CIARA
JIVE RECORDS
VIDEO: PROMISE, GET UP
RATING: 5,5/10
After selling more than 3 million copies with her debut Goodies, Ciara is back with a new album titled The Evolution. Nice title, but it's sad that her new music sounds everything but evolved. Productions credits include heavywaights Will I Am, Darkchild, Lil' Jon and Pollow Da Don among others.
The problem with this album is that most of the songs sound alike, too much electro-R&B, and it made me miss the hot songs she released back in 2004. There are not big hits like Goodies, Ooh or amazing ballads like And I.
Like A Boy is far one of the best things on The Evolution, Promise is hot too and very original, Can't Leave 'Em Alone is a typical Darkchild production which ends up working and 50 cent's verse on it works too . Make It Last Forever and I'm Just Me are cool songs too.
On the other hand, we have the horrible That's Right, a Lil' Jon produced joint (which sets off with Jon screaming with his ugly voice) and to make matters worse, it's the first track on the album!. The rest are all upbeat tracks with no personality and the same formula. Maybe the only one I like of all them is I Proceed while Bang It Up and Get In, Fit In are all bad and unnecessary fillers.
Ciara really suffered from the sophomore slump, but I know she won't let me down with her third effort!
SHAREEFA
DISTURBING THA PEACE
VIDEO: NEED A BOSS, CRY NO MORE
RATING: 7/10
Shareefa, dubbed THE SOUL of Disturbing Tha Peace released her debut album Point Of No Return back in October. I was really looking forward to hearing this album cus Need A Boss was one of my favorites songs of 2006! Even though the first single is R&B-pop destined to caught mainstream audiences, I knew that the rest of the album would be more classic R&B sounding. I'm not saying by any means that she's the new Mary J, but it's clear that she can't be compared to Ciara, Beyonce or Kelis.
Second single Cry No More is another Darkchild production. The song can be named Need A Boss( Part 2) in my opinion, she should've left that joint outside the album and not release it! Butterfly is one of the best songs, nothing better than powerful ballad and already chosen as the third single. No One Said and You Told Me are strong songs too. Basically, the best of the album is in the first half.
She gets kinda stuck in the second half, even though you have the amazing duet with Bobby Valentino Hey Babe (Need Ya Lovin'), a very soulful joint. The only track I really hate and can't stand it is Phony! The chorus is way too repetitive...
Coming to an end, Shareefa put out a good album but I'm sure she can deliver a much consistent effort, AND she didn't surpass Keyshia Cole (which is in my opinion her archi-rival he he)
SUNSHINE ANDERSON
WORLD MUSIC
VIDEO: SOMETHING I WANNA GIVE YOU
RATING: 7,5/10
After a 6 year hiatus, Sunshine Anderson's second album Sunshine At Midnight was released. Her debut was pretty good, and the single Heard It All Before was hot (despite the so overused lyrics).
The album kicks off with the first single Something I Wanna Give You, a nice song which lacks excitement. Through the album I found good tracks and fillers, but it was a nice experience! Good Love, Switch It Up, Problems and My Whole Life are strong songs. There are no big mistakes, but the Raphael Saadiq penned and produced track Wear The Crown is boring, while Force Of Nature should be the great ballad but ends up being just ok. She should concentrate next time on making the slow jams better. The last track (which gives name to the album) is hot too, and appropiate to close the joint.
Overall it's a very good album, I recommend it to you if you enjoyed her first album.
Enjoy
Dan
