Assesina

EMI Virgin Records

If you like... Sean Paul, Daddy Yankee

Lame-ass tracks: “Gasolina,” “Papa Macerena”

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Just when you thought you finally forgot the annoyance that was the Macarena, along comes Papa A.P. and his debut album Assesina, where he dared to remake the annoying dance hit with the track “Papa Macarena.” What’s Spanish for “Oh no, he didn’t!?!”

Papa A.P. was introduced to the European dance scene with his Top 40 Hit “Gasolina.” The song, like the rest of the album, is catchy and dance-worthy, with just the right blend of Euro pop and dance music to make it borderline annoying.

If you haven’t heard it in the club, you have probably heard it as someone’s ringtone. The sound is an example of a new genre called “Reggaetone,” a mix of salsa, rap, hip-hop and R&B. This would make one assume that some originality was included in the making of this CD. Instead, there is just an over-abundance of synthesizers and sexy Spanish dialogue which fail to add dramatic effect.

Papa obviously has no significant musical talent, which is probably why the album sounds like it was made in his basement with a bad keyboard and some chicks he picked up from the bar.

Sadly, if you start your album with a bang like “Gasolina” and fill in the blanks with pointless and unfulfilling club remixes, it’s inevitable your chances of being a big star will be Assesina-ted.

—Laura Jane Downs