Oral Fixation, Vol. 2

Although it might not seem like a curse to possess the kind of body men commit egregious crimes to get near, Shakira’s drool-inducing form has kept folks from taking her music seriously. This record, a companion to her Spanish-language, Fijacion Oral Vol. 1—which sounds even hotter—attempts to move the spotlight off her fantastic ass and onto her vocal cords. Chunky rock confessionals and soulful country ballads abut atmospheric Latin-tinged pop and '80s-style dancefloor burners, but the production is surprisingly understated: The signposts are more Alanis and Blondie than Britney and Madonna. We can’t promise we’ll take our eyes off her ass, but at least we’ll be tapping our feet too.