The follow-up to her successful sixth studio album, Arrasando (2000), the album sees Thalía collaborating with previous producers Emilio Estéfan, Jr. and Cory Rooney, while working for the first time with Estéfano, Julio C. Reyes and Steve Morales.

In January 2002, Mexican local press reported that Thalía was immersed on the recording process of a new album, which was announced as a "millionaire production" and that it would be released by mid-year.

"[1] In an interview for the newspaper Clarin, Thalía declared that the album was the start of a new phase of expansion that the singer found herself "very productive, evolving, wanting to enjoy it."

The singer also worked with previous collaborator Emilio Estéfan, Jr., who launched her into the international market on Amor a la Mexicana (1997).

[2] Estéfano, one of the album's main songwriters, revealed that when the project came into his hands, he was told to write songs in a fresher, more aggressive vein, and he developed a strong rapport with the singer.

"[3] EMI Latin USA president Jorge Pino claimed that Thalía "has such a star quality, and with this album she's found her match.

"[3] "It's been a marvelous personal encounter where it was about simply letting things flow and taking them as they came, without so much starch and fuss.

Thalía is a collection of ten tracks in Spanish, mostly penned by Colombian songwriter Estéfano, who co-wrote and co-produced several of them with collaborator Julio C. Reyes, and three others in English, which was envisioned as her introduction to that language's market.

[3] As noted by Leila Cobo of Billboard, the album "has far more aggressive rock undertones than its namesake's previous material, edgier arrangements that often rely on crunchy guitars, and a generally relaxed feel that belies the nine months of work that went into it.

"[3] Joey Guerra noted that lyrically, the album "has a lock on independent-woman anthems," which he said that "[i]t's a familiar ground for Thalia, who explored similar themes on 1997's Amor a la Mexicana and 1999's Arrasando."

"En la Fiesta Mando Yo" was considered a dance and ska-tinged track, with accordion accompaniment,[4] about girl-power, while "No me enseñaste" was defined as a sentimental rock ballad that "highlights a voice with range and pathos.

It also features a "yearning ballad" in English, "Closer to You", and another cover: a dance version of Dead or Alive's hit "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)", which was noted for Thalía "purring like a sex kitten."

[8] She heavily promoted the song in a number of places, including the 2002 Latin Billboard Music Awards.

AllMusic editor Jason Birchmeier gave the album a four-out-of-five-stars rating, calling it "a buffet of delights -- finely prepared pop songs of all types, each with its own flavor and appeal, some tastier than others, sure, but practically all of them delectable.

"[10] Billboard's Leila Cobo was also positive, noting that on the album, "Thalía brings forth a new sound that aims to be earthier, edgier, and far more rock-driven than her previous, more dulcified pop.

"[4] Joey Guerra wrote that "[t]his new set is not as instantly addictive, but it showcases Thalia's continued evolution as an artist.

"[11] According to Billboard, Thalía received multiple certifications for its sales in the United States and Latin American.