As salsa enjoys a youthful 2020s resurgence, Christian Alicea has undeniably become one of its most visible and admired players. Blessed by veterans like Tito Nieves and aligned with contemporaries like Luis Figueroa, the Puerto Rican singer represents this new tropical wave with vibrant energy and obvious star power. Following up his 2023 debut, the simply-titled Yo, his second proper full-length Swingkete Vol. 1 - Maratón reflects his growing profile with nearly an hour’s worth of songs that speak to the genre’s past while positioning it for this modern era. Album opener “Hello, What’s Up” provides a playful entry point for newcomers, overcoming perceived language barriers with winking humor and no small amount of charm. Songs like “El Dominó” and “E.M.U.” offer knowing stylistic touches familiar to longtime lovers of this music without ever feeling stodgy or stale. He sings with passion and pride in his country on “En PR con Plena,” adding to a contemporary canon of Puerto Rican homeland homage. All too happy to invite reggaetoneros into his space, Alicea brings Jowell & Randy along for the uptempo “Carrusel” and lets singer J Alvarez in for a proper duet on “Homenaje a J Alvarez.” With Eliot El Mago D Oz by his side, he even manages to slip some bachata vibes into the mix on “Tus Celos.” Yet even without guests, he hints and gestures towards a potential for a more expansive vision of Latin stardom. After gliding over the drill-adjacent title track, he toys with reggae cadences on “Bomba Para Afincar” and tries out Afrobeats for size on “Ella Es Así.”