★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 out of 5
Her hips don't lie and you can have her whenever, wherever. Latin she wolf, Shakira, has been heating up the radio airwaves and television screens for quite some time with her trademark vocals and insane abdominal muscles following her debut release. For her tenth studio album, appropriately titled Shakira., the artist serves a Latin pop style effort in replace of the electro-pop experimentation of her last full English release back in 2008.
Preceded by the lackluster, Rihanna-assisted "Can't Remember To Forget You", the new album comes hot off the heels of Shakira's second go-round as a judge on the hit singing competition show The Voice. Drawing inspiration from the pop, dance, rock, country and every other genre in between, Shakira's latest effort revolves around the cliche topic of love, but also explores her new role as a mother and the happiness it has brought. Some topics may get serious, but the artist still brings her Latin flare to every song on the album, whether it be a hit or miss.
While "Can't Remember To Forget You" was a decent, unique, radio-ready lead single featuring the sultry vocals of fellow pop female Rihanna, it ultimately became a collaboration that was not that memorable or impressive. Coming off as a Bruno Mars leftover, the highlight was the reggae-like production supporting the two females. Verses were weak, the chorus did not explode, even the sexually charged music video was a letdown. Shame.
In an unexpected and risky move, Shakira announced the piano-driven rock ballad "Empire" as the official second single from the album. "Like the empires of the world unite, we are alive, and the stars make love to the universe" she beautifully sings as her vocals soar to exciting levels before the incredibly flawless chorus transports listeners back to the music of the mid-90s. It may not be a track radio will gravitate towards, but it definitely screams "Grammy".
It becomes clear you should never upset the Latin songstress as "You Don't Care About Me" seems just spiteful enough to be directed toward a jilted former lover. The minimalistic pop track shows a deliciously bitter, revengeful side to the singer, much better than a Taylor Swift creation, and then brings in trumpets, guitar and clapping to add some extra layers to her telling diss.
No one can deliver catchy dance music like Shakira can. Though rough demos of "Dare (La La La)" have been on the web for a couple of years, it is nice to finally hear the finished version and still be blown away. Surrounded in thick, electronic beats, the artist easily glides over the loud production to give an energetic, sultry, uptempo performance just in time for the upcoming World Cup.
Fusing reggae and rock successfully, "Cut Me Deep" featuring the talents of Canadian band Magic!, becomes another unique and attention-grabbing creation for the artist. "Cause you cut me deep, your words are like steel," Shakira sings on the midtempo chorus before more rock elements come bursting through to really finish off the song on more of a headbanging note than the laidback intro.
At the beginning, "23" starts off slow and sweet with nothing but vocals and the trademark guitar coming through the speakers, but as the artist continues to sing of her new beau and when they first met, more instrumentals and bass come into the mix and it definitely becomes another touching ballad carried by true talent. She questions one's belief in destiny, incorporates her baby's voice, it's all too cute and adorable.
"The One Thing" is an obvious pop song dedicated to Shakira's one-year-old, however, it does become another overly sweet track that will bring a smile to one's face. "I may not be here forever, but it'll be a long road together," she sings while admitting her son was the only thing she has done right. The song is innocent and honest, carries a bit of a country flare and continues the album down the right path.
Just as Christina Aguilera did on her last release, Shakira calls on fellow The Voice judge Blake Shelton for the country/pop duet "Medicine". The two artists waste no time sharing the spotlight, showing obvious musical chemistry, as the track does not follow the usual duet formula. The songwriting, talking of drinking whiskey and popping pills, bares resemblance to Kid Rock's "Picture", but brought forward to 2014.
Avril Lavigne would be proud of the heavy rock edge of "Spotlight", Shakira even sounds like the Canadian artist at times, as the singer tells of her lover sticking around for the love and not the money. Supported by power guitars and dominant drums, the song does a great job at showing the impressive vocal range of the artist. It is another unexpected inclusion yet it works even though it shouldn't.
Another brilliant power ballad, "Broken Record", showcases the soothing qualities of the artist's vocals. Supported solely by guitar, until more heavenly strings come through toward the end, the track becomes more than the typical love song. "Can you put your trust in my word, I sound like a broken record," she sings on the chorus which any lovestruck teenager will be able to resonate with every word. Simply beautiful.
"Nunca Me Acuerdo de Olvidarte" may be just the Spanish solo version of "Can't Remember To Forget You", however, it does seem to have more of a punch in Shakira's native tongue. It's a bit more sultry and sexual, not as forced as its English counterpart.
The standard physical edition of the album closes with "Loca Por Ti", a soft and sentimental Spanish track where Shakira shows her true feelings and colors toward her new love interest. Though not in English, many may not grab the concept, it proves to be a romantic creation, the ultimate love letter.
Shakira. is a better than expected effort from an artist who constantly changes her sound with every new album. For her tenth release, Shakira tends to journey back to the start with a Latin pop/rock vibe found on her early releases, although interesting elements of country and reggae are thrown in for good measure with amazing ending results. Whether she is being supported by electronic beats, a piano or harmonizing strings, Shakira makes sure it is her breathtaking vocal performances that do all the work. It was a long wait for an English-language album, but it was worth the wait as the artist allows listeners into her personal life for an enjoyable, commendable journey.
Tracks to Hear: "Empire", "Dare (La La La)", "The One Thing" and "Broken Record"
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