La Trenza

Chilean rocker Mon Laferte softens her trademark drama for a soulful and insinuatingly sweet fourth album. The retro queen explores the sugary side of the '60s on La Trenza, whether she’s sashaying to winsome samba-pop ("Que Si"), playing the kittenish girl-group diva ("Ana"), or swinging to fizzy jazz straight out of the Rat Pack era ("No Te Fumes Mi Mariguana"). Of course, it wouldn't be a Mon Laferte album without a few breathlessly intense moments. She delivers mightily on the smoldering Juanes duet "Amárrame" and the volcanic ballad "Flaco."