These frequent comparisons between Shakira and Alanis Morissette are tenuous at best and off base at worst. Sure the two share similar voice inflections, but while Alanis beats her listeners over the head with the same tired "I hate all men" anti-social psychosis ad nauseum, Shakira sings from the entire emotional spectrum, and whether her listeners want to get up and dance to such infectious numbers as "Ciega, Sordomuda," calmly reflect over "Tu," or travel through time to distant lands in "Ojos Asi," there is enough going on in "Donde Estan Los Ladrones" to make for a complete, satisfying and entertaining musical experience.

(Plus, Shakira is incredibly beautiful! )

But before you write off another pretty face (as you should with Jennifer Lopez, LeAnn Rimes, Britney Spears and their ilk, who have never written or produced a piece of music, let alone sing well or even play a musical instrument), keep in mind that Shakira writes or co-writes all of her songs, plays a guitar and even helps produce her work (special kudos to executive producer Emilio Estefan for harnessing Shakira's raw energy and power without turning "Donde Estan ... " into just another sugar-sweet slab of pop pap a la Miami Sound Machine).

Pay careful listen to "Si Te Vas," "No Creo," and "Donde Estan Los Ladrones," and especially "Inevitable," "Octavio Dia" and "Ojos Asi." Both lyrics and music offer a rainbow of styles, moods and intensities. If you don't understand Spanish, so what? There's more than enough in the music to enlighten you.

Sure, this "gringo" (with a special No Thanks to "Miami FL" 9/22/99) knows enough Spanish to last into the next millennium, but what separates music of this caliber is that it transcends language, borders and continents. Artists like Shakira are better than the Ricky Martins and Jennifer Lopezes that comprise today's "Latin Explosion." Shakira's music stands tall amongst the best of today's pop (not there's much out there) and deserves a listen, whatever your language.

But for those who need that Alanis comparison, fine. Perhaps we should call Ms. Morissette the North American Shakira.

Not fluent in Spanish? Can't see yourself buying a CD if you can't understand the lyrics? Hey, that didn't stop you from picking up all of REM's early releases! Bet you're still trying to decipher what Michael Stipe was singing about! (Here's a revelation - he was reading the Athens, Georgia telephone directory backwards!) You can wait until Shakira delivers her much-anticipated English-language CD, but you'll be depriving yourself of some great rock-and-roll music that just happens to be in Spanish. "Donde estan los ladrones?" is, from beginning to end, a great album. There isn't a single song on this release that could be categorized as "filler." Shakira possesses a voice that can tear into fast-paced straight-ahead rock-and-roll tunes or caress a slow ballad with equal ease and skill. Any musical comparisons to Alanis Morissette (and there have been many) are ill-conceived, at best. Any physical comparisons to Morissette are played up by Shakira with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek. She's always having fun with her image, but her music is what it's all really about. "Ciega, sordomuda," "No creo," "Inevitable," "Que vuelvas," and the title track, "Donde estan los ladrones?," are some of the catchiest rock songs that have been written in the past decade. "Moscas en la casa," "Tu," and "Sombra de ti" show a softer, but no less impressive, side of Shakira. This is a woman who could cover a Janis Joplin or Celine Dion song and make it her own. When it ultimately comes time for Shakira to compile her "greatest hits" album, she is going to have a treasure trove of songs to choose from. Fortunately, she has many more productive years ahead of her which means that much more great music for her present and future fans.

I think almost everyone's behind me when I say that "Laundry Service" and "Pies Descalzos" are nothing compared to this album. "Dónde..." wasn't a big huge album which costed something around the lines of $3m, but it still sounds much better than any other Latin album I've ever listened to.

There are no boring songs, no fillers and no ridiculous ballads! Nothing sounds similar and every track appears to of made it's own special style (especially "Ojos Así").

Shakira hasn't just made a banging rock album, she's stayed loyal to her roots ("Ciega Sordomuda" has a definite Latin theme as does "Moscas En La Casa") but unlike Gloria Estefan, she's experimented and found a winning formula.

I can't really describe "Inevitable" "Que Vuelvas" and "Octavo Día"- they don't really have a set style, but they're excellent.

Now my advice to Shakira would be to make some more amazing music like this and leave the American pop scene behind.

Shakira's poetic voice and lyrics melt your heart and make you fall deeply in love with her mind. Beside's the fact that she is very beautiful you can't help but stay still and just absorb her words as she speaks...it can bring tears to your eyes no matter how many times you've heard a particular song. "Donde..." is a masterpiece which can be appreciated by all. It brings the feel of a hispanic culture and shows that love, no matter if you think it's good or bad, is the most important thing in the world. "sombra de ti" is one of my favorites..but that changes everytime I hear the album. EVERY song is great and that would not be an exageration. Pick up the CD, let it run completely..3 or 4 times..and let your soul wander, it's the best thing you can do. That's what makes this album one of the greatest I've ever heard.

Shakira es la mejor. Incomparablemente super talentosa. This young Colombo-Lebanese girl is gonna make everybody go crazy for her. This new CD "Where are the thieves?" is great, specially the songs, inevitable, Ojos asi, and siega sordomuda. My appreciation for her is growing bigger everyday, first beacusae of her talent, will to win, capacity of understanding, and helping others. Shakira es una persona admirable, con una vista de la vida diferente a los demas artistas y no cree en espejismos. Su bondad y ganas de triunfar la van a llevar muy lejos y nosotros sus fans, la vamos a apoyar dondesea y comosea, ademas como dicen por ahi de que la sangre llama pues es cierto, una de las razones por las cuales tambien admiro a shakira es porque yo tambien soy libanesa y no hay arabe que hable español y no le guste su musica, todo el mundo esta facinado con ella. Shakira, te deseo toda la suerte del mundo, cuidate y no te dejes vencer por nadie. T.Q.M