Personnel: Thalía; Michael Thompson, Walter Ríos, Guillermo Vadala, Richard Bravo, Andrew Synowieck, Vicky Echeverri, José Luis Pagán, Julio C. Reyes.
Thalía's self-titled 2003 effort was meant to be her English-language breakthrough, with guest shots from Fat Joe and photography that resembled a Spiegel ad, or maybe a Shania album. But it was too superficial, and there was little crossover appeal in the music itself. In contrast, 2005's Sexto Sentido is sung entirely en español, but for English versions of its three singles tacked onto the end. It's a straightforward Latin pop album, with the requisite balladry (the rousing "Olvídame" really shows off her voice), bouncy hybrid pop (the bandoneón-flavored opener "Amar Sin Ser Amada"), and exuberant anthems you can imagine the entire dancefloor singing along with "Seducción," "No Me Voy a Quebrar." It also features "Amor Prohibido," Thalía's rendition of Selena's Tejano classic. (Thalía performed the song at an April 2005 concert event that remembered Selena on the ten-year anniversary of her murder.) Sexto Sentido features songwriting and production throughout from Estéfano, and Thalía vocals are buoyant, particularly on the biggest notes. "24000 Besos (24000 Baci)" is a highlight, a dizzyingly upbeat track where the catchiness isn't lost in translation. Like the majority of Sexto Sentido, it's slick and perfectly arranged and performed with gusto. The album might not be the domestic breakthrough that Thalía'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. It's sure to appeal to her diehards. ~ Johnny Loftus
Thalía's self-titled 2003 effort was meant to be her English-language breakthrough, with guest shots from Fat Joe and photography that resembled a Spiegel ad, or maybe a Shania album. But it was too superficial, and there was little crossover appeal in the music itself. In contrast, 2005's El Sexto Sentido is sung entirely en español, except for English versions of its three singles tacked onto the end. It's a straightforward Latin pop album, with the requisite balladry (the rousing "Olvídame" really shows off her voice), bouncy hybrid pop (the bandoneon-flavored opener, "Amar Sin Ser Amada"), and exuberant anthems you can imagine the entire dancefloor singing along with ("Seducción," "No Me Voy a Quebrar"). It also features "Amor Prohibido," Thalía's rendition of Selena's Tejano classic. (Thalía performed the song at an April 2005 concert event that remembered Selena on the ten-year anniversary of her murder.) El Sexto Sentido features songwriting and production throughout from Estéfano, and Thalía's vocals are buoyant, particularly on the biggest notes. But the album also lacks a certain vitality. Tracks like "Un Sueño Para Dos" are a little over-produced, and "Sabe Bien" could be any dance-pop coo, only it's cooed in Spanish. Fortunately, "24000 Besos (24000 Baci)" is much better, a dizzyingly upbeat track where the catchiness isn't lost in translation. Still, despite its highlights, El Sexto Sentido feels like product. It's slick and perfectly arranged and performed with just enough gusto to get the crowd moving or emotions flowing, but never with more effort than what's necessary. And as a result, Thalía fades into the background, like her pretty but hazy headshot on the record's cover. She's a superstar, an actress and singer, a businesswoman. She's even starred in a spot for Dr. Pepper in America. But while it will likely appeal to her die-hard fans, Thalía's El Sexto Sentido is neither up to her superstar standard nor a domestic breakthrough. ~ Johnny Loftus
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. 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. 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." minimize