Dónde Están los Ladrones? (CD - 1998)

Personnel includes: Shakira (vocals, harmonica); Dan Warner, A.J. Niilo, Marcelo Acevedo, Claudio Spiewak (acoustic guitar); Adam Zimmon (electric guitar); Luis Fernando Ochoa (guitar, tambourine); Claudio Spiewak (guitar); Alan Kendal (pedal steel); Jack Stamates (violin); Chris Glansdorp (cello); Joe Zaytoonian, Michelle Massad (oud); Fadi Hardan (accordion, background vocals); Randy Barlow (accordion); Teddy Mulet (trumpet); Lester Mendez (piano, keyboards, programming); Ron Taylor (Hammond B-3 organ); Brendan Buckley (bass, drums, percussion); John Falcone, Julio Hernandez (bass); Lee Levin (drums); Miriam Elli, Edwin Bonilla (percussion); Javier Garza, Pablo Florez (programming); Tommy Anthony, Nicolas Tovar (background vocals).

Recorded at Crescent Moon Studios and Criteria Recording Studios, Miami, Florida.

DONDE ESTAN LOS LADRONES was nominated for a 1999 Grammy for Best Latin/Rock Alternative Performance.

Personnel: Shakira (vocals); Adam Zimmon (guitar, electric guitar); Luis Fernando Ochoa (guitar, bajo sexto, tambourine); Marcello Azevedo (acoustic guitar, viola); Dan Warner, A.J. Niilo (acoustic guitar); Julio Hernandez, John Falcone (bajo sexto); Michelle Massad, Joe Zeytoonian (oud); Jack Stamates (violin); Paul Hoyle, Marcelo Añez, Joel Numa, Ron Taylor (viola); Randy Barlow, Fadi Hardan (accordion); Teddy Mulet (trumpet); Lester Mendez (piano, keyboards, programming); Lee Levin, Brendan Buckley (drums); Myriam Eli, Edwin Bonilla (percussion); Pablo Florez, Javier Garza (programming); Wendy Pedersen (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Javier Garza; Sebastián Krys.

Recording information: Crescent Moon Studios, Miami, FL; Criteria Recording Studios, Miami, FL.

1996's Pies Descalzos was Shakira's big commercial breakthrough; it was that album that established the Colombian singer as a superstar in Latin America. But Shakira's next album, Dónde Están los Ladrones? (which means "Where Are the Thieves?" in Spanish) is arguably the finest and most essential album that she recorded in the 1990s. This superb CD isn't just Latin pop -- it's also rock en español. Dónde Están los Ladrones? inspired some reviewers to compare Shakira to Alanis Morissette, but that comparison is only valid up to a point. The Colombiana sings with a bit of a cackle (something Morissette is known for) on pop/rock jewels like "Si Te Vas" and "No Creo," but Shakira is a very different kind of lyricist. While Morissette is famous for being angrily introspective and having a mad-at-the-world outlook, Shakira's lyrics tend to be poetic and are, at times, unapologetically romantic -- even if Morissette sang in Spanish, it would be hard to imagine her coming up with something as poetic as the Middle Eastern fantasy that Shakira vividly describes on her Arabic-influenced mega-hit "Ojos Así." And, besides, Shakira already had a few albums under her belt when Morissette enjoyed her big commercial breakthrough with 1995's Jagged Little Pill. Of course, only those who have some knowledge of Spanish will be impressed by Shakira's lyrics; Columbia doesn't provide English translations. What will impress non-Spanish-speaking listeners are the CD's attractive melodies and the emotion that the artist brings to her songs; you don't have to speak a word of Spanish to find Dónde Están los Ladrones? musically exciting. If you're acquiring your first Shakira release, this would be the ideal choice. ~ Alex Henderson

Latin pop innovator Shakira represents the kind of eventuality for which Alanis Morissette, Bob Dylan and Beck are all precedents. Eventually, all parallel lines intersect, or so that particular mathematical theory suggests, and so it is with separate but co-existing styles. In the world of contemporary music, fusion is an inevitability. Thus, DONDE ESTAN LOS LADRONES. This album finds the charismatic songstress combining traditional Latin roots (represented by the occasional acoustic touches) with post-Alanis angry-young-woman sensibilities, Sheryl Crow-esque pop eclecticism and an electrifying rock & roll rhythm. Those expecting polite recreations of Latin styles past will be sorely disappointed, but listeners for whom crossover is the norm will find a wealth of satisfaction in DONDE ESTAN LOS LADRONES, whether or not they understand the words. minimize