Mañana

Sin Bandera's newest album is more R&B- and hip-hop-tinged than usual, only one of the elements that makes it broader and more alive than the group's previous efforts. The Mexican duo has also incorporated duets with Brian McKnight (the very soulful "La Razón Eres Tú"), Laura Pausini ("Como Tú Y Como Yo") and Vico C ("Junto A Tí"). Previously, Sin Bandera was able to sell tons of records with a blander approach, and it still sometimes drags its tempos down and over-emotes. But there's plenty of edge in "Junto A Ti" and "Lo Que Llamas Amor," and musically, this is a far superior album, often challenging (the first single, "Suelta Mi Mano," is an acoustic track built on piano and guitar alone) and full of surprising harmonies and arrangements. —Leila Cobo