Jennifer Lopez: Como Ama Una Mujer review

Artist

Jennifer Lopez

Label

Epic

Release date

26th March 2007

Genre

Pop

La Lopez looks to latin pop on overblown, ballad-heavy Spanish-language release

After the clothing line (J-Lo), the perfume (Deseo) and the string of mediocre movie appearances and ropey albums, the behemoth that is the Lopez brand now hurls its broad-bottomed bulk into the lucrative Latin pop market. Having recently married fellow Puerto Rican and Latino sensation Marc Anthony (who pops up here for a duet with the missus), the release of Como Ama Una Mujer ("How A Woman Loves"), Jenny Jen’s first Spanish-language album, is hardly a surprise.

Taking a break from her usual sassy and slick urban pop, Lopez has gone for a collection of flashy, but ultimately anachronistic-sounding ballads that would not sound out of place at the forthcoming Eurovision. More lively, uptempo numbers Te Voy A Querer and recent single Qué Hiciste at least have a sunny energy and might induce an embarrassed bop or two at the beach bar on your hols.

For the remainder, Lopez’s limited and thin, reedy voice struggles to carry a collection of vocally taxing songs that would not sound out of place on an old Bonnie Tyler album (Por Qué Te Marchas) or in Evita (Por Arriesgarnos – the aforementioned duet). You can almost smell the dry ice. Light relief, however, comes via the peppering of hilariously cheesy 80s guitar interludes throughout as they do battle with melodramatic string sections courtesy of the London Symphony Orchestra – what whores they’ve become.

Be warned: if you’re heading off to any Spanish-speaking climes over the summer, this album will be ruining your holiday whichever way you turn.

Also try: Marc Anthony: Sigo Siendo Yo - Grandes Exitos Shakira: Laundry Service Gloria Estefan: Mi Tierra