....Arsenal... is the second record in Buena Fe's career. The first highlighted feature in the list of these twelve songs is the decidely option to run this record over pop roads.

This album denies the ecleptic intention which tipified this duet's first production, that is, Dejame Entrar. This change favors the commercial perspectives of a CD for the likes of Arsenal, it also represents a notable reduction in the options range Rojas and Martínez are able to offer.

As pop album, this one is very good. Musically speaking, Arsenal have been thought and made for the great masses consume. In this way, we can find fine melodic lines, adhesive chorus with pretty voices, moderate rock energy, rhythmic and non-orthodoxes passages, brief guitar solos with plenty of feeling, harmonies in higher tones, melodic timbre of keyboards and an accessible-to-middle-citizens poetic, all recorded and masterized with a very high professional rigor.

Generally, lyrics talk about love (Tras tus pies, Intimidad, Cuando te amo, Propuesta), trivial things like our experiences in the metrobus, passion for baseball as life metaphor (Soñar en azul), homesickness (Parque de provincia) or any seesaw of the daily labor (Fin de fiesta).

The best of this album is contained in November, a song in which the introduction reproduces a quotation to a Leo Brouwer's work as a good example of Israel and Joel's unprejudiced and predominant view at their daily work, this procedure had been already used in Como un espejismo track (beloging to their opera prima), and in Fin de fiesta, an irreverent theme, holding all transgressive strength present in the current Cuban song. This sample is useful to confirm it is possible to compose music having discotheque airs aimed at dancing, but at the same time, at its textual speech, it is proposing ideas to reflect.

Israel's handling of irony and mock in this song shows how possible is to entwine commercial music with good taste. Check this: I'm apprentice from a grand champion of end of party/ My great desires of life are made in cork/ Floating in light waters/ Swimming in infected seas/ joy, rags and spangles waiting for boiling. /At least I say when I'm singing what I'm thinking/ On these times so full of double faith/ This time don't be afraid/ This time I will be mild/ Maybe tomorrow, I will regret and won't forget.


Taken from Juventud Rebelde. May/2003.

See discography in www.discuba.com