El Sexto Sentido

Colombian temptress Shakira had better luck cracking the English-language market than her similarly alluring Mexican counterpart Thalia, whose self-titled American debut from 2003 didn't perform to commercial expectations. The Mexican mogul faltered on that album, which was overproduced yet undernourished in terms of showcasing the fiesty, fun persona that has made her a star. Smartly, Thalia's 2005 follow-up El Sexto Sentido pulls back considerably on the crossover attempts, and is a better introduction to the singer's charms. She is back in her element on this effort, her return to a Spanish-language studio album after a gap of two years.

Sung entirely in Spanish (barring English-language remixes of three songs, You Know He Never Loved You, Seduction and A Dream For Two), El Sexto Sentido is a straightforward Latin pop/rock album, from the flirty bubblegum of 24,000 Besos and No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti to the hyper-dramatic ballads Loca and Un Alma Sentenciada. The best tracks, however, are the ones on which Thalia and her producers take some cues from the Rock en Espanol scene, including the tough-sounding and terrifically catchy first single Amar Sin Ser Amada (the original and superior version of You Know He Never Loved You) and the Kylie Minogue-like dance-pop of Empezar de O. El Sexto Sentido also includes Thalia's coquettish take on Tejano icon Selena's Amor Prohibido. The album features songwriting and production throughout from Estefano, and Thalia's vocals are buoyant, particularly on the biggest notes. 24,000 Besos (24000 Baci) is a highlight, a dizzyingly upbeat track where the catchiness isn't lost in translation. Like the majority of El Sexto Sentido, it's slick and perfectly arranged and performed with gusto.

Thalia hasn't done much musically in years, and she's a bit rusty, but this album is definitely a step in the right direction! The album might not be the domestic breakthrough that Thalia's been hoping for since 2003, but it's a capable Latin pop effort that will get the crowd moving or the emotions flowing depending on the track. This album is alternately playful and soulful. But El Sexto Sentido is dominated by uptempo, airy pop, easy to digest and easy to envision on airwaves and dancefloors. International – rather than simply Latin – in sound, it is deliberately accessible to European audiences and clubgoers, who can connect to either the Spanish tracks or their English counterparts. And it's sure to appeal to Thalia's diehards.