Imperfecta-Imperfect - JD Natasha

Only 16 years old, JD Natasha makes quite a splash with her debut album, Imperfecta-Imperfect. It's not that her teenage singer/songwriter alt-rock is especially novel, though it is first-rate. Nor is it that she's especially gifted as a singer, songwriter, or guitarist, though she is especially gifted at all three for her age. Rather, the splash came because Natasha is Latina, and there were very few, if any, Latin artists recording for major labels in 2004 who could offer what she offers on Imperfecta-Imperfect. If she were a white-bread American girl (or Canadian or British, for that matter), she'd be in the running with Avril Lavigne for queen of the teen singer/songwriters, and surely she'd be stomping on stylized alt-rock chicks like Ashlee Simpson and Kelly Osbourne who may have the look but lack the talent. In fact, her energized album opener, "Plástico," addresses this very issue: "Yo no soy una/Barbie de plástico/Tengo alma/Tengo alma" (I am not a/Plastic Barbie/I have soul/I have soul) goes the chorus. Indeed, she's her own girl here on Imperfecta-Imperfect, which is surprising in the world of Latin music, where major-label talent is usually put through an assembly line of songwriters and producers before eventually evolving into a highly marketable pop confection. There are exceptions, of course -- Juanes, Shakira, Julieta Venegas, Café Tacuba, and Ely Guerra come to mind immediately -- but these exceptions are just that: exceptions. Still, while Natasha has recorded an exciting debut album highlighted by strong singing, excellent production (by Sebastian Krys, notably), a few really great songs ("Lágrimas" is the standout, along with "Plástico" and the English-language title track), and some appealing bonus material (a creative cover of OutKast's "Hey Ya" performed live), she's not qualified to assume the role of the next Shakira quite yet. She's a bit too musically confined for that; straightforward alt-rock like this has its limits, after all. Imperfecta-Imperfect nonetheless is one of the better teenage singer/songwriter albums in years -- and in any language, for that matter -- and a little time, growth, and experience won't hurt Natasha's prospects one bit. This girl has real talent, and while she wouldn't seem all that novel if she sang in English and embraced that market, Natasha is such a novelty in the Latin world that you can't help but cheer her on. Latin music certainly has its virtues circa 2004, but it really could use more true artists like Juanes, Julieta Venegas, and JD Natasha -- Latin pop artists who write and perform their own music on their own terms, with wonderfully expressive results. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide