Brilliant musician, I love the caribbean meets salsa and rock influence on My Great Escape, that has to be one of my favorite songs. Great job Luis!!
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Hearing the powerful new recording “My Great Escape” by Luis Narino has solidified his place at the very top of my preferred singer/songwriter list. Though I have been a fan of this incredibly talented artist for 7 years now, I believe that this album is the most polished representation of his work. Luis Narino is an up-and-coming artist who will make a noticeable dent in the world of popular music. He has earned it. 

Luis Narino is truly a unique talent in today's musical world. This highly-trained, but goofy and spirited professional, has been spending nearly 15 years exploring a sound that is a combination of Latin, Rock, Funk, Blues, Pop, and even a bit of Gospel styles- all of which he can perform with exceptional authenticity. I firmly believe that "My Great Escape" is a recording that captures an artist who has truly begun to find an individual sound- one that teens and adults can both find rewarding. I have always appreciated Luis for his use of creativity and charisma to attract listeners from a variety of musical tastes, and this album is no exception. 

The first 2 tracks on this CD provide the listener with energetic riffs that encourage audience members of all ages to dance to the infectious groove. You get the feeling that Luis is playing the music for the enjoyment of the listener, and to let them know that everyone is invited to have a good time when listening to his music. The melodies in these first 2 tracks are extremely catchy, and are sung with terrific feeling. Either of these recordings would make a terrific single someday, particularly “A Sweeter Thing”, which has a chorus that is addictive from the beginning. What a marvelous mix of musical genres in this tune! The title track, My Great Escape, is one of the richer compositions, with a beautiful build up at the end, and lyrics that anyone can relate to in a variety of ways. The keyboard playing on this particular track is exceptional. The vocal harmonies are also rich, and add a lot of flare to an already beautiful vibe. 

"Say It How It Is" is well placed on the album, and shows a slightly darker side of Luis. Again, the compositional elements here are well thought out, and polished. Luis' soloing ability on guitar is allowed to shine on this track, and it leaves me wanting more on other tracks. The vocals here are sung with great feeling, and I could see this song being done incredibly well in a live setting.  "Birthday Suit" is a fitting closer for this debut album. The tune has a jam-band feeling, and I feel that a live version of this tune would bring it to life even more. The brass section does a terrific job, and the funky riffs leave the audience wanting to come out and play...

Luis Narino is an artist that deserves a tremendous amount of respect. I applaud him for taking the time to create beautiful compositions that send a positive, infectious vibe to his listeners. The artwork on the album is a perfect representation of the album vibe, and I applaud Julian for his efforts to capture the spirit of  Luis’music. Congratulations to all of the performers on the recording, and to the editing crew.  My Great Escape will be a regular playlist on my Ipod for years to come. I highly encourage you to check out a Luis Narino show, and to purchase this album IMMEDIATELY!
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