Alerta Pendiente Drop 002
A Tough Week for New Music, But These Four Tracks Earned Their Spot
Not every week is a great week for new music.
As someone who spends countless hours digging through releases across genres, I've learned that discovery isn't always about finding masterpieces. Sometimes it's about finding the handful of songs that manage to rise above the noise.
This week was one of those weeks.
A lot of music came out. Most of it didn't connect with me. That's not an indictment of the artists; it's simply the reality of listening critically. Taste is subjective, and part of the appeal of Alerta Pendiente is that these selections are exactly that: personal.
Unlike the previous week's playlist, where one record clearly stood above the rest, this week felt different. There wasn't a single standout dominating my attention. Instead, each of the songs that made my list brought something unique to the table, earning their place for entirely different reasons.
Damn Goldo's Strength—and Challenge
One of the records that caught my attention was "That You Want" by Dan Goldo. The song succeeds largely because of its use of a familiar sample. Goldo understands the source material and approaches it with respect, which helps the track feel immediately recognizable and inviting. At the same time, that's where my only criticism begins.
Listening to the song, I found myself wanting more of Dan Goldo in the record. The sample is effective, but at moments the track feels so faithful to its inspiration that it almost approaches cover territory. That's not necessarily a flaw. After all, it made my list. But the most exciting reinterpretations are the ones that reveal something new about the artist. I walked away curious about what Goldo himself wanted to say beyond the framework of the original idea.
ABEE and the Dangerous Art of Nostalgia
Then there's ABEE. Or, as I jokingly describe the experience: the artist who makes me want to text my ex. I'm not going to text my ex. We're in 2026. We've evolved. We've healed. We've moved on. And yet somehow AVE's music creates that emotional vulnerability where forgiveness suddenly feels like an option. That's the mark of a skilled songwriter. What makes AVE compelling isn't simply her ability to write about emotions. Plenty of artists do that. It's her ability to recreate emotional states that listeners thought they had already left behind. Her songs don't just describe heartbreak. They temporarily transport you back into it.
That's a rare talent, and she demonstrates it once again on this release.
When Too Much Autotune Gets in the Way
One of my favorite songs of the week also happens to be the one that frustrated me the most. The issue isn't the songwriting. The issue isn't the production. The issue isn't even the performance. It's the autotune. To be clear: autotune isn't inherently a problem. Reggaetón has used vocal processing for decades. The problem arises when the effect becomes so dominant that it obscures the artist underneath. What made this particular record frustrating is that it features Zion—a vocalist whose voice has become a benchmark within Latin urban music. Zion's melodies, tone, and phrasing are instantly recognizable. His voice is the brand.
So when I could clearly hear Zion but struggled to fully understand other portions of the record because of excessive vocal processing, it felt like a missed opportunity. The song is excellent. That's precisely why the criticism exists. Sometimes the records we love most are the ones we wish had gone just a little further.
"Juguetona" Is Built for the Aux
If there's one song on this week's list that immediately passed the aux test, it's "Joguetona" by Sinaka and Flaco Loyal. The track is pure energy. It's the kind of record that doesn't need a lengthy explanation because its purpose becomes obvious within seconds. You hear it and immediately imagine it playing through car speakers, at a kickback, or during one of those moments when everyone in the room suddenly starts paying attention. Some songs invite analysis. Others invite movement.”Juguetona" belongs firmly in the second category.
Dálmata Energy for a New Generation
Finally, there's "Super Star" by D.OZi, Yomo, Alejo, and Sublime. As I've said many times before, I grew up around public housing communities where street narratives, neighborhood politics, and maleanteo culture were part of the environment. Because of that, records that tap into those traditions tend to grab my attention. "Super Star" does exactly that. The song balances charisma, swagger, and street sensibility in a way that feels authentic rather than performative. It carries the kind of energy that immediately reminds listeners why these styles continue to resonate across generations of reggaetón fans. By the time the record ended, my reaction was simple: "Ay, hicieron algo aquí,” they made something.
No Clear Winner—And That's Okay
What made this week's selections interesting wasn't the presence of a runaway favorite. In fact, unlike the previous week, I found myself appreciating all of these songs for different reasons. One moved me emotionally. Another made me think critically about artistic identity. Another felt destined for social settings. Another tapped into cultural memories that still resonate. None of them occupied the exact same lane. And that's what made the playlist work. Sometimes music criticism isn't about crowning a winner. Sometimes it's about recognizing the different ways artists manage to leave an impression.
