Imperfecta-Imperfect

JD Natasha

Take a few spins with the debut disc from teen rocker-grrl JD Natasha, and you'll soon find yourself hitting "repeat" on that IPod or disc changer. The bilingual performer has a finely tuned sense of melody, and she matches it with angst-ridden lyrics and bold, confident vocals. The mix is both impressively mature and refreshingly age-appropriate for the young singer. Imperfect-Imperfecta is a joy from start to finish, careening smartly between amped-up guitar anthems and pleading love ballads. Natasha wails solidly in both English and Spanish, and she peppers many of the album's individual tracks with phrases in both tongues. Whatever the language, the young singer excels on standout tracks "Tanto," "Lagrimas," "Dime" and "Not Healthy." Comparisons to superstar Shakira are accurate, especially during the jangly groove of "Tatuaje." Both singers have distinct, full-bodied vocal styles and playful lyric tendencies--but let's not sell Natasha short. Her musical pallette is brighter, poppier and a bit more accessible. She commands her own spotlight during a sterling live rendition of "Tanto" and even manages a serviceable, oddly moody, version of Outkast's monster hit, "Hey Ya."--Joey Guerra

Imperfecta-Imperfect Album: