Shakira is a musical gem that we all take for granted. Like P!nk and Alanis Morissette and most of all, Madonna, Shakira is a pop star who never gets acclaim for what she does. P!nk is an amazing songwriter who writes about subjects most would sleep through, like Vietnam, physical and emotional abuse and above all, realistic heartbreak. Alanis Morissette is a spiritual lady who never took the chance to sell out, which she did have the choice when she needed a follow up to JAGGED LITTLE PILL. No. She went the opposite direction and began producing her own stuff, perfecting her vocals and most of all, having creative control. Madonna, last but not least, is the legendary pop queen who isn't even known for her music but more of her persona and reoccurring tabloid issues. If it wasn't for her, there probably wouldn't be any Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears, or hell, even creative control for women in the music industry.
These three pop gems are simply taken for granted for other singers such as Britney Spears, who is, by all means, mother-effin useless and most of all, they never get the kind of credit for what they do like the sh*tty Brit. Shakira is the same. She dances, has a strong but lesser version voice of Alanis and most of all, writes ALL and produces ALL of her music. Such a long argument, but simply true. ORAL FIXATION Vol. 2 should prove this more than LAUNDRY SERVICE did, simply because it is a statement in which cannot be heard. Shakira is here to stay and most of all, show the world what she's made of, on and off the dance floor and onto the stage.

"How Do You Do" starts the album off on an oddly inspirational note, where Shakira questions God's existence, which I have been doing ever since I was born. A male choir sings the opening lines and almost immediately after that, the song turns into a mid-tempo rock tune that transforms into a mid-tempo chill, and then back again. It's daring and risky and lyrics such as these should be hung up in an art gallery somewhere in this god-forsaken world:

"What language do you speak... if you speak at all
Are you some kind of freak... who lives to raise the ones who fall
Hey, would you tell me why the cat fights the dog
Do you go to the Mosque Or the Synagogue?"

Shakira is also feeling a bit bummed, as if something had happened to her, forcing her to write this confusing song that transforms into a billion other things. As in the bridge, where the Male choir comes for another chant until Shakira yells out, telling them all:

"Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory
Amen!"

Another song on the album, called "Timor" (which is also the closing), questions political views and politics in general. In a way, the song itself is confusing, as the song keeps transforming into a hard-rock tune with a child-like choir and then turning into an electro-pop-like sound with Shakira not only questioning politics but also agreeing with it. She may be on one side in one line of the lyrics and then another, she's on the other side, as if she's battling herself in a conversation or better yet, an argument about what's actually going on in the world.

"It's alright, It's alright. 'Cause the system never fails
The good guys are in peril and the bad guys are in jail"

And then it continues:

"It's alright, it's alright. The news says half the truth
Hearing what we want is the secret to eternal youth."

She goes sarcastic:

"It's alright, it's alright if the planet splits in three.
'Cause I'll keep selling records and you've got your MTV"

But then:

"If we forget about them, don't worry.
But if we forget about us, then hurry!
...How about those people who don't matter anymore?"

"Costume Makes The Clown" is an obvious musical ode to hard-rock musicians such as Aerosmith and AC/DC, with its banging guitars stopping and stuttering along the way and the drums going along with them. Shakira also shows off her Alanis-inspired vocals, screaming and screeching whenever she gets the chance. Dramatic violins in the second verse also makes this song a standout and much like "Timor," she sings seriously while still being sarcastic:

"I'm not a virgin... but I'm not the wh*re you think.
And I don't always smell like... strawberries and cream!"

Other rock tunes that demonstrate Shakira's Alanis-like vocal power are the rock/pop tunes that fit well in radio, "Don't Bother" and "Animal City." "Don't Bother" is a present version of "You Oughta Know," with less detail, less anger but with the same dark wit and vocal-show-off antics that Alanis Morissette had in the legendary single. Just like "You Oughta Know," the chorus isn't even the best part and that's really saying something! The verses are the most interesting and intriguing parts in both songs, as both ladies sing better and with more emotion in the verses. "Animal City" borrows the catchy "la do le" from "Whenever, Wherever" but don't get the song in a wrong idea. The song is an angry tune that hides it all with a sarcastic-like easy, laid back beat that starts to kick in when the chorus pops up, with all the guitars and drum loops and Shakira's untrained voice lay astray and decide to go crazy as they possibly can. Just like Alanis Morissette, Shakira sings the lyrics in such a way that doesn't make you raise an eyebrow or gasp. She takes it easy, as she knows she's being sarcastic in all of her beautiful written lyrics, like:

"Why do all my friends now want to be your lovers?
Your family got bigger when they thought you were rich.
And now like maniacs, they scratch your back
Even if it doesn't itch."

