Arrasando

Mexican superstar Thalia has come a long way since her early '90s days as a thin-voiced Latin pop-tart. Her stellar 1997 album, Amor a la Mexicana, was a full-throttle assertion of her maturing talent, thanks in large part to va-va-voom production work from Emilio Estefan Jr. Things heat up even more on Arrasando, the singer¹s most focused collection to date. Thalia and Estefan blend salsa, rap, reggae, cumbia, and aggressive club beats into one irresistible mix. Just try to keep your feet still during the infectious rhythms of "Regresa a Mi," "Pata Pata," and "Siempre Hay Carino." Thalia proves equally adept at ballads, particularly on the majestic first single, "Entre el Mar y una Estrella." The sexy singer has already recorded English-language tunes for overseas release, and now that she¹s dating Sony president (and Mariah¹s ex) Tommy Mottola, crossover success seems only a few hip swivels away. --Joey Guerra