As you know by now, Shakira is back with her first all-Spanish album since "Donde Estan Los Ladrones" (not counting MTV Unplugged) and it's terrific.

On first listen, you'll get carried away by her voice. It is unique, powerful and versatile. But we sorta knew that going in.

On subsequent spins, if you take away her vocals, this may be her most "American" sounding album yet. Perhaps that is due to the influence of executive producer Rick Rubin.

The opener, "En Tus Pupilas" is a soft-rock, emotional ballad that we fans will recognize and welcome instantly.

It is followed by "La Pared", which proves she has been listening to Coldplay, as the music to the chorus is a total homage to "Clocks." It's not subtle at all, and it sounds great.

Much has been made about the first single, "La Tortura" and it's reggaeton elements, but if you recall the album "Pies Descalzos" (an album given to me by my cousin when I was visiting my family in Barranquilla years ago), you'll know Shakira has been doing this sort of stuff for a long, long time. Actually, I think the majority of the song has a huge Police sound to it during the verses, slipping into the more obviously reggaeton-like mode during Sanz' chorus.

"Obtener Un Si" is the surprising stunner on the album. It's an exquisite, retro-pop tune with vintage ice-skating-rink organ, sweet string sections and lovely, delicate melodies. This really demonstrates that her range simply is limitless.

"Dia Especial" is a fairly generic midtempo pop-rocker, and the hubbub about "Escondite Ingles" being "punk" is laughable. It's not. It's an obvious nod to The B-52's (check out the cheesy organ), but it's more like the pogoing power pop of New Wave. It's multiple time changes recall, in a good way, Green Day's recent efforts, and I loved the thrashy, messy ending.

"No" is another one of those Shakira songs that build from a mostly acoustic, introspective piece into a widescreen, dramatic epic like "Tu" and "Inevitable". It's not quite up to those standards, but it works just fine.

Who knew she could be Kylie Minogue? She does just that, in her own style of course, on "Las De La Intuicion", down to the disco-pop sounds and whispered back-ups.

"Dia De Enero" is a gorgeous folk-rock song and "La Imprescindible" is a noisy, percussive, synthesizer-filled 80's-like song that still somehow manages to work.

The extra tracks are an acoustic "La Pared" and a remixed "La Tortura".

The single best thing about this album has to be her voice. What an instrument! She moves confidently across genres, maintaining her unique mannerisms but becoming so rich and full (Dia De Enero) or soft and cute (Obtener Un Si) depending on what it takes to best serve the song.

Each song here is well crafted, lovingly produced and performed.

This may not reach the dizzying heights of "Donde Estan Los Ladrones", but this one just might age better.

This is really good stuff...I cannot WAIT for Volume 2, which I understand is all new songs, all in English...should be interesting, no?

We have to admit that with a title like Fijacion Oral one expects to listen nothing but a bunch of loud beats and uncalled nonsense. But what a great surprise when, past the contagious notes of lead single "La tortura", fears disolve in front of a bouquet of melodies and emotions not exactly a trademark of the colombian singer's previous releases. It is true that we won't hear her singing about looking for a lover in her purse or in Botero's paintings (circa Pies Descalzos), but there is still a candid approach to the lyrics that has made her songs both appealing and puzzling. In Fijacion oral we come face to face with a Shakira that shares her passion and the sense of emptiness a love she has already experienced may bring once it's gone, as opossed to the longing for an unknown feeling that we tasted in the other two albums. It shows a more mature approach to life, love and music in general. The definite highlight is "La pared" (track that appears in two versions), with its grasping chorus and a performance so beautifully delivered that it can only be compared to the classic "Antologia". It is precisely in this harmonious voice that Fijacion oral finds its anchor, among a collection of rhythms that go from the poppy "Las de la intuicion" (the only song in this album to remind us of earlier times), to bossa nova ("Obtener un si"), to the perfect composition of "Dia especial", which she co-wrote and performed with latin legend Gustavo Ceratti, that otherwise would be a complete chaos.
Toward the end we face the flaw that she might as well skipped: "Lo imprescindible" sounds indeed quite innovative with the rapid switch of tempo, but fails to close an album that could arguably be Shakira's masterpiece.
Absolutely brethtaking moments and still a lot of fun, Fijacion oral is a delight not destines to please anyone but those who believed Shakira can go beyond mud crawling and hip shaking.

this cd is like a big walk-in closet where each song is an outfit shakira tries on momentarily. and, checking out her website, the polaroid picture theme suggests perhaps each song is supposed to be snapshot. a single mood, a single moment, a single particle of cinnamon floating in a tall glass of horchata.

the fact is that one should not buy this expecting a disc full of songs that sound like "la tortura". she released this as a single to lure in the masses, and once she has you in her realm, she forces you to experience many other facets of her personality/creativity. "la tortura" functions on this cd like the clever girl who beckons you to her bed, ties you up...and proceeds to show you her impressive art portfolio.

it's true that the cd lacks the easy flow of some of her previous work, such as "?donde estan los ladrones?". still, the trade-off is that we are able to experience the scope of her talent and that's a rewarding ride on the scenic route.

another thing about this cd is that there is more electronic sort of stuff present. shakira's strongest attribute (besides poetic lyrics, catchy melodies, and a palpable wisdom) is her vibrance; i felt that there were moments the production elements made her a little...soulless...or at least muted her glow. not so much that it ruins the cd, but it took a few listens to ease the discomfort.

anyway, here's a rough guide to some of the songs:

"en tus pipilas"--soft, sweet, and catchy. the french element gives it these quasi-stereolab moments i definitely wasn't expecting, but i liked them quite a bit.

