Exploring and expressing Mexico's rich culture has been a lifelong passion for vocalist Lila Downs. With a voice that is varied in color and range, Lila cuts a striking figure live as well - she embodies the spirit of her music with an emotion-drenched physicality. Lila's profile was raised significantly with her stunning performance in the hit film Frida, starring Salma Hayek in the title role. Lila also performed the Oscar-nominated song from the film at the Academy Awards ceremony, becoming the first Latina to perform at the telecast. Her new album Shake Away evokes her home country's rich folk-music legacy while pulsing with modern arrangements.

Customer Rating:
Summary: It'sashakin'
Comment: Lila Downs pulls out the stops on this record and covers a wide range of styles - but with superb skill and results! She even looks different on the cover photos from her earlier recordings. This woman is "Shakin'".

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Lilia at her best
Comment: The more I listen to Lilia's Shake Away the more I like it. I love her bands intricate skills, playing different styles and rhythms, weaving Native Mexican, South American and Jazz - Pop song styles together.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Who can resist?
Comment: Nina Simone, Grace Slick, Tish Hinojosa...she evokes them all (at least in my ears).
A gorgeous album -- in turns delightful, hopeful, yearning, seductive, sincere...

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A must for the fans, optional for the rest!
Comment: I like Lila Downs and I have all her previous CDs. This new release, from its booklet to the orchestration seems to be directed at young listeners (at heart or otherwise !). There are neither any ground-breaking tunes nor complete failures. Her "protest" style surfaces here and there. All in all, Paul Cohen and his friends perform quite nicely (even better than before) and Lila Downs sings perfectly as always. The reason for my 4 stars instead of 5 is this: They (Downs & Cohen & friends) did not go further and instead chose to play in the safe ground. No experimentations here, no extraordinary vocals, no "wow"! Still, this is a fine album for fans and Latin lovers.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Lilla Downs is Authenticity in its value
Comment: I own all of this artists cd s, just love what she can do with her voice. Every song is just wonderful, music and lyrics. She just seems to do it for me, what can I say, I m just hoping she will come to Montreal very soon. Great cd for Lilla fans to have

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