“Insomniac,” Enrique Iglesias’ eighth studio album and his fourth English-language release, marked a significant return for the Spanish singer. After a four-year hiatus following the commercial underperformance of his seventh album, “7” (2003), Iglesias unveiled a revamped sound on “Insomniac.”
The album exhibits a more edgy, dark, urban, and contemporary tone compared to its predecessor. This transformation is exemplified by Iglesias’s first-ever collaboration with rapper Lil Wayne on the track “Push” and his cover of the indie rock band Ringside’s “Tired of Being Sorry.”
“Insomniac” had its global release on June 11, 2007, followed by its debut in the United States on June 12, 2007. While the album received mixed reviews, it showcased Iglesias’s versatility. Music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic gave the album a rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars, noting that “Insomniac” appeared to target a younger audience and that Iglesias struggled to find a perfect balance between different styles. Nevertheless, Erlewine acknowledged that Iglesias excelled in producing ballads and middle-of-the-road pop songs, which remained true to his musical legacy.
On the other hand, Lauren Murphy from Entertainment.ie was less impressed with the album, criticizing it for its slow-moving, dated tracks, and cheesy radio-friendly tunes. Jonathan Bernstein of Entertainment Weekly also had reservations, citing the influence of different styles, including Toad the Wet Sprocket on “Stay Here Tonight” and Lil Wayne’s domination on “Push.”
Despite the mixed reviews, Jerome Blakeney from BBC Music and Joey Guerra from Houston Chronicle both praised the album. Blakeney commended Iglesias for his Latin-infused heart-tugging style, while Guerra highlighted the strength of “Insomniac’s” ballads, where Iglesias’s sensitive and soulful persona shone.
In contrast, Scott Shelter, writing for Slant Magazine, expressed disappointment with the ballads but found merit in the rest of “Insomniac.” Shelter suggested that if all the ballads were in line with the acoustic track “Don’t You Forget About Me,” the album would have been more worthwhile.