Julieta Venegas

Venegas improves with each album, but there's something sweet about her earlier work, especially her 1998 debut Aqui. The accordion plays a big role, lending a rare earthiness to songs like "Antes" and "De Mis Pasos." Not every song shines ("Con Su Propria Voz" gets a bit grating), but songs like the introspective "Recuerdo Perdido" more than make up it.