Kinky "Reina"

(image via Scott Windes, Flickr/mun2)

Kinky, the Mexican pop rock band from Monterrey, plays it safe on their third album Reina, an upbeat record destined for party jams. Save for the sexy "Sister Twisted" and the electro romp of "Nothing Really," the rest of the album is obvious fun – even by Kinky's clean-cut musical standards.

From the ska stabs at city life in "León," to the Chicano soul in "Monday Killer," from the sample-heavy collages in "How They Do That" to the sing-along rapping on "Lay Back," the party never stops. But as Reina progresses, and the medium-to-hard partying starts to take its toll, the best moments are the ones where the band's tone is more relaxed, like in "Spin That Wine," the album's closer.

Any fans wondering if Kinky will spread its wings will have to wait for the next record. For now, Reina is a happy layover in the land of the forever fiesta.