Rosalía - El Mal Querer (Album Review)

I often enjoy music from non-English speaking countries but the Spanish pop scene has, in recent years, been almost exclusively reggaeton, a genre that is just as bad as the majority of trap and hip hop. Rosalía takes a very different approach, taking elements of flamenco and traditional Spanish music to enhance the pop and make some of the best music I've heard all year.

Her beginnings may be very good, gentle, Spanish folk music but on her new album she traverses these beautiful beginnings to accomplish a more full, expansive sound that incorporates fresh beats, lush instrumentation and a gorgeous flamenco flare. This is an album that shows more maturity and experience, showcasing Rosalía's talent as a vocalist and musician. It's something that entertains throughout its brief, engaging 30 minute runtime; it exceeds expectations and doesn't bore you, all contributing factors as to why this is such a great album.

The lead single and opening track "MALAMENTE" is an excellent, near-perfect pop song with absolutely lustrous production and instrumentation. The beat is so good, so poppy and so catchy. It is also possibly the least Spanish song here, which isn't at all bad but definitely makes it even more rewarding throughout the album because it is just so interesting. If you compare it to Camila Cabello's debut from earlier this year where the single "Havana" was the most Spanish song, preceding a bland and poppy album, it is such a contrast that just sets Rosalía's album far above any other Hispanic pop music. Where Camila delivered a generic and dull pop outing, Rosalía delivers a unique and interesting pop expression intertwining a beautiful and flavoursome flamenco experience.

"DE AQUÍ NO SALES" is an experimental cut that incorporates some exciting art pop elements that enhances the song and helps bring out even more of her personality and fascinating voice. Some of the songs here seem almost incapable of matching her voice as her vibrato is so expressive and too powerful for some of the more restrained songs. "BAGDAD" and "DI MI NOMBRE" get it right with how perfectly the beat fits her voice, the former being an emotional highlight whilst the latter is more of a fun but personal cut.

On "NANA" she demonstrates how the raw yet controlled emotion in her vocals can shatter you, the power immense and necessary to drive home how important a song it is. In fact, every single song seems necessary and important because of Rosalía's incredible delivery, presence and active approach that drives every song forward to a point of excellence. She goes through a range of themes and ideas that make you feel very different at different times but always engaged and wanting to hear but never wanting more - it is satisfying and therefore achieving, rewarding to listen to and most definitely an accomplished piece of art.

Overall I love this spectacular album, from the catchy choruses to the flamenco influences and roots and most of all Rosalía's presence leading every single song. "El Mal Querer" is an album that provides everything you could want in Spanish pop. I am rating this a very strong 8 out of 10. Now that she's made the transition from folk to pop, I'd love to see her go more experimental with her next release! Whatever she does in the future, I'll definitely give it a listen..

Best Songs:
MALAMENTE, PIENSO EN TU MIRÁ, DE AQUÍ NO SALES, RENIEGO, BAGDAD, DI MI NOMBRE, NANA, MALDICIÓN

Worst Song/s:
QUE NO SALGA LA LUNA