Paulina Rubio
Border Girl
Universal
With Border Girl, Paulina Rubio joins the ranks of several foreign female pop artists that have recently crossed over into American mainstream, including Shakira, Kylie Minogue, and Anastacia. Putting together a blend of house, trance, hip-hop, and pop, mixed with some ranchera, the album has a little bit of something for everyone. The first single, "Don't Say Goodbye," has already been burning up the airwaves with its catchy lyrics and infectious beats. There's more pulsating sounds in the trance track "Fire (Sexy Dance)" that is sure to be a club favorite; but this eclectic collection is more than just dance pop. Paulina shows that she has more in her arsenal than just simple melodies in the soulful "Undeniable," the one song on this album that allows you to take a break from the dance floor and just cuddle with your partner. There's even a bit of J-Lo in the form of hip-hop track "Stereo," as well as an ambitious cover of the KISS hit "I Was Made For Lovin' You." Unfortunately, these good points are countered by the fact that of the five Spanish songs on the album, only one is not already included as an English version. Longtime fans may also recognize some repeated tracks from her previous album Paulina. It would be nice to have brand new songs, and alternative Spanish tracks, but as an introduction to American audiences, Border Girl does the job. -85 Mics
The White Stripes
White Blood Cells
V2 Records
Yes! Thank you music gods for bringing us a band like this. I know 2002 is not over yet but I must put my vote in for the album of the year right here. It's classic rock for the future. Out of southwest Detroit, this band consists of two members, Jack White and Meg White. When I saw them live Jack informed the crowd that they are siblings. However some rumors say they are ex-lovers who were married and got a divorce. Whatever, as long as the music is good. This is their third album to date. The first (self titled) was released in 1999 and gained attention in the indie music scene for breathing new life into garage rock. Their second album De Stijl kept the momentum going. But with White Blood Cells they put together a great breakthrough album at the right time. No more rap-rock, no more pop-punk, let's kill all this TRL bandwagon sound and get back to some good ol' American rock and roll. The White Stripes sound like Led Zeppelin, B.B. King, and the Sex Pistols all wound up together. Overall the music seems to be a mix of country, blues, classic rock, garage rock, punk, etc. This combination is perfectly demonstrated on the first track: "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground". " Hotel Yorba" is definitely a favorite among fans and even others who don't consider themselves fans. There's just something about this song that gets everyone's feet tapping and hands clapping. Their hit that broke them out to the public is "Fell in Love with a Girl". A great song that's even better live. Yes, you have to experience these two in concert. One of the greatest live shows I've ever seen. If the description above appeals to you then you will like this CD, so buy it. www.whitestripes.com. -Chux
Nelly
Nellyville
Universal / Fo' Reel
Nelly makes his second effort and tries to follow up the multi-platinum success of Country Grammar, released almost exactly two years before. Hits off of that incredible debut can still be heard in the clubs, so one wonders whether this St. Lunatic can top it or suffer from the all too common sophomore curse. With current singles blazing the airwaves, it doesn't appear that Nelly is falling short of any expectations, and tracks such as "CG 2" show that his new album is just more of the same stuff that got him here in the first place - and that's not necessarily a bad thing. It includes proven hits "#1" off of the Training Day Soundtrack and the remix of "Freeway", and Beanie Sigel's "Roc The Mic," as well as a new single "Hot In Herre," which is set to take over from his old hits as the current hot club track. On the smooth R&B track, "Dilemma" featuring Destiny Child's Kelly Rowland, Nelly takes a break from his usual delivery to show his versatility and soft side. In addition to Kelly, another pop icon Justin Timberlake makes his appearance on the track "Work It." Many may complain that Nelly has gone pop and crossed over into the mainstream but when one enjoys so much success, who can blame him for not wanting to fix what's not broken? -85 Mics