Reflections
(Paul Van Dik)

The world has changed drastically since the release of the last album of Paul Van Dyk (“Out There and Back”) three years ago. For his new CD, “Reflections” he has crafted over a dozen songs that he describes as “…every track is a snapshot of an experience that inspired me to write a song about a certain issue. The whole album feels different form the last couple years, especially with my experience in India matured me a lot. And the mature you get, the more self-confident you become”. Vocalist like Jan Johnson, Brit-rock act Vega 4 and German hip-hop artist DJ Tomekk help mark “Reflections” as Paul’s most ambitious and accomplished album to date. Fans will find Paul’s characteristic dance-floor anthems intertwined with vocal-encumbered tracks. Highlights on the album include Paul’s singles “Nothing but You” and “Times of Our Lives”. (Ernesto Jáuregui)

Amour Amer
(Joel Virgel)

Set for release in the next two months “Amour Amer”-wich translates as “bitter love” in French-is a wildly romantic and incredibly sexy album. The fourteen songs blends Bossa Nova, Soul, Afro Beat and sophisticated melodies with a combination of sensual French and English Lyrics, a direct result of Joel upbringing in the French Caribbean Island of Guadalupe and Paris. Its been almost a year since his single “Won’t Take No”, remixed by the likes of Marques Wyatt and Giorgio Moorder, made splash on CMJ charts. Now a Los Angeles resident, Joel is ready to unleash his talents through his debut long-player after years of performing as a back up singer for the likes of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Wild Colonials. The album highlights his gift for creating haunting melodies and infectious beats on an array of original songs. (Scheherezade Alemán).

Harry For The Holidays
(Harry Connick Jr.)

Among the many joys of the holiday season is the opportunity to savor a wealth of wonderful Christmas music. It takes a rare artist like Harry Connick Jr., however, to honor the tradition evoked by cherished sacred and secular holiday songs while personalizing the effort with new interpretations and his own compositions. Connick Jr.does just that in his new CD, which is sure to be one of the most acclaimed and enjoyed efforts of the year. In some way Connick has taken this particular sleigh ride before. His 1993 album, “When My Heart Finds Christmas”, is among the most popular holiday collections of the past decade. After ten years of hearing requests for a sequel, the multi-talented singer/pianist/composer/arranger decided that the time is right and it was time to do it again”. (Gabriela Marquez)

Coverage
(Mandy Moore)
Singer-actrees, Mandy Moore explores her musical future with heartfelt interpretations of some of the greatest song of the past with this album. Produced by John Fields, “Coverage” includes twelve classic pop/rock anthems and ballads from the 1970’s and 80’s as Todd Rundgren’s “Can We Still Be Friends”, Joan Armatrading’s “Drop The Pilot”, Elton John’s “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters”, XTC’s “Senses Working Overtime, and John Hiatt’s “Have A Little Faith In Me”, the album first single. With three films set for release in the next year, Mandy Moore has achieved an impressive crossover success. She has released four best selling albums: “Candy”, and three huge follow-ups; the 2000 special Edition Album, “I Wanna Be With You”; 2001’s “Mandy Moore” and the soundtrack to her 2002 hit film “A Walk To Remember”. (Oscar Aguilar)