Luis Miguel

This cool, effortlessly romantic album finds Miguel at the height of his highly mannered powers. It's a breezy affair -- the sound of crashing waves opens "Amor a Mares," and lots of strings, chimes and gentle piano float amid the metaphorical white linen. In this context, Miguel is the courtly seducer, crooning about tortured love affairs (the hit "Si Tu Te Atreves") and every other romantic variation under the sun; nobody can wring pathos from bombast like this guy. Composer Manuel Alejandro wrote all the songs and also served as a coproducer on the album.