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Shakira
Oral Fixation Vol. 2
(Sony-BMG)
The English-language twin to Fijacion Oral vol. 1, Oral Fixation is Shakira's first album sung entirely in English, and a departure from the dance-pop focus of her earlier work.
She throws the first curveball with opener How Do You Do that begins with a choir singing The Lord's Prayer and has an Enigma-style backing complete with bonging bells.
There is, of course, some smoothly integrated Latin music,which leads to such interesting combinations as the Eurodisco-mariachi hybrid Animal City. Tim Mitchell lends a Beatlesque air to his two co-writes, and Something blends some Feist-style French girl pop into the mix.
Elsewhere there's a rocking edge to Oral Fixation -- no doubt due to the guitar playing of Lyle Workman, more widely known for his work with Sheryl Crowe and former Pixies frontman Frank Black.
Shakira's performance has an urgent edge -- she frequently sounds like a hybrid of Enya and Alanis Morissette (whether that's a good thing or not depends on the listener).
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Though Shakira often gets more press for her shape than her songcraft, it should also be noted that she's a very capable lyricist -- and like Pink, Shakira appreciates that a song can aim higher than the hips and still be a pop hit.
Guest stars Wyclef Jean, Alejandro Sanz, Argentinean pop star Gustavo Cerati and Carlos Santana also contribute.
Oral Fixation is a very confident step in a new direction.
Track Listing:
1. How Do You Do
2. Don't Bother
3. Illegal (featuring Carlos Santana)
4. The Day and the Time (featuring Gustavo Cerati)
5. Animal City
6. Dreams for Plans
7. Hey You
8. Your Embrace
9. Costume Makes the Clown
10. Something
11. Timor