In their Brazilian homeland, dynamic teen siblings Sandy & Junior are a million-selling phenomenon. The duo’s extraordinary singing career is bolstered by a TV show (think Donny and Marie times 20). No wonder, then, that Universal is seeking to globalize this fab twosome. With this eponymous Spanish-language debut, Sandy & Junior get the job ably done, complete with seven catchy, poppy tracks (there’s even a Diane Warren/Michael Bolton song, with Spanish lyrics by Nacho Mañó) that could belong to any of several teen groups. The strength here, though, is Sandy’s sweet, bell-like voice—one that shows surprising range and strength belied by its dulcimer quality —showcased particularly well in tracks like “Convence al Corazón.” Musically, the liberal use of acoustic instruments (the strings in “La Leyenda” are noteworthy)—as opposed to sequencing, which is more tempting for this format—gives this very produced album a more intimate feel; yet it stops short of truly setting it apart. Everything is pleasant, beautifully done, and totally mainstream. Then again, that’s what the world can embrace in three different languages.—LC
Sandy & Junior
In their Brazilian homeland, dynamic teen siblings Sandy & Junior are a million-selling phenomenon.