythms."[7]Hinojosa also praised the rock song "No Puedo Parar", arguing that "if someone who never before had heard another song from her would believe that she [Guzmán] only performs in the rock genre".[7]Ángel Rodríguez of ADN Informativo said that "Guzmán is back and wants to reclaim her place on the music market." Rodríguez also reminded that Guzmán keeps trying to incorporate new or alternative rhythms to her music even if the results are not commercially successful, such as her albumsCambio de Piel(1996) produced by Spanish musician Carlos Narea, orLipstick(2004), helmed by American artistDesmond Child,andA + No Poderis no exception, since the "Queen of Rock in Mexico" includes songs that "hark back to the era of the nineties, but so potentiated with harder songs where the guitars, drums and her hoarse voice come together in musical chords."[4]Alex Alexdy ofHey Espectáculosreferred to this album as a "well balance between rock and pop" that shows Guzmán's excentric side who opted for a rock album with some ballads and new rhythms such as reggaeton.[1]
Commercial reception
[edit]A + No Poderpeaked at number 12 in theBillboardLatin Pop Albumscomponent chart in the United States, one of her worst placements in the chart, onlyLipstick(2004) andFuerza(2007) have reached lower numbers, at 15 and 16, respectively.[8]In Mexico, the album peaked at number six in theMexican Albums Chart.[9]
Singles
[edit]To promote the album, Guzmán released three singles. Lead single "Adiós" was released on June 5, 2015, and features guest vocals fromFarruko.[10]The track peaked at number 26 in theBillboardLatin Pop Songsand 17 in theLatin Rhythm Airplaycharts, respectively, in the United States and at 15 on theMexican Espanol Airplaychart.[11]According to Alex Alexdy ofHey Espectáculos,the song was not a success since it is not good enough to compete with other 'reggaeton' songs and "it is far from the ballads that are surefire hits for Guzmán."[1]The music video for the second single, "Qué Ironía", was filmed onIcelandand released on September 12, 2015.[6][12]To further promote the album, the track "Esta Noche" was used as the main theme of the Mexican TV showParodiando: Noches de Traje,and was later released as the third single on May 27, 2016, with a music video filmed onCampeche,Mexico.[7][13]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Te Esperaré" |
| 3:24 |
| 2. | "Malvada" |
| 3:21 |
| 3. | "Adiós" (FeaturingFarruko) |
| 3:17 |
| 4. | "Qué Ironía" |
| 3:42 |
| 5. | "This Is Too Much Rock And Roll" |
| 2:34 |
| 6. | "Esta Noche" |
| 3:07 |
| 7. | "Agua Bendita" |
| 3:31 |
| 8. | "Mi Debilidad" |
| 3:42 |
| 9. | "A Más No Poder" |
| 3:13 |
| 10. | "Una Canción De Amor" | 3:47 | |
| 11. | "No Puedo Parar" |
| 3:06 |
| 12. | "Lejos De Ti" |
| 3:27 |
Credits
[edit]Credits adapted fromAllMusic.[14]
- Robert Arthur – acoustic guitar
- Gustavo Borner – mastering, mixing
- Pat Coil – Hammond organ
- Farruko – featured artist
- Manny Galvez – assistant engineer
- Alejandra Guzmán – direction, primary artist, realization
- Brendan Harkin – recording
- Jim Hoke – harmonica
- Chris Latham – recording
- Matt Laug– drums
- Sarah Lenore – background vocals
- Guillermo Gutiérrez Leyva – A&R
- Chris McDonald – string arrangements
- Teddy Mulet – trombone, trumpet
- Craig Nelson – upright bass
- Quique Ollervides – artist, design
- Azucena Olvera – A&R
- José Luis Pagán – arrangement, bass, background vocals, direction, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboard programming, production, recording, string arrangements
- Saverio Principini– bass guitar, recording
- Gabriel Saientz – piano
- Doug Sarrett – recording
- Marco Sonzini – recording
- Sharo Torres – keyboards, recording, rhythm programming
- Kameron Williams – MC
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
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References
[edit]- ^abcdefghijAlexdy, Alex (September 14, 2015)."Crítica y Reseña del Disco: Alejandra Guzmán" A Más No Poder "".Hey Espectáculos(in Spanish). Archived fromthe originalon April 1, 2016.RetrievedApril 12,2016.
- ^Aguila, Justino (February 7, 2014)."Alejandra Guzman's New Tour Highlights Career Hits".Billboard.Prometheus Global Media.RetrievedApril 12,2016.
- ^ab"Alejandra Guzmán está lista para estrenar su nuevo disco".Univision(in Spanish). Univision Communications. September 19, 2015.RetrievedApril 12,2016.
- ^abcdefgRodríguez, Ángel (September 11, 2015)."Disco de la semana: 'A más no poder' de Alejandra Guzmán".ADN Informativo(in Spanish). Archived fromthe originalon April 25, 2016.RetrievedApril 12,2016.
- ^abcdAlejandra Guzmán,A + No Poder(Liner Notes). Sony Music. (2015)
- ^abHernández, Fernando (September 11, 2015)."Alejandra Guzmán rockera a más no poder".Tabasco Hoy(in Spanish). Archived fromthe originalon 2016-04-22.RetrievedApril 13,2016.
- ^abcdHinojosa, Fabiola (January 16, 2016)."Reseña: Alejandra Guzmán – A + No Poder".Televisa Espectáculos(in Spanish).RetrievedApril 12,2016.
- ^"Alejandra Guzmán — Chart History".Billboard.Prometheus Global Media.RetrievedApril 12,2016.
- ^ab"Los Más Vendidos 2015"(in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. 2015. Archived fromthe originalon January 24, 2016.RetrievedApril 12,2016.
- ^"Lanza Alejandra Guzmán tema a dueto con Farruko".Radio Fórmula(in Spanish). June 5, 2015.RetrievedApril 13,2016.
- ^"Alejandra Guzmán — Chart History — Latin Pop Songs".Billboard.Prometheus Global Media.RetrievedApril 12,2016.
- ^"Alejandra Guzmán lanzará 'A Mas No Poder' el próximo mes de septiembre".La Botana(in Spanish). August 24, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 2015-09-28.RetrievedApril 12,2016.
- ^"Alejandra Guzmán lanza su video grabado en Campeche".Expreso Campeche(in Spanish). May 25, 2016.RetrievedJune 20,2016.
- ^"A + No Poder - Alejandra Guzmán | Credits | AllMusic".AllMusic.Retrieved2018-05-07.
- ^"Alejandra Guzmán Chart History (Latin Pop Albums)".Billboard.Retrieved April 12, 2016.
- ^"Los Más Vendidos 2015 – Mejor posición"(in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived fromthe originalon January 24, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 23,2016.