Our Prince becomes Jack Juan-son.
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[5.57]
Jonathan Bogart: Jason Mraz bullshit being interrupted by smooth bachata patter is still Jason Mraz bullshit.
[4]
Anthony Easton: The castanets-esque percussion in this is so charmingly adroit, and mixed in such a way that how it distracts from the weakness of Royce’s vocals seems deliberate.
[7]
Jer Fairall: With a voice too pretty for English-language pop radio, Royce nevertheless gives it his best shot by opening his latest with a plinky-plonky guitar bit straight out of the Jason Mraz/Jack Johnson wing of nice-guy folk-rock before easing his way back into traditional bachata territory for the bulk of the running time. He’s better off there anyway, so everyone please refrain from encouraging a more aggressive crossover attempt by pointing out the obvious fact that he’s way cuter than anyone in One Direction.
[6]
Daniel Montesinos-Donaghy: Before That Chorus, “Darte Un Beso” feels goofy with the romance-wrangling on top of Jason Mraz chord sequences. Then the pace picks up and That Chorus arrives, all dusk-setting paperback novel eroticism, performed by a vocalist who has no time for making it sound corny. Did you hear that instrumental break with the strings going a semitone higher and that guitar getting smacked?! Somebody is going to get so pregnant to this song.
[8]
Alfred Soto: With guitars as cute as his earring and a voice that could warm the fur of a Teddy Ruxpin doll, the Prince simpers like the professional cornball that he’s an album away from becoming. The bongos are out of “La Isla Bonita,” not bachata, which would be a plus for another singer.
[5]
Brad Shoup: A timely reminder: if you don’t keep your bachata locked down, it could turn into Jawaiian. You can minimize the impact with slow-dance synth twinkles, but the damage is already done.
[5]
Will Adams: The tug of war between the swing and straight rhythms is tough to get past. Prince Royce breathily scratching the top of his register during the chorus is even tougher. A bit of a waste of those glassy synths, no?
[4]