Mexico-Madrid: En Directo Y Sin Escalas
Alejandro Fernandez is a smoldering, confident live performer. His booming voice, swaggering sensuality and passionate personality are an absolute pleasure to watch onstage. It's a charismatic combination that's matched by few of his contemporaries. Musically speaking, Fernandez has always managed a precarious balance of old and new worlds. His pop recordings have taken him to the heartthrob heights of Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias, but Fernandez's heart has always been grounded in the ranchera and mariachi music made famous by father Vicente. This live disc, recorded during a summer 2005 concert in Madrid, illustrates the pull both genres have on the younger Fernandez, with mostly satisfying results. Fernandez does a fine job on such pop hits as "Tantita Pena" and "Como Quien Pierde Una Estrella," but he truly soars on the ranchera classics "El Rey" and "Mexico Lindo y Querido."  Spanish singer Amaia duets with Fernandez on his hit "Me Dedique a Perderte," but her  limited, strained vocals are all wrong for the bittersweet tune. Fernandez is nicely matched with acclaimed Spanish performer Diego "El Cigala" on "Como Quien Pierde Una Estrella," which deftly combines ranchera and flamenco rhythms. An acoustic studio version of "Para Vivir," originally featured on the albumA Corazon Abierto, closes the disc on a lovely note. The accompanying DVD offers the full-effect experience of Fernandez's live appeal and comes with loads of backstage moments, interview footage and gushing tributes from (mostly female) fans.--Joey Guerra