Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
It has been five years since Juan Luis Guerra y 4.40 issued 2014's Todo Tiene Su Hora. That record claimed the top spot on the Tropical and Top Latin Albums charts, led by its inimitable, smash hit single, the doo wop-cum-bachata track "Tu Besos." Literal marks Guerra's 16th studio outing. He and the band dig deep into diverse rhythms (as is typical), but also elucidate a rainbow assortment of carefully crafted songs that celebrate life on its own terms with adventurous harmonic and melodic invention, lush, pillowy textures, and fluid dynamics. Their optimism is a sharp contrast to the political and social justice issues so prevalent on some of his earlier recordings. Co-produced by Guerra with longtime associate, multi-instrumentalist, and engineer Janina Rosado, Literal naturally hosts bachata and merengue, though they are far from the only rhythms engaged here. Opener and first single "Kitipun" (whose Instagram-styled video garnered over eight million views during its first month) is a sweet and sultry exercise in breezy romantic bachata, with production twists that evoke soulful samba (à la Tim Maia), and the pop-jazz of Michael Franks, Steely Dan, and Ed Motta. By contrast, "Lámpara Pa' Mis Pies" is tropical carnival dance music (and a love song to Guerra's wife), a merengue with group-chanted choruses that touch on South African township jive and Nigerian highlife. "Cantando Bachata" flirts with '60s rock and '80s funk in its backbeat as slippery, infectious bachata rhythms embrace them both amid gorgeous stacked vocal harmonies and swinging R&B horns. No tropical album would be complete without salsa, and Literal offers "Má Pa' Lante Vive Gente," driven by percussive montunos, achingly beautiful backing vocals, and an expansive horn chart. Another highlight is "Son a Mamá" with its muted mariachi trumpet, decoratively charted horns, passionately chanted choral vocals, and bubbling bongos, congas, and timbales. All serve to buoy Guerra's effortlessly smooth romantic tenor. "I Love You More" is a celebratory merengue that would be equally at home during carnival -- its punchy rhythms, humid vallenato horns, and the call-and-response vocals between Guerra and his chorus of backing singers make this a crowd pleaser. (Check the crazy, speedy cumbia and salsa rhythms entwined with bachata under the main beats.) "Me Preguntas" is a searing ballad melding bachata and bolero, and Guerra's vocal ripples with empathy and desire. "El Primer Baile" is worthy of its translation as "the first dance." Its structure is panoramic: It melds jazz, bachata, pop, and smooth Latin soul. Its lyric, like those in many other songs found here, affirm and encourage everyday life even during dark and confusing times. As if to call to a close the album's celebration to rest, closer "Merengue de Cuna" is a gorgeous lullaby that features only Guerra's voice and acoustic guitar offering empathy and unconditional love. Literal bears the hallmarks of Guerra's sophisticated artistry, but he and 440 render them with abundant tenderness, intimacy, and joy here. Released at the start of Latin American and U.S. tours, Literal is an unabashedly romantic yet poetically poignant summertime record. Brilliant.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From kr124,99/month
Juan Luis Guerra, Producer, Guitar, Vocal Arranger, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Allan Leschhorn, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Janina Rosado, Producer, Keyboards, Co-Producer, Bass Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Juan De La Cruz, Bongos, AssociatedPerformer - Juan Rizek, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Juan Luis Guerra 4.40, MainArtist - Rafael Carrasco, Guiro, AssociatedPerformer - Ernesto Nuñez, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Rosario, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Zayas, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Naya Macea, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - JLG Estudios, Unknown, Other - Gateway Mastering Studios, Unknown, Other
℗ 2019 Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra, Producer, Guitar, Vocal Arranger, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Allan Leschhorn, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Janina Rosado, Producer, Keyboards, Co-Producer, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremias King, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Juan Rizek, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Juan Luis Guerra 4.40, MainArtist - Patricio Bonilla, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Rafael Carrasco, Guiro, AssociatedPerformer - Ernesto Nuñez, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Rosario, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Isidro Bobadilla, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Zayas, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Juan De La Cruz Tambora, Timbales , AssociatedPerformer - Naya Macea, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Otonel Nicolas, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - JLG Estudios, Unknown, Other - Gateway Mastering Studios, Unknown, Other
℗ 2019 Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocal Arranger, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Allan Leschhorn, Recording Engineer, Remix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Janina Rosado, Producer, Piano, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremias King, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Juan Rizek, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Juan Luis Guerra 4.40, MainArtist - Patricio Bonilla, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Rafael Carrasco, Guiro, AssociatedPerformer - Ernesto Nuñez, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Zayas, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Juan De La Cruz Tambora, Bongos, AssociatedPerformer - Harold Andeliz, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Naya Macea, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - JLG Studio, Unknown, Other - Gateway Mastering Studios, Unknown, Other
