Disco de Paulina Rubio: “Gran City Pop [Deluxe Edition]”

I like very much Paulina's music but her previous album "Ananda" from 2006 without being bad, didn't called much my attention. Three years later I heard her new single "Causa y efecto" and found it very good and then when "Grand City Pop" was released I bought it and to be honest, I didn't think that was going to be as good as it is.

This album is very relaxed, it goes from one song to another and it is simply relaxful and enjoyable. It has Paulina's touch in the sense of mixing different rhythms but this time is softer, it just flows. It's so simple but sophisticated at the same time. I can easily say that this is her best album so far (she has great songs in previous albums but somehow that way that this one blends makes me like it more).

I think that there isn't much to say just listen to the samples and maybe you will understand what I'm taliking about.

I think the highlights are:

*"Causa y efecto"

*"La danza del escorpion"

*"Mas que un amigo"

*"Ni rosas ni juguetes" (Something that can't miss in a cd by Paulina is a song with some touch of Ranchera)

*"A Contraluz"

*"Escaleras de arena"

*"Ya fue"

The extras are good (they could have been better to be honest but for the price difference is fine). There are two more different versions of "Causa y efecto" and the DVD includes the video from "Causa y efecto" and some footage of how the made the video, album and photoshoots. I think that an interview would've been great but maybe they're saving this for a possible re-release.

"Grand city pop" has had very positive reviews and in a month after the release has sold more than 300,000 copies worldwide. The first single "Causa y efecto" became a #1 hit in Billboard's "Hot Latin Tracks" and "Latin Pop Airplay" and Top 10 in Spain. "Grand City Pop" also topped the "Top Pop Latin Albums" from Billboard and debuted at #2 on Billboard's "Top 75 Latin Albums".

Not sure how this has possibly recieved negative reviews. This album is definitely one of Paulina's best. It's rythms are all excellent, fun-filled in every way.

The highlights are definitely Causa y Efecto, Ensename, Dulce Melodia de Tu Alma, Algo De Ti, and especially Ni Rosas Ni Juguetes. You can't repent for buying this album. It is fun and lightweight pop at its best.

After knocking it out of the park with Pau-Latina, and the nearly as good Ananda, it was probably too much to expect another Home-Run. Let's just call this one a "hit". A solid double! Definately NOT a strike out! OK! Those are all the sports analogies I have for today!

Seriously, GRAN CITY POP just doesn't muster the same all-the-way through enjoyment as Pau's previous two albums. I was originally going to give it three stars, but after listening a bit, and watching the DVD, I have to say it grows on you and I found myself liking it more.

What's here to like? The fun and catchy CAUSA Y EFECTO, NI ROSAS NI JUGUETES and the awesome ALGO DE TI (my personal favorite). The rest is kind of fair to middling quality. Not bad, but not great. I LIKE it, but it's NOT my favorite Paulina Rubio album.

THIS CD/DVD edition comes in a tri-fold CARDBOARD case--NOT a plastic jewel-case! Inside you'll find the CD, DVD and in the third pocket, an eight-page lyric booklet.

CD contains 11 original tracks PLUS TWO remixes of CAUSA Y EFECTO, one Banda and one DANCE/CLUB mix, neither of which is an improvement on the original track!

DVD contains 4 tracks (times appx): a 16:30 "documentary" of Pau's days working on G.C.P; a 6:30 "photo-session" documentary; the 3:22 CAUSA Y EFECTO VIDEO; and a 5:00 slide show with a dozen or so photos of Pau.

The term "documentary" is used loosely, as there is minimal dialogue, and a few "captions". ALL THREE of the non-video tracks feature an audio track of part of CAUSA Y EFECTO repeated OVER and OVER again. Gets kind of tiring after 15:00! BUT THE PHOTOS and VIDEO quality are great! I swear Pau gets BETTER looking with age! WORTH THE EXTRA $$$ over the standard CD if you ask me.

ALL IN ALL, worth the price of admission. Again, NOT the best Pau album ever, but not a clunker either!

***YOU can STOP reading here if you just wanted to know about the CD/DVD****

NOW FOR SOME TANGENTIALLY GERMANE, MISCELLANEOUS RAMBLINGS FOR THOSE WITH A INTEREST IN THE HUMOROUS MUSINGS OF SOMEBODY WHO THINKS WAY TOO MUCH!

1) While typing "CAUSA Y EFECTO" over and over for this review, my fingers kept trying to type "CAUSA & EFECTO". It occurs to me that in written Spanish, there is no need for an ampersand (&). According to my dictionary, the word ampersand is a corruption of "and per se and". And no, it's not called "the 'and' sign". :>)

2) The "siren like" beginning of ALGO DE TI reminds me of the old theme for the IRONSIDE TV show starring Raymond Burr. I was only a KID, but I liked that theme. Maybe that's why I really like ALGO DE TI!

3) The first time I looked at the album cover, I immediatly thought of the cover for CITY TO CITY by Gerry Rafferty painted by John Patrick Byrne. When I saw the back of the case with the picture of Pau holding a guitar and the city skyline behind her I had to get out my CITY TO CITY LP and sure enough, there was Gerry Rafferty, with his guitar and the city skyline in the background--although Gerry was FLYING across the sky! Both are stylistically great, but that Byrne painting is just awesome! I'd rate his artwork on all of Rafferty's albums very near the top of the heap in album cover art hall-of-fame. Of course, Pau is MUCH more pleasing to my eye! IF only John Patrick Byrne (assuming he's still alive!) could paint PAU flying across the sky with a guitar--that would really make my day! I'd hang THAT on MY living room wall!

See? I TOLD you they were TANGENTIALLY GERMANE, MISCELLANEOUS RAMBLINGS!!!!!!

How to start? Well when I found out the title of the disc, I should confess I thought it was not that good. But as the days went by, it did not seem that bad... Now that I finally can have this material in my hands (and iPod), I think it's a great album. And I can say that GRAN CITY POP sounds GREAT!

In general terms this album is very good, and as the name states, it contains 10 pop songs. Non the less, it is not a conventional pop beat, they have a little retro-innovative twist, that only Paulina could achieve.

What do I mean?

In this material you can find several 80's beats, and yet it sounds fresh. The idea of a ranchera-hawaiian song is wierd, yet it is so well integrated. All the tracks show a maturity of Paulina as an artist and a person; a strong, happy and in love woman.

Definitley Gran City Pop is an album that's worth listening to.

I don't think is her best CD, but I like a few songs. The DVD included is great.