by Jose F. PromisShakira's 1996 debut album, Pies Descalzos set the stage for one of the international community's most celebrated and exciting stars. The album took a while to gain momentum, but once it did, the young chanteuse ascended to dizzying commercial heights that were only magnified with her more electrifying later releases. The more tranquil Pies Descalzos, however, finds the young singer\u002Fsongwriter balancing heartfelt, earnest ballads (such as Te Necesito) with catchy, jangly pop\u002Frock. The album opens with the infectious and melodic pop\u002Frocker Estoy Aqui and continues with the ballad Antologia before breaking into the dancehall-lite of Un Poco de Amor. As can be seen from the diversity of the material, Shakira seems to still be finding her own voice, but the results are nonetheless engaging. Other highlights include the catchy Se Quiere Se Mata, Donde Estas Corazon, and the cool, jazzy Te Espero Sentada, which unfortunately loses momentum during the chorus. All in all, Pies Descalzos is a solid debut from a young artist who was still evolving and would later further fulfill her artistic potential.