by Jason BirchmeierIt was inevitable. After a few years of staggering commercial success throughout Latin America, including Brazil and pockets of the United States, the teen pop group RBD unveiled an English-language crossover album, Rebels. The release had been planned for some time -- announced at a press conference, even! -- and in marketing-savvy fashion, it was preceded by a series of events intended to drum up anticipation. First there was a brief tour of the States in early 2006 that resulted in the CD/DVD Live in Hollywood. Then there was a high-profile concert at Madison Square Garden in July that was such an event it earned a snide notice in The New York Times by renowned music journalist Jon Pareles ("This is rebel music?" his article began). And then there was the run-up to the release of Rebels, which was preceded by lead single "Tu Amor," the group's English-language debut, and then by Celestial. That all-new Spanish-language album, released in late November, included a single of its own ("Ser o Parecer") and a bonus track sorpresa featuring samples of key songs from Rebels. It all amounted to a case study in how to go about breaking an international act in America, and as the album's Christmas release date rolled around, the only question remaining was whether Virgin Records would actually break RBD stateside. After all, as on-point as their roll-out campaign had been, marketing alone doesn't make for a successful album. And indeed, Rebels itself is a mixed bag.... Read More...