At first glance, Eros Ramazzotti’s new album, E2, evokes groans of skepticism, mainly because well-established, popular recording artists who put out compilation CDs containing reworked versions of classic hits often run the risk of disappointing fans with boring material.  In some of the worst cases, these types of albums come off as lazy, lackluster creations meant to squeeze a quick buck out of adoring fans everywhere.  Nonetheless, I decided to give the album a fair listen, optimistic that in this case, creativity would prevail.

 The first song is a fresh start—the danceable Ricky-Martin-duet, “No Estamos Solos,” but then the album takes a plunge on the second track, “Una Historia Importante.”   This song, along with others, “La Cosa Más Bella” and “Si Bastasen un Par De Canciones,” are simply classics that have been lazily reworked into new, pop-rock versions which lack the impact of their original counterparts.

 The album features two duets but “No Estamos Solos” is the only one worth mentioning.  The combination of Ricky and Eros obviously has success written all over it, as the track has been climbing the charts since its release.  This time around, the duet with Tina Turner “Cosas De La Vida,” was stripped of Turner’s voice and changed into an all-Spanish, Eros only track. It would have been interesting to hear the dynamic of a different female voice—singing in Spanish perhaps?

 The remaining new tracks serve the purpose of injecting variety into the monotony of those familiar, mediocre visits...squared.  They are not among the best we have heard from Eros, but he does pull through for us in the sad, piano ballad “Somos Grandes o No.”

 If you are a true Eros fan you will definitely appreciate the five redone collaborations that did manage to emerge new and exciting.  Thanks to a few special guest appearances, these songs carry the weight for the disappointing half of the album.  The third track, “Ahora Tú” is a beautiful new arrangement which rivals version one.  Eros’ voice and delivery is stunning when backed by the London Session Orchestra.  Eros and Take 6 also treat the ears to a soulful, beat-box version of “Un Segundo De Paz,” while Carlos Santana makes an appearance on “Fuego En El Fuego,” and Rhythm Del Mundo  adds some salsa flavor to “”La Noche Son Tus Ojos.”  In Track 10, “Una Emoción Para Siempre,” the Chieftains take the original, an ordinary pop ballad, and turn it into something amazing, even better than before! Overall, the album left me pleasantly surprised; the collaborations were a smart addition to what teetered dangerously close to being an uneventful afternoon, snooze.