Oral Fixation Vol. 2

by

Shakira

Edit

from the opening chant of "Our Father" through to the reprise of "La Tortura", which was obviously added to boost sales (as it was the biggest Spanish-language song since Los Lobos' "La Bamba" in 1987), Shakira takes us on a musical journey of many different styles and does a great job.

Track by track:

How Do You Do - part of it sounds almost too Avril Lavigne/Kelly Clarkson like, but the addition of religious imagery and various languages makes it a good track.

Illegal - the made-for-AC-radio ballad includes some fierce guitar playing by Carlos Santana. Very pretty and almost sounds like something from the 1980's

Hips Don't Lie - just added to the album... Shakira successfully did what the likes of J. Lo and Mariah have always failed to do when collaborated, she made Wyclef Jean assimilate to HER style of music, as opposed to her doing a hip hop number. A Latin-sounding booty-shaking fun track that is climbing the charts.

Animal City - one of the two most rocking tracks on the album, Shakira sings about celebrity and the way people change around her and become greedy.

The Day And The Time - a beautiful track about hope and redemption

Dreams For Plans - meloncholy but beautiful, with just a hint of Portishead trip-hop to the mix

Hey You - this sounds almost like something No Doubt would do, very fun song that you will tap your toes and sing along to, a potential single IMO.

Your Embrace - one of the saddest songs on the record, but another pretty melodic ballad

Costume Makes The Clown - instead of being the cheated... Shakira is the unfaithful one and she's trying to apologize to her boyfriend, a rocker

Something - Shakira sings in French and gives us another ballad, albeit more alternative sounding than the other tracks

Timor - this is the dance track, sounds a bit like a Madonna track. Shakira is singing about the oppressed and the government... even though she's singing about South America, I think Shakira's gay fanbase can definately adopt this track because it applies to them too... definately remix-worthy

La Tortura - this was one of the big hits last summer, added on the reissue to help boost sales (much like Hips Don't Lie), this is an alternate Spanglish mix with a little English thrown in

Not an award-worthy album and not a life-changer, but Shakira's album is still a very worthy listen and the second wind it's catching is well worth it and I hope this album holds on well. There's a little something for everyone, there are a few too many ballads, but the slow songs all work and are some of the best tracks here. Definate thumbs up.