"la pared"--i think this must be my favorite song on the disc. it's intense & infectious. the keyboards are used really effectively to convey the mood.

"la tortura"--it's a fun song, the beat speaks to the hips and the sassy lyrics tickle the mind. you've doubtless heard it already.

"obtener un si" is sort of sweet and innocent, like spanish bjork in a doris day movie. i think the right hands could remix this fabulously, transforming it into the sound of a sunrise stroll through some surrealistic flowery wonderland bursting with bubbles and populated by cartoon animals...but maybe that's just me...

"dia especial"--catchy and optomistic (in a sophisticated rather than a bubblegum way...like the sundays or 10,000 maniacs in their happier moments).

"escondite inglés"--ok, i'm not way into this song. it reminds me of tragic kingdom-era no doubt crossed with the b-52's "rock lobster". something about it just doesn't work for me, but you may feel differently.

"no"--the typical shakira slow song: a mellow, pretty slice of meloncholy.

"las de las intuicion"--this is the track where she goes electronic. i mostly like the song, i think i just object on principle to shakira sounding like kylie minogue. i also can't get over the goofy filtered backup vocals. if they could have left that out, it would been much better.

"dia de enero"--might have come off "pies descalzos"...has that sound and mood to me.

"la imprescindible"--i think the person who said depeche mode below was spot-on. except that where dm tends to have this sort of sardonic, aloof british delivery, shakira sounds a little too passionate for the cool electronic music. it took a little getting used to, but i like it now.

this disc may not be what you expect, may require a few listens, an open mind and the ability to be comfortable in the midst of seeming incongruity. but it's a good cd, and definitely superior to most pop on the market. it's fun to see shakira's range as an artist and that she continues to be committed to exploring new directions. it's obvious that she's determined to challenge herself...and her audience.

This CD is amazing! This CD it's the best Shakira album after Donde Estan Los Ladrones? but of course, it's not the typical Shakira album, this one is , as she said, her most echlectical album. The album stars with 'En tus pupilas' a beautiful ballad that stars with Shakira singing in frech, the guitars sound like Chriss Isaak's 'Wicked Game' or Shakira's 'Sombra De Ti' and in the chorus she resembles a little bit to Mexican singer/composer Julieta Venegas. The next one 'La Pared' a strong and electronic song that you can see it like the spanish version of Coldplay's "Clocks" but still it's completely different in lyrics and Shakira's singin. "La Tortura" seems to be out of place in this album. "Obtener Un Si" sounds like those songs from the early 50's and it's a great bossa nova beat. "Dia Especial" a good song and the first one Shakira doesn't wrote. The music is made by Shakira but the lyrics it's from the legend of spanish rock, Gustavo Cerati. "Escondite Ingles" the strongest song in the album, it's very charmed and punk. "No" a sad but great ballad with Cerati's accompaining her on the guitars and some vocals. This one wil be the next single out of Fijacion Oral. "Las De La Intuicion", this one is the pop song on the album, it has a brit eltectronic pop beat in it, and an incredible catchy chorus. "Dia De Enero" the song that Shakira wrote for his boyfriend Antonio De La Rua, Shakira sounds funny and girlish on this one, and the chorus it's full of romaticism and feeling. "Lo Imprescindible" it's very dark at the beginning, starting with Shakira's singing in German, then the song become lighter but still strong on the chorus. The acoustic version of "La Pared" seems to be better than the original one, it's very simple and Shakira's vocal are great. And last but not least, it's "La tortura" Shaketon remix, this one it's darker than the original, still great but not better than the original one. Shakira has done an excellent album, a more mature work, fresh and one that will be remembered very well for everyone.

Even though I was a little put off by her first single "La Tortura" and feared her selling out to new reggeaton fad, like every other performer in Latin America I decided to give this a try, and was somewhat shocked and completely pleased. I won't call this her masterpiece until I listen to the second upcoming album, but this is really quite amazing.
Shakira's Fijacion Oral is a profound exploration on life, love, anger and pop. Her vocals are as beautiful as ever, her lyrics are more poetic, deeper, and much more refined than her past efforts. I am also amazed at how melancholic this album is. Seldom do latin artist made sad records, for fear of losing public and this is exactly what it is. I wouldn't be surprised if younger audiences who jumped on this album for "la tortura" would completely ignore the rest of the songs.
Expect slow to mid tempo'ed songs, some electronic elements a la "Si" by Julieta Venegas. There are references to Britpop, Streisand, chessy 70's pop rock, french pop rock (Emilie Simons), and some synth/goth pop ("lo imprescindible'), and maybe a little New Wave (Escondite Ingles). Gustavo Cerati's collaboration can be felt in the chorus of Un Dia Especial (if you've never heard Gustavo Cerati, check out his solo and Soda Stereo work) and track "No" is moving enough in melody and lyrics to bring anyone to tears.
The production on this is also amazing, even though songs vary greatly in style it manages to sound cohesive and fluid (unlike Madonna's Bedtime Stories).
Not only does Shakira prove she's not trying to be Britney but that actually has a vast musical language and that she feels comfortable in any music style, but that she is a real artist that still has much much more to sing about, and even more importantly, that we will want to listen to what she sings.