Donde Estan Los Ladrones

Rock-pop dance queen Shakira from Colombia is back with a sophomore album that pretty much mines the same field as her debut, with predictably similar sounds. "Ciega, Sordamuda" has the same urgent dance beat reminiscent of "Estoy Aquí," the monster club hit from her debut, Pies Descalzos. The singer/songwriter, whose whispery, quavering vocals sound like a cross between Alanis Morrisette and Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries, wrote or cowrote all 11 tracks. Surprisingly, considering that noted producer ace Emilio Estefan is at the helm here, there is very little variance here from her debut. The tunes are mostly either rock-edged dance numbers or reflective melancholy ballads; the best include the echoey "Tú" and the meandering "Sombra de Ti." --Ramiro Burr