Friday, October 9, 2009

Shakira - She Wolf album review 4/5 stars



01. She Wolf 03:10
02. Did It Again 03:13
03. Long Time 02:56
04. Why Wait 03:43
05. Good Stuff 03:17
07. Men In This Town 03:35
07. Gypsy 03:18
08. Spy (feat. Wyclef Jean) 03:27
09. Mon Amour 04:06
10. Lo Hecho Está Hecho 03:13
11. Años Luz 03:42
12. Loba 03:09

The album starts with the late 70's brovado of the title track "She Wolf". The first thing I thought was afros and shorts that recall Chrissy in Three's Company. The beat produced by The Neptunes is very bouncy and catchy. What I loved is that her english has dramatically improved since her last English language debut. If you remember she took time off to do several spanish language albums and singles.

The second track is my favorite "Did It Again", it combines Shakira's rock style with The Neptunes cartoony beats and the hook will indeed put a smile on your face. I couldn't hear any of our popular artists singing this track with the exception of Lady Gaga. This track though a very basic pop track has alot of character and personality. The third track I have to say when I first heard it the first few times, I was slightly annoyed by what I call the pop version of reggae or as I call "pseudo-reggae" but I'll let it slide because Shakira as part Carribean influences in her native Colombia. This is track for the girls with hips.

"Why Wait" is a bit darker for The Neptunes style of producing, this track pays tribute to Shakira's Middle Eastern background. This actually should be the next single but I'm just predicting. This is definetely a song that even the hardcore boys shouldn't be ashamed to rock in their jeeps. This is the song Pussycat Dolls should be mad that didn't make their album.

So far, so good Neptunes!

The next track "Good Stuff" sounds a bit like "Hip's Don't Lie" version 2.0, you guessed it this was one of the tracks produced by Wyclef...ohhhh Wyclef originality much? It's still a good track, just a bit too familiar to one of her more recognizable English language hits.

Another one of my favourite tracks on this album "Men In This Town" mainly because of its lyrics. It's the albums most contemporary track in terms of sound. If you are over the faux 80's/90's pop sound. Then you can skip this track. "Gypsy" goes into a more country style of music which will take your ears by surprise after all this pop and disco. It's very interesting and unexpected because of it's major layerings throughout the track.

"Spy" another track that features Wyclef but is produced by The Neptunes sounds like it sampled "I Wonder Why He's The Greatest". I find that this album borrows heavily from the late 70s era which oddly suits Shakira. Wyclef shows off a much softer vocal performance alongside Shakira.

"Mon Amour" is the stand alone rock track and it does not dissapoint. It's the first time I truly got to hear Shakira in her rock element since her first few spanish language albums and when she is is on, she is on fire.

In conclusion, this is a brave endeavour for Shakira to tackle pure pop like she's never tackled it and it took alot of nerve for her to do venture here. I hope she collaborates with Pharrell Williams & Chad Hugo further as her career continues maybe not so much with Wyclef. It's like Mariah and Janet with Jermaine Dupri, it's a dead horse thats been beat a bit too much. With this album she shows us why in Latin America, she is considered La Beyonce without being an imitation, she is THAT BITCH. What do you expect from a chick name Shakira (pronounced in spanish Shak - aye -rra) if you didn't know but for us American folks it's just Shakira.

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