But the song that really should remind you of Alanis Morissette is the romantic-like ballad, "Illegal," with Carlos Santana tremendously doing a fabulous job with the screech-like guitars. The song is almost perfect, with Shakira's singing having an emotional tone and when she belts, you can feel her heartbreak through the speakers. Although, the song would have been WAY better if it was replaced with the beat of "Don't Bother" or even a harder rock beat, with lyrics such as:

"But you don't even know the meaning of the words 'I'm Sorry'
You said you would love until you died
And as far as I know, you're still alive."

How close to Alanis Morissette can you get!?

"The Day And The Time" is also heartbreaking, with a beautiful melody in the verses but the chorus really sinks the song into a throwaway, mainly for the fact that it isn't catchy or memorable. With lyrics that Shakira writes and the melody that was written for the verses, Shakira should have pulled another Alanis and threw away the chorus. The song would have been way better without it.

"Hey You" is an interesting lodge into Shakira finally being a wh*re, or better yet, bringing out her Britney Spears side and offering a man her love and... that, too. Shakira, as sweet as she is (on audio and especially since she knows she can have any man on this planet), makes a move on the man and he doesn't approve. Lost and in despair because he won't take her, she sings alongside some hard hitting horns:

"Hey you
Makin' an offer that
No one would dare to refuse
Don't play the adamant
Don't be so arrogant
Let me in, Let me be your muse tonight"

This song makes "Whenever, Wherever" sound childish.

For all of the rock-like inspired tunes that take some twists and turns, Shakira is still the queen of belly dance and does ballads quite well. 

"Hips Don't Lie" featuring Wyclef Jean is always enjoyable and is probably the real definition of what reggaeton should sound like. Behind some latin guitars and screeching horns here and there, the simple reggaeton beat takes center stage, with catchy lyrics and Shakira and Wyclef sharing chemistry I haven't heard in a long time.

Leave it to Shakira to bring a boring genre into the top of the Billboard Hot 100. 

And it doesn't end there. If you're Latin, you should remember that hit that was #1 on the Latin tracks for a record breaking 25 weeks, the duet with Alejandro Sanz called "La Tortura." It's here and nothing has really changed, except a small portion of the catchy chorus is in english. It doesn't even matter, as the reggaeton beat in this song is infectious and again, Shakira has an amazing chemistry with Alejandro, which she seems to do very well.

Now, for the ballads. Exluding the perfection that is "Illegal," we have three straight forward pop ballads that are not only catchy but two are actually repeatable on and on and again and again.
"Dreams For Plans" is the first and Shakira sings immediately, getting her point across in a strong yet subtle vocal performance until the vocal climax in the bridge of the song, which is both amazingly sung and heart wrenching. The song is also more interesting than any other boring ballad, with Shakira singing about both her relationship and her failed dreams.
"Your Embrace" would have fit well in the 90s or better yet, the 80s, with its dramatic-like violin and Shakira's overdone vocals. It's a good ballad but not great.
"Something" is the last ballad on the album, which sort of reminds me of a line between Alanis Morissette, Madonna, and Lily Allen. Not only is it interestingly experimental, the chorus is catchy enough to catch anyone's ear, especially those who like soft-rock ballads.

Here's a question. Is ORAL FIXATION Vol. 2 the album where it demonstrates Shakira, as an artist?

Yes and no. Volume 1 was the album that demonstrated Shakira as a real artist, even if it was all in spanish. This one, Volume 2, is Shakira's statement that she's willing to try new things and this is probably her "experimental" album, where almost every artist goes through (P!nk with TRY THIS, Rihanna with GOOD GIRL GONE BAD, Madonna with every single album, etc). It's probably the album where she will not repeat but till then, only time will tell if Shakira's statement is true or not.

Bold Tracks Are Best Tracks.

1. How Do You Do
2. Illegal feat. Carlos Santana
3. Hips Don't Lie w/ Wyclef Jean
4. Animal City
5. Don't Bother
6. The Day and The Time feat. Gustavo Cerati
7. Dreams For Plans
8. Hey You
9. Your Embrace
10. Costume Makes The Clown
11. Something
12. Timor
*13. La Tortura w/ Alejandro Sanz 5/5 (BONUS TRACK NOT COUNTING)

FINAL SCORE: 4/5 (A great album that COULD and SHOULD appeal to everyone)

MAKE SURE TO LISTEN TO:
- How Do You Do - Illegal - Animal City - Don't Bother - Timor -

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Cleaning the House