Shakira’s latest bilingual album Sale el Sol (The Sun Comes Out) brings back the comfortable glow of previous works, but doesn’t manage to outshine them.
Sale el Sol is a spicy melting pot of styles. The album dances back and forth between pop, rock, ballads and club music, seasoned with the Latino and Colombian musical influences that made Shakira famous in the first place. It stands to reason that with Shakira’s falling record sales in the U.S., she would stick closer to her roots for her latest album and third bilingual release.
The variety of styles sprinkled throughout Sale el Sol are the album’s strongest points. The title track itself is a delightful mix of pop and rock, whereas tracks like “Loca (feat. El Cata)” and “Gordita (feat. Residente of Calle 13)” are spicy Latino club tracks laden with Shakira’s trademark sensuality. There are even tracks such as “Antes de las Seis” that dabble in Oriental sounds. The album never sticks too closely to any particular genre, making it very easy to listen to from start to finish.
The tracks that stand out most prominently are the fiery dance track “Gordita (feat. Residente of Calle 13)” and the rock-influenced track “Devoci?n,” which shows off Shakira’s impressive vocal range and skill. Also worthy of note is “Waka Waka (Esto es ?frica) (K-Mix)”, the inspirational and uplifting track that was used as the main theme song for this year’s FIFA World Cup.
Sale el Sol feels like a homage to Shakira’s older works and fits very comfortably within her discography. Because of this, listeners are unlikely to be disappointed by her latest effort. The album is easy to listen to and blends well from start to finish. However, die-hard fans might find themselves wishing for a little more at this point in Shakira’s career. Sale el Sol is a very cautious album that takes very few risks. The album is unlikely to offend or alienate Shakira fans and casual listeners, but won’t offer them anything new to chew on either. The album is a feast of styles that will leave the listener satisfied but not full. However, for those seeking a bit more bang for their buck, the deluxe edition of the album includes three bonus tracks with English remixes of “Loca”, “Rabiosa,” and “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).” These remixes round out the album very nicely and bring the lyrics closer to home for an American audience.
All in all, it’s safe to call Sale el Sol a success. It’s a good listen that offers a variety of wholesome music for listeners to enjoy. The album is content to remain comfortably good rather than groundbreaking. For many listeners, this will be enough. For others, however, the album might feel a bit lacking. The album doesn’t try anything new and doesn’t offer any particularly groundbreaking tracks. Listeners can feel the warmth of Sale el Sol’s sunlight, but the album’s cautious nature overshadows the sun’s potential brightness.
3.5 out of 5 stars
