Album Reviews

Jennifer Lopez

`Como Ama Una Mujer'

SonyBMG

This album is a full-fledged collection by multicultural diva Jennifer Lopez in her first-ever Spanish edition.

Lopez prepared for this album for about two years. Her husband, Marc Anthony, known for his hit number, ``I Need To Know,'' Estefano and Julio Reyes made the disc glossier than ever.

The album consists of 11 tracks, including ``Que Hiciste,'' her first Spanish single that's flavored with dynamic flamenco rhythms and Latin guitar sounds.

Tracks such as ``Como Ama Una Mujer,'' ``Amarte Es Todo,'' ``Apresurate'' and ``Sola'' capture romantic, feminine and exotic feelings.

-Chung Ah-young

Ne-Yo

`Because Of You'

Universal

Soulful vocals of the gifted R&B songwriter and singer Ne-Yo are a combination of R. Kelly and Michael Jackson in this album, ``Because Of You.''

This is the second album following his debut album, ``In My Own Words'' a year and half ago, following mainstream R&B and soul trends.

Hip-hop godfather Jay-Z features on ``Crazy,'' an ear-catching number, while ``Leaving Tonight'' is a duet song with Jennifer Hudson who starred in the film ``Dream Girls.''

``Ain't Thinking About You'' and ``Sex With My Ex'' are upbeat songs tinged with strong drum beats of the 1980s.

Natasha Bedingfield

`N.B.'

Natasha Bedingfield is currently one of the hottest pop stars in the British music scene. Her second album ``N.B." is filled with upbeat songs designed to have everyone dancing.

Bedingfield is good when she goes for the catchy, lively tunes like the first single, ``I Want to Have Your Babies," ``Who Knows" and ``Tricky Angel." Hip-hop star Eve also makes an appearance on the urban sounding track ``(No More) What Ifs."

However, her ballads don't fare as well as the dance tracks, except for ``Soulmate." In case you're wondering, the album title ``N.B." refers to the Latin phrase ``nota bene" which means not well or pay attention, as well as Bedingfield's initials.

-Cathy Rose A. Garcia