October 17, 2009

Album review: Shakira - 'She Wolf'

A pop phenomenon that bites back

7 / 10 Simply churning out average pop will not do these days. That’s why Sugababes’ recent spot of shapeshifting was no big boo-hoo; they’ve been dull as fuck for years. Imagine that last atrocity, ‘Get Sexy’, rubbing up against the bonkers, genre-bending anthems of Gaga and this little lady. The shame of it! You see, eccentricity is a must when it comes to pop music, and Shakira has it by the bucketload. So we’re pleased to report that her third English-sung studio effort is as nutty as ever; combining Neptunes-esque beats with flamenco, post-punk riffs, synths, Arabian strings, gongs and disco. And then there’s the lyrics; one minute Shaki’s a ‘Spy’, the next a ‘She Wolf’ howling in a, umm, closet. Just nod and smile.

Camilla Pia

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External Reviews of Shakira - She Wolf

Pitchfork: Album Reviews: The Bravery - Stir the Blood

"After a misstep of a second album, these modern rock survivors return to the synth-pop that got them on the NME's good side earlier this decade. [Marc Hogan]"