REVIEWED BY CHUCK ARNOLD
LATIN POP
Back in the pre-J.Lo days, before she had a record deal, Jennifer Lopez lip-synched her way to big-screen stardom in Selena, the biopic of the slain Tejano singer who mostly recorded in Spanish. Now, 10 years later, Lopez has released her first Spanish-language album, Como Ama Una Mujer (translation: How a Woman Loves). With some writing, production and vocal help from husband Marc Anthony, a veteran of the Latin music scene, Lopez smoothly transforms into Jenny from the Barrio. The Bronx-born Puerto Rican, who became fluent in Spanish as an adult, eschews the hip-hop and R&B leanings of her last two discs in favor of Latin rhythms and guitar on tracks like the muy sexy single "Qué Hiciste." However, the second half of the CD is dragged down by too many ballads, which, no matter what tongue they're sung in, will never be Lopez's strong suit.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Qué Hiciste"
Big
R&B-POP
On her latest album, Macy Gray hooks up with ubiquitous Black Eyed Peas leader will.i.am, but thankfully she doesn't come out sounding "Fergalicious." Producing 9 of 12 cuts, will.i.am exhibits the deft touch he has used working with everyone from Mary J. Blige and Justin Timberlake to the Pussycat Dolls. He brings along collaborators like Timberlake and Fergie while giving Gray a fresher, more contemporary sound on tracks such as the hip-hop-inflected "Ghetto Love," which samples the James Brown classic "It's a Man's Man's Man's World." But this is still Macy's world, and on songs like "Strange Behavior" she puts the odd in this couple.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Finally Made Me Happy"
Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby
REVIEWED BY RALPH NOVAK
ROOTS POP
Hornsby, with his cerebral piano style, and Skaggs, all furious picking, aren't an obvious match. But as it turns out, they complement each other so well they can even make Rick James's "Super Freak" work together. Most of the songs are closer to Skaggs's bluegrass and Hornsby's folk-pop. Best is their version of Hornsby's "Mandolin Rain," on which Skaggs displays his virtuosity on the titular instrument while Hornsby provides evocative accompaniment.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Mandolin Rain"
Life in Cartoon Motion
CRITIC'S CHOICE
POP
Mika, a 23-year-old singer-songwriter who was born in Beirut and is based in London, breathes refreshing Life into pop music on his animated debut. With a rangy voice and flamboyant flair that recall Queen's Freddie Mercury, an unabashedly pop sensibility reminiscent of Wham!-era George Michael and a zest for cheeky, kitschy fun à la the Scissor Sisters, Mika is the perfect antidote to all those brooding hipster dudes who are too cool to be this catchy. The CD kicks off with the poperatic pomp of his glorious U.K. hit "Grace Kelly," on which Mika flaunts his self-taught skills on the keys. Just as good is "Love Today," an upbeat, uptempo anthem on which Mika soars sky-high with his falsetto, lifting you up right along with him.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Grace Kelly"
Songs of Inspiration II
CHRISTIAN
Given the group's Bible Belt roots, it's not surprising that they have proven so good at performing songs of devotion. Like last year's Songs of Inspiration, this album is an uncluttered, understated collection of Christian songs. The inclusion of "The Star Spangled Banner" seems odd, but you can't argue with "Church in the Wildwood," "Down by the Riverside" or "Will the Circle Be Unbroken."
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Will the Circle Be Unbroken"
Text PICKS to 8915 for downloads from Picks & Pans.
For more information on where to find our Download This picks, go to WWW.PEOPLE.COM/DOWNLOADTHIS
"GET RIGHT" (2005) Gets right with the funk.
"IF YOU HAD MY LOVE" (1999) Her first hit—and still one of her fiercest.
"LOVE DON'T COST A THING" (2000) For shaking your moneymaker.
"I'M REAL" MURDER REMIX (2001) Rocking it hip-pop style with Ja Rule.
"WAITING FOR TONIGHT" (1999) A turn-of-the-millennium club anthem.
"WHATEVER YOU WANNA DO" (2005) Turns up the horns—and the heat.
"SECRETLY" (2001) Her best slow jam.
Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price, Last of the Breed
These three Hall of Famers skillfully take listeners back with outstanding renditions of country classics like "Why Me Lord" and "Heartaches by the Number."
Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Legendary Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr joins the group and quickly makes his presence felt on cuts like the radio-friendly "Dashboard."
Joss Stone, Introducing Joss Stone
On her second set of original material, the 19-year-old retro-soul belter introduces her more mature self, showing that she has grown into that husky, growly delivery.
Jill Scott, Collaborations
Scott makes everything she touches better, as proven by this compilation of her savvy work with everyone from Common and the Isley Brothers to Sergio Mendes.
ARCTIC MONKEYS deliver another pulsating rock gem, "Brianstorm," from the band's second album, due April 24. At napster.com.
KELLY ROWLAND (left) hits the dance floor with Eve on the blazing "Like This," from her June 26 release, Miss Kelly. At musicstore.connect.com.
ERASURE makes a melodic return with "I Could Fall in Love with You," from the synth-pop duo's disc Light at the End of the World, out May 22. At myspace.com/erasureofficial.
BOBBY VALENTINO previews his next R&B CD, Special Occasion, out May 8, with the Timbaland-produced "Anonymous," a cool mix of soul and techno. At music.aol.com.
SOUNDS OFF
The saucy 23-year-old British chanteuse has people buzzing stateside with her second album and first U.S. release, Back to Black, a collection of retro-'60s soul for the hip-hop generation.
ON HER U.K. HIT "REHAB" [The lyrics 'They tried to make me go to rehab'] are autobiographical. It's all true. [My former manager] saw pictures of me [out partying] and thought it would be a good idea for me to go [to rehab]. I wasn't working at the time. It was my time off.... I don't have a drinking problem.
ON HER TATTOO FIXATION I have 12 or 13. The first one was a little Betty Boop on my back I got about eight years ago. The last one was a sailor girl on my right arm that I got done in New York. I want to get another one. When you start getting tattoos, you can't stop yourself.
ON HER GUM HABIT I don't smoke that much, so I guess I chew gum instead. I've got a drawer full of gum. I go through about four packs a day. I have like this gum-off competition with one of the guys from my band over who can find the weirdest gum when we're on tour.
ON HER MUSICAL HEROES I used to love Salt-N-Pepa. A lot of rappers: Nas and Mos Def, Busta Rhymes. People like Sarah Vaughan. My dad always used to have jazz on in the car. My mum used to listen to James Taylor in the car. These cheesy singers, you really develop an affinity for them.
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
