Versus

Album review

Can you shout "divas?" When this duo announced their historic joint transcontinental tour and the Versus album on Sebastian Krys's Rebeleon Entertainment label late in 2016, fans went crazy and so did the press in both Latin America and the United States--it sold out arenas in minutes. Gloria Trevi and Alejandra Guzman are bona fide Latin pop/rock legends with sales ov of over 60 million albums between them. "Cuando Un Hombre Te Enamora" its first single and video offered the time-honored revenge story of two women in love with the same lothario; it rang up 24 million views on You Tube in its first month and the sngle topped the charts. One of three songs here prdocued by Armando Avila, its arrangement played to the strengths of both singers: the rock swagger in Guzman's style combined with the irresistible pop anthem tenetsof Trevi's. That cut didn't prove a one off either. A month later, second single (and album opener) "Mas Buena" scored just as high. Also produced by Avila, it leaned a little more toward Guzman's queen of rock identity, but its infectious chorus full of theatrical drama with just a hint of vulnerability, in the verses was all Trevi. This pair has plenty of tricks up their collective sleeve on ythis record. Check the doo wopping male backing chorus in the duo's cover of the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." Most wouldn't even consider this nugget possible for another reinvention (at least not since Devo anyway), but thanks to the imagination of producer Aureo Baqueiro and these women's committed singing and collective sense of humor, it rocks anew. On "Soy Tuya," co-produced by hitmnakers Andres Torres and Mauricio, and "Esta Si Va Para Ti" produced by Andres Saavedra, the pair delve into electro cumbia convincingly and without sacrificing their own identities. Not on;ly are these tracks not cloying, the skittering beats and loops and synthed out basslines underscore the different qualties in their voices. Each artist gets a solo number, but even these are delivered with a clever twist: Guzman delivers a unique, fist pumping hard rock version of Trevi's dancefloor hit "Todos Me Miran", while Trevi offers Guzman's metallic smash "Eternamente Bella" as a horn-drenched, fingerpopping dance tune complete with handclaps, loops, sugary acoustic guitars and swirling synths. Like its tour Versus does not disappoint. It's over the top in songwriting, production, arrangement, and above all inspired performances. Trevi and Guzman bring out the best in one another in ythe studio and on stage and prove, yet again, why they've endured for decades. Upon its release, Versus became the first collaborative female album in the history of the Top Latin Albums chart to enter at number one, and it did so largely through physical album sales. Hopefully, there's a sequel to this album in the offing.

© Thom Jurek /TiVo