Greatest Hits" [Limited Edition w/ Bonus DVD]
What's a Latin diva to do after mediocre success in the English-language market and the threat of alienation from Spanish-speaking fans? Remind everyone what made her so fabulous in the first place. Thalia'sGreatest Hitscollects some of her biggest singles and videos together in one lush package. It's an excellent memory book of the Mexican superstar's diverse sounds, styles, and attitudes. Thalia's flirty personality has always threatened to overshadow her musical talent, and this collection strikes a precarious balance between the singer's visual and musical personas. Excellent tracks such as "Piel Morena," "Amor a la Mexicana," and "Arrasando" highlight Thalia's ability to push past her musical limitations when supported by the right musicians and producers. On the flip side, videos for "Gracias a Dios," "A Quien le Importa," and "I Want You" (a modest English-language hit) find the singer in identity crisis, traipsing through a barrage of clichéd video-vixen personas. There's no denying, however, that Thalia soars when the mix is just right, most notably on the ballads "Entre el Mar y Una Estrella," "No Me Ensenaste," and "Cerca de Ti." Now if she could only get the recipe right in English. --Joey Guerra