The Last (album)

The Last
Studio album by Aventura
Released June 9, 2009
(see release history)
Recorded 2008–2009
Platinum Sound Recording, Legacy Recording Studios (New York City, New York); Skylight Recording, Kick Back Productions & Recording Studio, (New Jersey); The Hit Factory (Miami, Florida)
Genre Latin pop, bachata, tropical
Label Premium Latin Music, Sony International
Producer Anthony "Romeo" Santos, Gerry Grimaud Jr., Henry Santos Jeter, Wyclef Jean, Jerry Duplessis, Logic, Tainy, Victor "El Nasi", Marioso, Angel Fernandez
Aventura chronology

God's Project
(2005)
The Last
(2009)
Singles from The Last
  1. "Por Un Segundo"
    Released: January 14, 2009
  2. "All Up 2 You"
    Released: June 5, 2009
  3. "Su Veneno"
    Released: July 7, 2009
  4. "Dile Al Amor"
    Released: November 18, 2009
  5. "El Malo"
    Released: May 14, 2010
  6. "El Desprecio"
    Released: 2010
  7. "La Curita"
    Released: 2010
  8. "La Tormenta"
    Released: 2010

The Last is the fifth and final studio album by the Bachata group Aventura, released on June 9, 2009. In the "Intro" of this album, Anthony Santos states that this could possibly be their last album; his prediction came true in July 2011 when the group publicly confirmed it was breaking up for good.

The Last became the top selling Latin album of 2009. The Last spent 23 weeks at number one in the Latin Billboard chart. The Last debuted at number 5 in the Billboard chart and number 1 in the Latin Billboard chart.

Album information

One of the members of the group, the guitarist Lenny told MTV that the album was recorded in Wyclef's studio, and stated that Wyclef wanted to record a song with them. The song was "Spanish Fly", which features Wyclef Jean and Ludacris.[1]

Rumors were circulating that this album would be the last of the group. In the "Intro" of this album, Anthony Santos states that this could possibly be their last album. However, the group said that this is their last album with their label Premium Latin Music. So there will still be Aventura albums to come in the near future, but however in 2011, that was rebuked after Santos announced that the group is breaking up for good.

Aside from their original Bachata sound, the album also explores new genres for the group. In the song "All Up 2 You", has a Europop dance sound with auto-tune effects. Also the songs "Spanish Fly" has a dance-pop sound. The New York Times called "The Last", Aventura's surest, catchiest record.[2] The group collaborated with reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel, Akon, Wyclef Jean, and Ludacris.

The album has become thus far the group's best album. The album spawned four hit singles, two which topped the Latin charts, and has been the #1 album for 23 weeks on Billboard Top Latin Albums. At the Premio Lo Nuestro 2010 awards, the album was awarded "Tropical Album of the Year". At the Billboard Latin Music Awards of 2010 in held in San Juan, Puerto Rico Aventura won nine awards including one for Album of the Year for "The Last"

Singles

"Por un Segundo" is the first single release from the album, released in January 2009 along with its music video. "Por un Segundo" became the group's first number one on the Billboard Top Latin Tracks chart.

"All Up 2 You" was released as the second single. The song features R&B artist Akon, and reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel and a remix with dancehall artist Adrian Banton. the song reached top five on the charts, peaking at number four.

"Su Veneno" was released as the third single in July 2009. The song was released as a bolero version and a bachata version the following day. The song became another top five hit peaking at number four in the Hot Latin Tracks.

"Dile al Amor" was released as the fourth single in late 2009 and became the group's second number one single on the Hot Latin Tracks.

"El Malo" was released as the fifth single in early 2010. Initially, the song did not reach same success as the previous singles on the Hot Latin Tracks until it was re-released. The single became another top five hit, peaking at number five on Hot Latin Tracks and number one on the Tropical Airplay charts.

"El Desprecio" was released as the promo single and only peaked number forty on the Tropical Airplay charts, it was also featured on the soundtrack for Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony.

Chart performance

The Last debuted at number five in the U.S. Billboard 200 with sales of 37,000 units, the act's best sales week ever. The album also arrived at number-one on the Top Latin Albums chart, where it became their first chart-topper and holding the number one position for 16 non-consecutive weeks on the top Latin charts and becoming the best selling Latin album of 2009. The group had charted three previous top five sets there. The album has sold more than 300,000 copies on USA.[3] Aventura made history when "The Last" debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [4]
About.com [5]

John Bush of Allmusic gave the album a somewhat positive review. He called the lead single "Por un Segundo" a "straight bachata, rhythmic and sweet" and noted that the crossovers are put on the latter half of the album.[4] Tijana Ilich of About.com praised the vocals of Anthony "Romeo" Santos and the called song "Soy Hombre" the best on the album. On the other hand, she criticized the lack of diversity on the album as "Basically all-bachata album".[5]

Track listing

Standard edition
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Intro (The Last)"  Anthony SantosRomeo, Gerry Grimaud, Jr. 1:24
2. "Por Un Segundo"  Anthony SantosRomeo, Gerry Grimaud, Jr. 4:15
3. "Yo Quisiera Amarla"  Anthony SantosRomeo, Gerry Grimaud, Jr. 5:06
4. "El Malo"  Anthony SantosRomeo, Gerry Grimaud, Jr. 3:58
5. "Dile al Amor"  Anthony SantosRomeo, Gerry Grimaud, Jr. 3:49
6. "Su Veneno"  Anthony SantosRomeo, Gerry Grimaud, Jr. 4:18
7. "Tu Jueguito"  Anthony SantosRomeo, Gerry Grimaud, Jr. 3:42
8. "Spanish Fly" (featuring Ludacris and Wyclef Jean)Anthony Santos, Christopher Bridges, Wyclef Jean, Jerry DuplessisJerry Duplessis, Wyclef Jean, Logic 3:57
9. "Peligro"  Anthony SantosRomeo, Gerry Grimaud, Jr. 4:38
10. "La Tormenta"  Anthony SantosRomeo, Gerry Grimaud, Jr. 4:35
11. "El Desprecio"  Anthony SantosRomeo, Gerry Grimaud, Jr. 4:35
12. "All Up 2 You" (featuring Akon and Wisin & Yandel)Anthony Santos, Llandel Veguilla, Juan Luis Morera Luna, Aliaune Thiam, Marcos MasísTainy, Victor "El Nasi", Marioso 3:38
13. "Skit"  Anthony SantosRomeo, Gerry Grimaud, Jr. 4:05
14. "La Curita"  Anthony SantosRomeo, Gerry Grimaud, Jr., Angel Fernandez 4:21
15. "Princesita"  Henry Santos JeterHenry Santos Jeter 4:17
16. "Su Vida"  Anthony SantosRomeo, Gerry Grimaud, Jr. 4:34
17. "Soy Hombre" (featuring Arturo Sandoval)Anthony SantosRomeo, Gerry Grimaud, Jr. 4:33
18. "Gracias"  Anthony SantosRomeo, Gerry Grimaud, Jr. 7:33

Chart history

Peak positions

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Mexican Albums Chart[6] 16
Swiss Albums Chart[7] 10
U.S. Billboard 200[8] 5
U.S. Billboard Top Latin Albums[8] 1
U.S. Billboard Tropical Albums[8] 1

Sales and certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Mexico (AMPROFON)[9] Platinum 80,000^
United States (RIAA)[10] 4× Platinum (Latin) 400,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Label
United States June 9, 2009[11] Sony International
Canada[12] Strichcode
Germany June 12, 2009[13]
France[14]
United Kingdom September 9, 2009[15] Sony International

See also

References

  1. Gonzalez, Lisa (June 23, 2009). "Aventura Thank Their 'Loyal Fans' For The Last's Top-Five Debut - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  2. Rosen, Jody (June 7, 2009). "Crossover Dreams of a Bronx Bachatero". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  3. Caulfield, Keith (June 17, 2009). "Black Eyed Peas 'E.N.D.' Up At No. 1 On Billboard 200". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  4. 4.0 4.1 The Last - Review Allmusic
  5. 5.0 5.1 Review: Aventura - The Last About.com
  6. "Aventura – The Last". MexicanCharts.com. LesCharts.com. June 21, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  7. "Aventura – The Last". HitParade.ch. LesCharts.com. June 21, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Aventura – The Last". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. June 17, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  9. "Certificaciones – Aventura" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas.
  10. "American album certifications – Aventura – The Last". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click Type, then select Latin, then click SEARCH
  11. Amazon.com: The Last: Aventura: Music Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  12. The Last: Aventura: Amazon.ca: Music Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  13. The Last: Aventura: Amazon.de: Musik Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  14. Last: Aventura: Amazon.fr: Musique Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  15. Last (Dig): Aventura: Amazon.co.uk: Music Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved January 1, 2011.

External links