℗ 2019 Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra, Producer, Guitar, Vocal Arranger, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Allan Leschhorn, Recording Engineer, Remix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Janina Rosado, Producer, Piano, Co-Producer, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Militza Lankova, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Flete, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Juan Rizek, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Juan Luis Guerra 4.40, MainArtist - Igor Vasiljevic, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Rubén Toribio, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Patricio Bonilla, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Zvezdana Radojkovic, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Ernesto Nuñez, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Zayas, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Juan De La Cruz Tambora, Timbales , AssociatedPerformer - Milena Zivkovich, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Pedro Liberato, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Harold Andeliz, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Naya Macea, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - JLG Studio, Unknown, Other - Gateway Mastering Studios, Unknown, Other
℗ 2019 Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra, Producer, Guitar, Vocal Arranger, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Allan Leschhorn, Recording Engineer, Remix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Janina Rosado, Producer, Piano, Co-Producer, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Adalgisa Pantaleon, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Flete, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremias King, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Juan Rizek, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Juan Luis Guerra 4.40, MainArtist - Patricio Bonilla, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Rafael Carrasco, Guiro, AssociatedPerformer - Ernesto Nuñez, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Isidro Bobadilla, Percussion, Treble, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Zayas, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Juan De La Cruz Tambora, Timbales , AssociatedPerformer - Pedro Liberato, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Naya Macea, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - JLG Studio, Unknown, Other - Gateway Mastering Studios, Unknown, Other
℗ 2019 Juan Luis Guerra
Chris Worsey, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Rhodes, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Juan Luis Guerra, Producer, Guitar, Vocal Arranger, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Allan Leschhorn, Recording Engineer, Remix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Janina Rosado, Producer, Piano, Co-Producer, Chorus, Celesta, AssociatedPerformer - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Piggot-Smith, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremias King, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Jackie Hartley, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Juan Luis Guerra 4.40, MainArtist - Abbey Road Studio 1, Unknown, Other - Juan De La Cruz Tambora, Timbales , AssociatedPerformer - JLG Studio, Unknown, Other - Gateway Mastering Studios, Unknown, Other
℗ 2019 Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra, Producer, Guitar, Triangle, Trumpet, Vocal Arranger, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Allan Leschhorn, Recording Engineer, Remix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Janina Rosado, Producer, Piano, Co-Producer, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Adalgisa Pantaleon, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremias King, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Juan De La Cruz, Bongos, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Ramirez, Guiro, AssociatedPerformer - Juan Rizek, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Juan Luis Guerra 4.40, MainArtist - Patricio Bonilla, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ernesto Nuñez, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Luis Mojica, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Zayas, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Pedro Liberato, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - JLG Studio, Unknown, Other - Gateway Mastering Studios, Unknown, Other
℗ 2019 Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra, Producer, Guitar, Vocal Arranger, Chorus, Guiro, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Haegeum - Ed Calle, Soprano Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Allan Leschhorn, Recording Engineer, Remix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Janina Rosado, Producer, Piano, Co-Producer, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer, Haegeum - Adalgisa Pantaleon, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremias King, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Juan Rizek, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Juan Luis Guerra 4.40, MainArtist - Abbey Road Studio 1, Unknown, Other - Roger Zayas, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Juan De La Cruz Tambora, Timbales , AssociatedPerformer - JLG Studio, Unknown, Other - Gateway Mastering Studios, Unknown, Other
