Average Rating: 
Rating: - Fresh-smelling "Laundry"
Stop the presses -- here's a skimpily-clad blonde who can actually sing. Columbian star Shakira may dress like Britney or Christina, but her album "Laundry Service is refreshingly good. There are a few duds, but enough hits to keep music fans entertained.Shakira keeps her songs varied, from the whirling Arabic "Eyes Like Yours" (a tribute to her Middle-Eastern roots); the sweet ballad "Underneath Your Clothes," which is made even more appealing because of the dance tracks that surround it; the rollicking Latin numbers "Flamenco," a song about a girl who refuses to be the third person in a cheating "tango," and "Te Dejo Madrid." Not all of Shakira's varied songs are good news. "The One" seems like a foray into country territory, and it fits Shakira like a three-fingered glove. "Poem to a Horse" just lags. Despite the revealing shots of the singer, the songs themselves are pretty good (and PG-rated) stuff, if somewhat repetitive at times. Shakira's voice is one that grows on you -- at first she seems a little too low and growly, but after a while you begin to like it. Shakira's album is an enjoyable oasis of varied, well-written music. Fans of Marta Sanchez and Paulina Rubio should check out this excellent singer's US-breakthrough album.
Rating:  - Laundry Service
Already a star in her native Colombia, 24 year-old singer and soap actress Shakira's first album to include English language songs, Laundry Service, is a curious amalgam of popular music that frequently melds contrary styles. At various points, Shakira's songs brazenly add Nashville pop to Eurodisco, classic rock to world music, alternative rock to disco, with many more permutations not too far below the surface.
Laundry Service, Shakira's fifth CD (she recorded her debut at fourteen) should be a mess. Instead, it's a strong and appealingly quirky (though sometimes obvious) effort, a vivacious distillation of western rock and pop into the singer's own mixed Latin and Lebanese roots. A gaudy tango sets the pace for dance pop opener, "Objection;" a roaring, bluesy rock riff introduces the Spanish language track "Te Dejo Madrid;" and a Middle Eastern affection tempers "Eyes Like Yours." When she sings in English -- which she does on nine of the twelve songs here -- Shakira sounds coy and sweet, as if tutored by Gwen Stefani, with a cracked yelp borrowed from the Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan, characteristics which are less noticeable on the Spanish-language tracks. Whatever the language, the passion seems all hers, and genuinely felt. This is DayGlo, mall pop/rock at its absolute finest.
Rating: - Honest & Truthful
"Laundry Service" is an honest album if nothing else. Shakira, a native Columbian, is used to writing in Spanish, and her first time writing in English (Laundry Service) proves to be truthful, honest, with the simplicities of phrase that we fluent in the language can fail to catch. A Review of the Songs: Objection/Tango: Love, love, love it! Great tango intro. The first English song Shakira ever wrote, this one is pretty good. 4/5 stars. Underneath Your Clothes- Though the title is misleading, this ballad is beautiful...about the real person, not their outward appearance. 4/5 stars. Whenever, Wherever- One of my favorites! A beautiful beat; the first single. 5/5 stars! Rules- Pretty; an okay song. Could be a bit better. 3.5/5 stars. The One- Cute, catchy lines! Luv it. 4/5 stars. Ready for the Good Times- A dance song, peppy. 4/5 stars. Fool- Could be a single! Great lyrics! 4.5/5 stars. Te Dejo Madrid- A STANDOUT. I LOVE THIS!!! I believe that 'Te Dejo Madrid' translates as 'I leave you, Madrid'. Check me if I'm wrong, people fluent/native in Spanish! I still love this song, though (an entirely Spanish track). 5/5 stars. Poem to a Horse- Alright. Soso lyrics, honest, but I don't get them that much! 3.5/5 stars. Que Me Quedes Tu- Beautiful song in Spanish. I love ANYTHING she sings in Spanish! 4/5 stars. Eyes Like Yours (Ojos Asi)- BEST ON THE ALBUM. A gypsy, medieval like intro into Arabic...singing in Arabic.....her voice- oh my goodness, EVERYTHING about this song is PERFECT! ...take my word for it- it is easily the best track on the album. She's nuts not putting it out as a single. 5/5 stars. Suerte- Whenever, Wherever in Spanish. I'm still trying to translate it (somewhat), but it still is cool. 4/5 stars. Te Aviso, Te Anuncio- Objection/Tango in Spanish. 4/5 stars. All together, a beautiful, honest, raw album. She infuses so many styles- pop, rock, dance, gypsy- that you can listen to it all the way through and STILL be surprised. An awesome effort....no, an awesome ALBUM period.
|
