Music » Banda Music

Thalia's first album on the EMI Latin label finds the Mexican singer and soap-opera starlet moving away from the disposable pop of her earlier discs in favor of richer, more diverse sounds. There are a few limp moments on En Extasis, but Thalia is clearly coming into her own as a singer. The switch is in large part thanks to producers Emilio Estefan Jr. and Kike Santander, who expertly disguise Thalia's shortcomings as a vocalist with slick production values. "Piel Morena," the album's first single and best track, is an intoxicating, sexy cumbia. Thalia shines on "Amándote," a dance track produced by A.B. Quintanilla III , and she even manages a sweet rendition of Juan Gabriel's "Gracias a Dios." The ballads "Quiero Hacerte el Amor" and "Lágrimas" (the latter cowritten by Thalia) also draw attention to unexpected shadings and nuances. --Joey Guerra

Mexican superstar Thalia has come a long way since her early '90s days as a thin-voiced Latin pop-tart. Her stellar 1997 album, Amor a la Mexicana, was a full-throttle assertion of her maturing talent, thanks in large part to va-va-voom production work from Emilio Estefan Jr. Things heat up even more on Arrasando, the singer¹s most focused collection to date. Thalia and Estefan blend salsa, rap, reggae, cumbia, and aggressive club beats into one irresistible mix. Just try to keep your feet still during the infectious rhythms of "Regresa a Mi," "Pata Pata," and "Siempre Hay Carino." Thalia proves equally adept at ballads, particularly on the majestic first single, "Entre el Mar y una Estrella." The sexy singer has already recorded English-language tunes for overseas release, and now that she¹s dating Sony president (and Mariah¹s ex) Tommy Mottola, crossover success seems only a few hip swivels away. --Joey Guerra

Release Date: 2001-03-20, Audio CD, Warner Music Latina

Release Date: 2003-08-19, Audio CD, Universal Latino

Release Date: 2005-03-15, Audio CD, Universal Latino

The transformation is complete on Amor a la Mexicana, which stands as the defining album of Thalia's career. Every moment, every sound, every call to attention feels electric, thanks to the Mexican superstar's newfound vocal confidence and stellar work from the first-rate production team, which includes Emilio Estefan Jr., Kike Santander, and Pablo Flores. The sounds and styles are wildly diverse (cumbia, salsa, cha-cha), but they're unified by themes of living life to the fullest and Latina pride. Songs such as "Por Amor," "Echa Pa'Lante," "Mujer Latina," and the sexy title track bristle with an energy that permeates the entire album. Even slower moments such as "Rosas" and "Es Tu Amor" demand attention. This album is a sure-fire classic in the Latin-pop canon. --Joey Guerra

Release Date: 2007-04-03, Audio CD, Univision Music Grp

Release Date: 2006-06-20, Audio CD, Balboa

Release Date: 2004-02-10, Audio CD, EMI Latin

Light R&B hooks, breathy vocals, guest rappers--it sounds like a recipe for the latest effort from J-Lo or Ashanti, but those elements make up the mix on Mexican diva Thalia's self-titled, English-language debut album. It's a slickly produced smorgasbord, but there's little of the personality, energy and growth here that Thalia has exhibited on her last three Spanish-language studio albums. Instead, the singer opts for maximum mainstream appeal which, in this case, includes collaborating with a bevy of hip-pop producers and songwriters, including Rick Wake (Celine Dion, Anastacia), Cory Rooney (J-Lo, Destiny's Child) and Cathy Dennis (Kylie Minogue, Kelly Clarkson). The first single, "I Want You," featuring Fat Joe, breezes in and out of memory almost instantly. The album's six remaining original tunes are equally anonymous. Only the yearning ballad "Closer To You" and a remix of "The Mexican," both repeats from Thalia's 2002 album, generate any real heat. It's not an altogether disastrous effort, but that so much of Thalia's own flavor was lost in the translation is ultimately disappointing. --Joey Guerra