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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 15, 2007

MEKONS:

NATURAL

(TOUCH AND GO) **

For its latest album, Mekons got back to the country, literally. "Natural" was conceived and written while the band members were secluded in the English countryside.

The wilderness holiday may have brought acoustic guitars and fiddles to the fore, but it did nothing to lighten Mekons' worldview, which is as dark as ever. If anything, it gives the music a subtle, haunting quality. The songs seem to be creeping up on you, just out of eyesight, lurking behind the next tree.

Occasionally, though, the subtlety slips into somnambulism - this isn't the Mekons album you're going to put on to start a party. Mekons fans will appreciate this but newcomers should start with something livelier - try 1989's "The Mekons Rock 'n' Roll" or 2004's "Punk Rock."

Download this: "Cockermouth"

Curtis Ross

JENNIFER LOPEZ:

BRAVE

(EPIC) *½

J-Lo is lame-o.

Why Jenny-from-the-block thinks the world should take her seriously as a singer is beyond comprehension.

Although her new joint has surprisingly solid production - as it should considering she knows everybody - the chick can't sing.

Here's the deal: The album has club-bangers, wanna-be introspective lyrics and a lack of cohesion. In other words, she's just not that deep and her act is getting old, especially for someone preggo and pushing 40. And Ludacris needs to leave the Spanish cameos alone.

Some people should just be Fly Girls or look cute in the movies.

Download this: "Hold It Don't Drop It"

Sarah Hoye

GLORIA ESTEFAN:

90 MILLAS

(SONY BMG) ***

Havana native Gloria Estefan puts her heart and soul into the romantic Latin ballads on Spanish-language album "90 Millas."

First track "Me Odio" gives a whole new meaning to love gone wrong. How could something so sad make you feel so good inside? Listening to this song, you can't help but feel as if you're sipping a cafe con leche, smoking an aromatic cigar and enjoying the breeze while watching the festivities on the streets of Cuba.

Estefan's music has always stirred the soul, from hits such as "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" and "Conga" to her 1993 Spanish-language album "Mi Tierra." She continues to make moving music on "90 Millas," getting help from all-star performers including trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and guitarist Carlos Santana.

Download this: "Me Odio"

Melinda Ramos

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