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.

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.

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.

I recently started listening to more Shakira music after really enjoying "Hips Don't Lie" w/ Wyclef on the radio. After reading about her, I learned that many people preferred Shakira's older albums for their depth and meaning - and also because she put alot of effort herself into the lyrics and music. After listening to both Pies Descalzos and Donde Estan Los Ladrones, I have to agree. Unfortunately I'm not a fluent spanish speaker, but the translations I've come across for her songs are simply amazing. Since this is a review of the latter album, I'll describe some of the songs here:

1) Ciega, Sordomuda (Blind, Deaf and Dumb) - Very catchy song with a Mariachi sound. Seems to be about the effect that the person she loves has on her.

2) Si Te Vas (If You Go) - Great song that starts out slow and turns into a harder rock song. About what she'd do if her man betrayed her.

3) Moscas en la Casa (Flies in the House) - A slower sad song about lost love.

4) No Creo (I Don't Believe) - I have to say that I don't understand some of the criticisms I've read about this song. Maybe these people need to read the lyrics to realize how amazing this song is. I love the sound too, and her voice breaks a bit in it (which I'm sure she does on purpose for effect). This song is about her devotion to the person she loves, and literally translated she sings about how she doesn't believe in anything else but his smile and his kisses etc. This is a very poetic and beautiful song, and upbeat and happy too - I just love listening to it. This is my favorite song on the album.

5) Inevitable - rock ballad, sad song about how she'll inevitably keep loving a person after he leaves.

6) Octavo Dia (The Eighth Day) - very good song - starts out slower and speeds up. About how God created the world, went on vacation, and returns to find it a mess.

7) Que Vuelvas (I Want You Back) - As others have said, this song sounds more like Estoy Aqui from Pies Descalzos. Good song but I prefer Estoy Aqui.

8) Tu (You) - really nice love song, one of the slower songs on the album.

9) Donde Estan Los Ladrons (Where Are The Thieves?) - Good rock song where she uses the harmonica too. This song is about how there are "thieves" everywhere - in artists, in politicians, etc.

10) Sombra De Ti (Shadow of You) - I think someone compared the guitars in this song to the ones in Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game", and I agree. This is a hypnotic sounding love song.

11) Ojos Asi (Eyes Like Yours) - I've heard this song out alot in clubs etc. It's a really catchy Arabic sounding song; great dance music. There is an English version of this song on her Laundry Service album, but I'm not sure how accurate the translation is. I think in general Shakira just sounds better singing spanish songs though, with some exceptions like Hips Don't Lie.

12) Estoy Aqui (I'm Here) - Some versions of this album have this song from Pies Descalzos on it. This is one of her popular hits and it's great.

Overall, I'm blown away by this whole album. I strongly suggest people who are interested in Shakira to get both this album and Pies Descalzos. (I've also heard that the MTV Unplugged album is fantastic too.) Her live music that I've seen on the web is simply amazing. I can't wait to see her on her tour this year!

Here Shakira sounds so great! She sounds both happy and angry and probably sad. Every song is a masterpiece and 8 out of 11 were played everywhere on the radio.

Track Listing:

1. Ciega, Sordomuda(Blind, Deaf and Dumb)
2. Si Te Vas(If You Go)
3. Moscas En La Casa(Flies in The House)
4. No Creo(I Don't Believe)
5. Inevitable
6. Octavo Dia(The Eighth Day)
7. Que Vuelvas(I Want You Back)
8. Tu(You)
9. Donde Estan Los Ladrones?(Where are the thieves?)
10. Sombra De Ti(Shadow Of You)
11.Ojos Asi(Eyes Like Yours)

1. Ciega, Sordomuda.5/5. The first singtle. It has a Mariachi sound mixed with Rock. Amazing!!

2. Si Te Vas. 5/5. Here Shakira it's calm and angry. First she starts slow but when it come to the chorus she sound so angry and rockin' like Hell!!! Amazing song!!!

3. Moscas En La Casa. 4/5. This is an amazing ballad but not the best one in this album. Shakira sounds so calm and sings witha feeling of melancholia! Great!

4. No Creo. 5/5. This song is simply amazing. This song it's very different from the previous three. Here Shakira sound so happy and very in love, but althought this song is about love it has social critics too.

5. Inevitable. 5/5. Amazing ballad. This has to be the best rock ballad ever! Here Shakira is sad and very angry because she is inevtable to keep loving his man after he's gone. Very sad.

6. Octavo Dia. 5/5. This is my favorite song of this album. This songs talk about how God after he created the universe went to take a vacation but when he returns, he find out that the world has become a completely Chaos!! I like how shakira sings in this song, she sounds so great!

7. Que Vuelvas. 4/5. This song it's the only song that has that vibe of Shakira's first album 'Pies Descalzos'. It sounds like a dance mix of 'Estoy Aqui' from 'Pies Descalzos'. The lyrics are great and it sounds like a filler song, but it's very good to be a filler.

8. Tu. 5/5. OK. Shakira's greatest ballad in this album! The lyrics are fantastic, it's all about love. Simply Amazing!

9. Donde Estan Los Ladrones? 5/5. The album title track. Here Shakira uses the harmonica again. This song is about all the kind of thieves that are in this world (politics, artists, protestants, etc.). This is a great rock song!

10. Sombra De Ti. 4/5. Have you ever heard Chris Isaak's 'Wicked Game'? Well, this song has the same guitars from that song, and that makes this song so sensual and very calm. A great ballad!

11. Ojos Asi. 5/5. OK. Shakira's arabic influences are here. This is just an extraordinary way of ending an album! This song has everything, rock, pop, dance, arabic sounds. Amazing!! That's why she included the english version on 'Laundry Service'

Well 52/55! That's why I this album deserves always 5 stars!!!