The self-titled English language debut from Mexican singer-actress Thalia is a frothy, shiny concoction that offers not even the exceedingly modest charms of a Shakira album. Shakira, at least, drew inspiration from such unorthodox sources as Led Zeppelin; “Thalia” when it isn’t evoking unpleasant memories of ’80s Eurodisco acts like Roxette, concerns itself with nothing more strenuous than mild R&B and the occasional ballad. With the exception of “Another Girl,” on which the 31-year-old singer morphs, Liz Phair-like, into a Pro-Tooled preteen, Thalia manages to rise above her middling material. Though much of “Thalia” finds her channeling latter-day Cher, “I Want You,” the terrific and lively duet with Fat Joe, suggests she should have been emulating Ashanti all along.
![When it comes to writing a demand note, bank robbers tend to follow a certain unspoken etiquette of brevity and clarity. But that’s not what happened in downtown Chicago earlier this week, when federal prosecutors say a man walked into the Chase Bank building at 10 S. Dearborn St. and handed a note to a teller that may have set records for length and variety of literary themes. “Give me as much money possible!!” read the note on lined paper in a neat, looping script that used bubbles to dot the “I’s.” “No more then $2000.” It was a simple […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ctc-l-kendall-jones-bank-robbery-01_187917143.jpg?w=455 "When it comes to writing a demand note, bank robbers tend to follow a certain unspoken etiquette of brevity and clarity. But that’s not what happened in downtown Chicago earlier this week, when federal prosecutors say a man walked into the Chase Bank building at 10 S. Dearborn St. and handed a note to a teller that may have set records for length and variety of literary themes. “Give me as much money possible!!” read the note on lined paper in a neat, looping script that used bubbles to dot the “I’s.” “No more then $2000.” It was a simple […]")
