Customer Reviews

Oral Fixation vol. 2

5 star:		(68)
4 star:		(37)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

...but I thought this album was boring.

No seriously. I'm a huge Shakira fan. We're both from the same town in Colombia.
I've been trying to get American audiences to listen to her for years, and no one was happier than I when she finally hit.
I belong to the fan club.
She had me at "Hello."

I really enjoyed "Fijacion Oral, Vol.1", and I naturally assumed I was gonna love this too. I even said so in my Amazon review way back when. But I slipped this into my car CD player, and...

...nothing.

I mean sure, it's impeccably produced and played, and I love her voice with all its' quirks and swoops. She could sing my tax form and I'd love it.

But nothing jumped out as being "awesome" or "amazing"...things I've come to expect with each of her releases. Beginning with "Pies Descalzos", she has compiled a staggering catalog of quality albums. Even her Unplugged disc is one of the best they've ever done.

"Don't Bother" is a weak single. The first one off this record should have been "bigger", yet I don't know which other one to pick.
There are a couple of interesting things on the album...I mean, this isn't by any means a BAD record...it's just not nearly as good as anything else she's done in years.

Carlos Santana's cameo in "Illegal" is typically nice. The two Spanish-to-English conversions work, for the most part...actually I think "Something" improves on its' predecessor.

But the melodies aren't as catchy...overall, the songs themselves just aren't as good as on Volume 1.

I waited so long for this record...it just bums me out that I'm going to have to wait that much longer for the next one...

Shakira fans will have to have this...no question. I would have bought this record even if I read that this was the worst album since "Glitter". But this is not going to add any fans to her already immense following...

No-one can accuse Shakira (real name Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll) of being a run of the mill Latin pop artiste. Her voice can be picked out from across a room, and those dance moves – you’d have to be visually impaired not to notice her.

There’s a reason for her popularity, and in this English language follow up to Fijacíon Oral Vol.1 (June 2005), she proves that she can keep her English-speaking fan base happy too.

Dramatically starting off with a choral rendition of a section of “The Lord’s Prayer”, “How Do You Do” is definitely one to watch, and first single “Don’t Bother” is about losing a lover to an admittedly better woman in all areas but one.

“I’m sure she doesn’t know
How to touch you like I would
I beat her at that one good
Don’t you think so?”

Chock full of great songs, she follows up the first two songs with “Illegal” featuring Carlos Santana, and “The Day and the Time” with Gustavo Cerati. “Animal City” and “Dreams for Plans” are also good, “Hey You” is a bundle of retro fun, and then she turns down the pace for “Your Embrace” and “Something”. Just to make sure you know your rest break is over after the last few songs, she hits you with the dance track “Timor” as a grande finale.

This is an oral fixation that will have you begging for more.


Amanda Richards, November 29, 2005

There is no doubt that Shakira is a major force in both the Latino and Anglo music industries, and her latest album "Oral Fixaton, Vol. 2" helps continue her ascent to legendary status. Still, listeners expecting an album full of soaring vocals and syrupy romance as showcased on last summer's magnificent "Fijacion Oral, Vol. 1" will be surprised by an album characterized by many different themes and styles.

The oddity is that "Vol. 1," which was a completely Spanish disc, debuted even higher on the Billboard chart, scoring the best sales week for any non-English album. Also, lead single "La Tortura," the slick, sexy party record featuring Alejandro Sanz that was unstoppable through the fall and became the most successful Spanish single ever released, peaked far higher on the Billboard Hot 100 than "Don't Bother," the lead single from "Vol. 2," which fizzled at #42 despite an impassioned performance, catchy hook and lingual advantage. Still, the English disc is a rarity among pop music; it is experimental and interesting.

The ball starts rolling with the hair-rising "How Do You Do?," a track that has been cut from the album in the Far East do to its outrightly calling God to task.

"How do you do?/How does it feel to be so high?/Are you happy? Do you ever cry?/You've made mistakes, well that's okay `cause we all have/But if I forgive yours, will you forgive mine?"

She also breathes new life into "Dia Especial" from "Vol. 1" with "The Day and the Time," which tells the tale of a stormy relationship that triumphs over obstacles. She perfectly recaptures the mood of the original incarnation and sings like her very life depends on it, much like she does on the heartrending ballad "Your Embrace."

"Hope it isn't too late to say I love you/Hope it isn't too late to say/That without you this place looks like London, it rains everyday/Don't you know it babe, I'm only half a body/Without your embrace."

