Ashley

Yep, this is a classic case of an artist doing something experimental/amazing then stepping back from it when it doesn't sell well with a safe album. The only tracks I still listen to are Lo Que Mas, Devocion and Gordita. This is probably the first Shakira album where I don;t know the words to every song. On an unrelated note, I've been listening to a lot of Major Lazer recently and noticed how Gordita has the same drums as Pon De Floor in the breakdown bit. Shakira should just do some ridiculous dancehall electro-rock album with Diplo and John Hill. The songs that John Hill has done for SW and SES are among Shakira's best and so is Gordita.

In terms of production, melody and lyrics; Nerina Pallot - Idaho is pretty dramatic.

Is it Knock You Down? The production of Coming Home always reminds me of Knock You Down.

Blow has actually grown on me big style. The drop at 3:00 kills me every time.

I"m actually quite looking forward to this. I love Scream 1 & 2...the third not so much. 4 looks like it's going to be pretty ridiculous - but in a good way.

Valerie. Give me the Zutons' original anyday.

I'm loving Rumour Has It at the moment. The production is amazing.

This album is pretty great. I never listened to all of 19 so I can't compare. This is an extremely strong album though and is no doubt going to dominate the album chart for the rest of the year.

Yeah, it is a bit ridiculous but it would be nice if Loca somehow went top 40 in Feb and then Rabiosa was released to video channels straight after and became a summer hit. I hope Gordita is a single at some point.

Looks and sounds like a media project from an inner city yoof group.

Like I said, I wish this had a part 2. Diddy's raps have grown on me but they're just an inconvenience while listening to an amazing chorus.

Not completely confirmed yet but it's ALMOST confirmed. This could be a hit if promoted in a half decent manner. However, we all know Shakira's record of decent promotion is pretty sparse. It did pretty well on iTunes everywhere when the album was released, so there's already some interest in the song. Apparently a twitpic of video rehearsal: http://twitpic.com/3prl9o No word on a release date yet. Probably won't be for another few months considering the video for Sale El Sol hasn't even been released yet.

The video is released 27th Jan if anyone cares anymore

This is good. I like this point especially: When downloads were first fully introduced to the charts, the charts were quite exciting. But now, it's basically the same situation as before downloads were introduced. It would've been interesting to see how Adele and Bruno Mars would've done if their songs had been released when they first hit airwaves.

I can't believe people are betting on Wonderland not to flop. Who exactly do they appeal to? They're not sexual enough to appeal to teenage boys. They're not outrageous enough to appeal to the gays and they're not cool enough to appeal to young girls. And if anyone thinks they're going to appeal to the adult contemporary audience, you're insane! Since when when have Radio 2 listeners been on the search for the next manufactured girl group designed specifically for them?? They look like someone trying to make some cross between B*witched and The Corrs. Did Louis Walsh not get the memo that both groups were practically over 10 years ago!? The only group there that has any potential and a semi decent song is SoundGirl, although they look like they will head to exactly the same place as Mania, Frank and Girls Can't Catch.

It's a tough choice between Ruby and Valerie. Possibly two of the most overplayed songs in history. Ruby.

Adele is number 2 on my iTunes.

What's Debbie Dean doing in a pop video that looks like it's beamed from 1999? I love the SoundGirl song, although it's whole amazingness rests around that "shoulda known better" line.

Wow that's bad.

kanyewest: Yo Britney, I'm really happy for you and I'mma let you be #1, but me and Jay-Z single is one of the best songs of all time! LOL GOD I LOVE KANYE.

BR is an amazing song - the lyrics and melody anyway. The production is nothing special though. IMO it sounds like a rock song born into an electro pop body. HIAM lyrics and melody have nothing on BR, but the production $h!ts all over it, and like I've already said, it's the production that makes this song. Really we should be giving Max Martin and Dr Luke the credit for the song. It says a lot for Britney's status that they saved this song for her. She really is the queen of pop.

+1 Still, hearing Timbaland's version makes me sad his sound isn't "in" right now. It would've been amazing if he'd produced this for Nicole. I love Physical.

Well really, the same kind of influences are all over the Cannibal EP. It's just like Tyler said though, it's the risks that Britney takes that has set her apart from the crowd, and she's done it again by having this as her first single.

Why the hate for Stronger. It's an epic song. One of my favourites of 2007. In fact, Graduation is one of my favourites in general. I'm voting Take That - Shine.

What I love about HIAM is that it fits in very nicely with California Gurls/We R Who We R/Dj Got Us Falling In Love/Dynamite etc etc yet it's the dubstep that in it that blows all them out of the water. It's the perfect balance of being current and pioneering.