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It's a shame that Shakira has to record in English in order to reach the U.S. pop market. She's so much better in Spanish.

There wasn't anything wrong with her 2001 English-language debut, "Laundry Service." It proved a very successful introduction to the American pop market, earning triple platinum status.

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Shakira: 'Fijación Oral, Vol 1.'
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LATIN POP Shakira "Fijación Oral, Vol 1." Epic. 12 tracks. Grade: A-

It just wasn't as good as its predecessor, 1998's "Dónde Están los Ladrones?" her last Spanish-language studio album. And it wasn't as good as this one.

The Colombian pop star isn't just a pretty face who delivers someone else's words and music. She produced and wrote or co-wrote everything on "Fijación Oral, Vol. 1."

Shakira has a harder edge than most of our current crop of pop princesses, too. "Escondite Inglés" weds a rocking new-wave flair with pop drama.

She nails just about any style she decides to tackle: the synth pop of "Las de la intuicion," the airy bossa nova of "Obtener un si," the hip-shaking dance hall reggae of first single "La Tortura."

It's beginning to look like English-speaking pop fans can get behind a Spanish-language single — that last-named track is on the playlist at Atlanta pop station Q100. But her next album will probably reach a wider audience.

"Oral Fixation, Vol. 2" is coming in November, but it's not just an English language version of "Fijación Oral, Vol. 1." It's an entirely different batch of songs. Let's hope the shiny pop radiance she displays on this one doesn't get lost in translation.

— Shane Harrison

ALSO OUT TODAY:

"Flow," from jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard; "Live at Brixton Academy," from soulful British popster Dido; "Out West," a double live album from British rock band Gomez; "Passion" from former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell; "Minimum-Maximum," a double live album from German electronica act Kraftwerk; "Got Music?" from Stephen Marley, son of Bob Marley; "Sleeping in the Nothing," from gone-punk Kelly Osbourne; "The Road Leads Where It's Led," an EP from psychedelic indie rockers the Secret Machines; "Choose Love," from former Beatle Ringo Starr; and "Man-Made" from power-pop band Teenage Fanclub.