La Oreja de Van Gogh - Guapa (2006) Hi-Res

Effortless effervescence--that's the most fitting phrase to describe Guapa, the fourth studio disc from La Oreja de Van Gogh and follow-up to 2003's wildly popular Lo Que Te Conte Mientras Te Hacias La Dormida. Rock riffs, club beats, and instantly catchy melodies collide with the kewpie-doll vocals of Amaia Montero. Her voice is thin and wispy, to be sure, but it's a perfect fit for LODVG's pleasing pop confections. "Noche" and "Muneca de Trapo" are anchored by fuzzy guitar riffs, while "Vuelve" rides a Nirvana-inspired guitar groove, accented with electro beats. "A Diez Centimetros De Ti" pulses with the passion of young love, and "Mi Vida Sin Ti" morphs from a plaintive guitar ode into a delicious disco-ball ditty before shifting into a barroom sing-along, complete with blaring mariachi horns. There's lots of ground covered here, but LODVG's route never seems forced or overplanned. Guapa is simply the sound of a group comfortable with its talents and its varied inspirations. For fans of swirling world-pop, that's pretty inspired too. -- Joey Guerra