Meanwhile, the melancholy "Dreams For Plans" shimmers beneath sparkling production, while "Hey You" is a slinky piece of flirtatious fun ensconced in mariachi horns that brings levity to the album. She also sings out for those oppressed by war in the courageous "Timor" and provides her best chance at a hit single with "Illegal," a refreshingly understated piece that derives an awesome punch from Carlos Santana's playing and belittles those who play games with others' hearts.

Despite a few tracks that would have been better left off the record in favor of others, especially "Something," a dissapointing translation of the unbelievable "En Tus Pupilas" from "Vol. 1," one fact cannot be denied: Shakira does not rest on her laurels, but instead consistently challenges herself as a writer and prompts her audience to think, feel and care. There is something to be said for that, especially from a woman who not long ago barely knew any English.

When I got Fijación Oral Volumen I, I wasn't disappointed necessarily...I kind of expected that it wouldn't measure up to her past ones (DELL and PD). Although it was a little too synthesized for my tastes, I did enjoy it, and continue to do so.

With Oral Fixation Volume II, I was surprised by a couple songs. I expected that this CD, too, would be a little more pop or polished than I wanted, but having that in mind I think I came out satisfied.

I absolutely love the first song, "How Do You Do." Personally, I've grown up in a very conservative religious family and it's been hard for me because I'm not that way by nature, and so the friction that is there has caused some problems in my life and I'm trying to breakaway from it a bit. This song is WONDERFUL in regards to that because it deals with religion, more specifically the idea of God. Often it seems to many that God is just this mysterious figure that's in control of everything and doesn't really care...this song is written from a questioning point of view, almost as a challenge of sorts. It deals with questions like "If God is so good, why is there pain and suffering," etc. It makes you think and also services to maybe burn some of the frustrated energy off you have concerning the topic of religion and God.

I really enjoy "Animal City" because it's got a very exotic feel to it mixed with some great lyrics to back it up. I think in this song Shakira is kind of trying to dispense some type of nostalgic wisdom thru a bit of playful cynicism. I love the line "'Cause it's an animal city, it's a cannibal world, so be obedient, don't argue" She's extending a warning in order to spare someone some pain while at the same time being a little bit sarcastic and dark.

"Dreams For Plans," simply put, is a song about real love. Not just skipping thru a flowery field love or GOD this world sucks love, just real. Seeing that things change over the months and years and you can either abandon it or work on it and upkeep it.

"Timor" is a wonderful song lyrically! I love how she's pointing a light on American democracy and what a joke it is in some ways. This song is very political and very idealistic, which is what I LOVE about Shakira, it harkens back to her old says on Pies Descalzos and Donde Estan Los Ladrones.

Overall I'd say that the reason I'm most impressed by this album is the lyrics rather than the sound. There are the token cliche songs and the remakes of songs from Fijación Oral Volumen I that I don't really like (except "Something" is ok). So I'd say go for it, don't set your hopes too high, but don't write it off as (complete) crap either!

Oral Fixation Vol. 2 finds Shakira going back to her original pop-rock roots, leaving behind the eclectic mix of Latin, tropical and pop beats on "Fijacion Oral Vol. 1" and radio-friendly "Laundry Service." With her trademark yodel and breathy vocals, this is definitely one of her strongest albums, Spanish or English, to date. The first single "Don't Bother" is definitely not a stand out by any means, and does not define the sound of this album. Like most of Shakira's efforts, this a album is a seemingly random mix of sounds and moods, and "Illegal" with Carlos Santana, is a haunting melody accentuated by Shakira's strong vocals. The album's best tracks can be found in "Animal City" - a brilliant experiment in pop rock, with Shakira at her eclectic best, and "Timor" - a fast paced dance floor filler. English translations of dance tracks from Fijacion Oral Vol. 1 actually improve on the tracks (somehow) and "The Day and the Time" is one of the most brilliant tracks on this well rounded album.
With almost no filler, this is probably Shakira's best effort since the ground-breaking "Donde Estan Los Ladrones?"

Shakira is back to sing in English, i like so much this new Album. The lyrics and the music are great! I think that her music is better than the era of Laundry Service, i'm very happy to have bought this amazing album.
Congrats to Shakira.

For the record, I'm a huge rock fan. My favorite bands are mostly hard rock, classic rock, and some metal too. Lyrics and emotion are of the most importance to me when I choose what to listen to, and I guess one could say that I am very selective when it comes to my tastes. People are often surprised to see how, among the Rage Against the Machine, Soundgarden and Mars Volta albums in my collection, there are several Shakira albums. The thing is- they really shouldn't be surprised.

As it's probably been established to most of the US by now, Shakira is something different. She came to us as a blonde, which made a lot of people emit nonsense like "She's just a bad Britney knockoff" based on her image. She is, however, a full-blown lyricist and vocalist who is absolutely insistant upon taking creative control over her work. She does what she wants to do, not what any producer or label wants her to do, and that alone makes her stand out. Her vocals and her personally-penned, very original lyrics are also very impressive, and whatever she releases to us is always refreshingly... well, different. She's pop, she's dance, but wait- no, she's rock. She's all of those. She's also multilingual. She certainly is talented. She really is somethin' else.

From this album, the second volume of her Fijacion/Fixation set, I was not expecting a return to her days of "Donde Estan Los Ladrones", but rather musical experimentation. Shakira seems to have been wanting to branch off into other directions with her last works, instead of repeating what she's well known for over and over. She's "almost to the third floor", as she's said, and she is no doubt an evolving being. Thus, this time she delivers just that-- plenty of experimentation. She's clearly playing around with styles and sounds, so this disc is quite varied, but still essentially the Shakira that we've grown to know and love. Her English lyrics are more refined than on "Laundry Service", and the music is much more rich and fulfilling as well.

With "How Do You Do", a song that seems to be a letter to God, Shakira lets us know right from the start that her songs are not anything run-of-the-mill by any means. Choir chanting in Hebrew and Arabic, the "Our Father" prayer, synth beats and rock guitars! This is definitely a highlight of the album-- a very beautiful song. It transitions well into track two, "Don't Bother"- another guitar-tinged song. It happens to be the first single from the disc. It could stand to rock a little harder, but it's alright. "Illegal" is very mellow and heartfelt, with guitar from Carlos Santana helping out. The melody needed something, but it worked in the end. "The Day and The Time" is the lesser of the two tracks translated from "Fijacion"- it goes on and on a little bit without much structure, but is still ultimately listenable. "Animal City" and "Hey You" are creative, upbeat tunes, while "Dreams for Plans" and "Your Embrace" are creative downbeat tunes. "Costume Makes the Clown" is another highlight of the disc- it's a good solid rock song with gusto and feeling. "Something" is another of my favorites- very somber and beautiful. It translated well from its equally beautiful Spanish counterpart, which is a relief. "Timor" is quite a note on which to end things. You wouldn't expect that if you listen closely, you'll hear that she is taking a stab at America, Democracy and that which is corrupt about society -- in such a peppy disco song. (Leave it to Shakira to put out a track like this- wow.) It takes a spin or two, but it really grew on me. As with the entirety of the collection, I suppose.

I felt just a little let down with it. While she's trying out new things, she's not quite on target. Give her all the credit in the world for being so ambitious with territory unfamiliar to most, certainly, but something's slightly off-kilter. Personally, I wanted it to rock a little harder-- several tracks could have packed a harder punch. There could also stand to be a couple more songs on this, as with its Spanish-language predecessor. It is not a perfect record. Shakira still has so much potential. She has the ability to do much better than this- however, it's still a very, very good album. I recommend this to those who want a break from whatever else we've been hearing and also to her fans-- although not as highly as the first volume-- and eagerly await whatever else we may see from Shakira in the future.

I feel this album as Vol.1 shows maturity and digs deeper with issues/conflicts we go through in our lives. Betrayal, society, love, etc. Although she is seen as a pop artist, her love for rock is seen throughout bringing back retro rock sounds and mixing them with her own style.

Well I have to say that the first time that I listened to this album, I was a little bit disappointed.

Maybe it's because there wasn't a lot of songs on this (only eleven including the two translations). "Something" ("En Tus Pupilas'" translation) and "The Day And The Time" ("Dia Especial's" translation) are not as good as their Spanish versions in my opinion.

The songs that I prefer are "How Do You Do" and "Timor". Here we have meaningful songs where Shakira isn't afraid of expressing herself.

Overall, I think it's a good album but a little bit too short, it would have been better if Volume 1 and Volume 2 had had been packed together.

I love this cd I enjoy spanish music even though I dont really understand it or speak it and I have been waiting for Shakira to release another English cd and I was not dissapointed I love this cd every song is filled with emotion and words that speak to you. Her voice is amazing a voice like no one else out there it is unique I love the way it sounds and the lil moans she puts on the end of some words like a yerning it give the words so much more power and emotion this is a MUST HAVE! My Favorite line is from the song "The day and the time" "Well we know how ephemeral life is Disillusion takes what illusion gives What's the use of make believe