℗ 2019 Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra, Producer, Guitar, Vocal Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Allan Leschhorn, Recording Engineer, Remix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Janina Rosado, Producer, Piano, Co-Producer, Chorus, Celesta, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremias King, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Juan Rizek, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Juan Luis Guerra 4.40, MainArtist - Rafael Carrasco, Guiro, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Zayas, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer - Juan De La Cruz Tambora, Bongos, AssociatedPerformer - JLG Studio, Unknown, Other - Gateway Mastering Studios, Unknown, Other
℗ 2019 Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra, Producer, Vocal Arranger, Chorus, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Allan Leschhorn, Recording Engineer, Remix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Janina Rosado, Producer, Piano, Co-Producer, Chorus, Celesta, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Flete, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremias King, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Juan Luis Guerra 4.40, MainArtist - Patricio Bonilla, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Rafael Carrasco, Guiro, AssociatedPerformer - Ernesto Nuñez, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Juan De La Cruz Tambora, Timbales , AssociatedPerformer - Pedro Liberato, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Naya Macea, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - JLG Studio, Unknown, Other - Gateway Mastering Studios, Unknown, Other
℗ 2019 Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra, Producer, Guitar, Vocal Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Allan Leschhorn, Recording Engineer, Remix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Janina Rosado, Producer, Piano, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Angelo Cruz, Flageolet, AssociatedPerformer - Juan Luis Guerra 4.40, MainArtist - JLG Studio, Unknown, Other - Dejan Kulenovic, Oboe, AssociatedPerformer - Gateway Mastering Studios, Unknown, Other
℗ 2019 Juan Luis Guerra
Album review
It has been five years since Juan Luis Guerra y 4.40 issued 2014's Todo Tiene Su Hora. That record claimed the top spot on the Tropical and Top Latin Albums charts, led by its inimitable, smash hit single, the doo wop-cum-bachata track "Tu Besos." Literal marks Guerra's 16th studio outing. He and the band dig deep into diverse rhythms (as is typical), but also elucidate a rainbow assortment of carefully crafted songs that celebrate life on its own terms with adventurous harmonic and melodic invention, lush, pillowy textures, and fluid dynamics. Their optimism is a sharp contrast to the political and social justice issues so prevalent on some of his earlier recordings. Co-produced by Guerra with longtime associate, multi-instrumentalist, and engineer Janina Rosado, Literal naturally hosts bachata and merengue, though they are far from the only rhythms engaged here. Opener and first single "Kitipun" (whose Instagram-styled video garnered over eight million views during its first month) is a sweet and sultry exercise in breezy romantic bachata, with production twists that evoke soulful samba (à la Tim Maia), and the pop-jazz of Michael Franks, Steely Dan, and Ed Motta. By contrast, "Lámpara Pa' Mis Pies" is tropical carnival dance music (and a love song to Guerra's wife), a merengue with group-chanted choruses that touch on South African township jive and Nigerian highlife. "Cantando Bachata" flirts with '60s rock and '80s funk in its backbeat as slippery, infectious bachata rhythms embrace them both amid gorgeous stacked vocal harmonies and swinging R&B horns. No tropical album would be complete without salsa, and Literal offers "Má Pa' Lante Vive Gente," driven by percussive montunos, achingly beautiful backing vocals, and an expansive horn chart. Another highlight is "Son a Mamá" with its muted mariachi trumpet, decoratively charted horns, passionately chanted choral vocals, and bubbling bongos, congas, and timbales. All serve to buoy Guerra's effortlessly smooth romantic tenor. "I Love You More" is a celebratory merengue that would be equally at home during carnival -- its punchy rhythms, humid vallenato horns, and the call-and-response vocals between Guerra and his chorus of backing singers make this a crowd pleaser. (Check the crazy, speedy cumbia and salsa rhythms entwined with bachata under the main beats.) "Me Preguntas" is a searing ballad melding bachata and bolero, and Guerra's vocal ripples with empathy and desire. "El Primer Baile" is worthy of its translation as "the first dance." Its structure is panoramic: It melds jazz, bachata, pop, and smooth Latin soul. Its lyric, like those in many other songs found here, affirm and encourage everyday life even during dark and confusing times. As if to call to a close the album's celebration to rest, closer "Merengue de Cuna" is a gorgeous lullaby that features only Guerra's voice and acoustic guitar offering empathy and unconditional love. Literal bears the hallmarks of Guerra's sophisticated artistry, but he and 440 render them with abundant tenderness, intimacy, and joy here. Released at the start of Latin American and U.S. tours, Literal is an unabashedly romantic yet poetically poignant summertime record. Brilliant.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:34:25
- Main artists: Juan Luis Guerra
- Composer: Juan Luis Guerra
- Label: UMLE - Latino
- Genre: World
© 2019 Juan Luis Guerra ℗ 2019 Juan Luis Guerra
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.