A pair of Top Ten albums and Top Ten R&B singles to match. You'd think Amerie's path would be without obstacles going forward, but album number three -- this one -- was left unreleased in the States. In other territories, where it was released, it was left to rot. It's a shame; the album is loaded. The amicable and possibly temporary split between Amerie and her primary producer, Rich Harrison, might've been a cause for some concern, but this set of songs is altogether more colorful and varied than both All I Have and Touch. It's almost excessively generous, provided you are able to keep up and absorb a set of songs that, sequentially, is of exceptionally distinct halves. The all-too-brief intro, the Clutch collaboration "Hate 2 Love U," "Make Me Believe," the Cee-Lo co-production "Take Control," and "Gotta Work" are all restlessly upbeat, dishing out prancing horns (sampled and synthetic), tumbling/crashing drum breaks, zipping organs, and other '60s/'70s soul-funk authenticators. Mighty Dog Haynes, Kool & the Gang, Curtis Mayfield, Bob James, and Tom Zé are all part of that mix. Each one of the songs is an energy rush, and it can be overbearing to be confronted by the boundlessly enthusiastic voices of a woman who is thrilled to be making music and isn't afraid to sound like it. That only accounts for the majority of the album's first half. The first half's other two songs, the Malcolm McLaren-sampling "Some Like It" (a gooey mess, like a candy-shop paella) and "Crush" (a late-'80s freestyle throwback, clipped synthetic orchestra hits and all), point the way toward the second half, where there's a lot more breathing room. "Crazy Wonderful" and "That's What U R" are both dream pop through and through; the former could trick those who don't know better into thinking it's a remake of something off SWV's It's About Time, while the latter is one of the better latter-day neo-Neptunes productions. Though a couple ballads are middling, Amerie's efficiency is unwavering, and any of their shortcomings are made forgivable by "Paint Me Over," where her accusations are as stinging as her resignations are disarming. What's most impressive about the album is how Amerie lassoes each song, whether it requires salt, sugar, heartache, delight, or any combination thereof. She is the only female singer on the album, and hearing her backgrounds dance and swim around her leads is as moving as anything else in modern R&B. That a fully opened booklet or CD case displays a sextet of Ameries is perhaps unintentionally emblematic. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
she is one of the artist that is under-rated. everyone slept on her first album, but it was HOTTTT! she is gorgeous and i hope that i hear from her more!!!
YO,
I know it's a sticky public relations nightmare. I didn't mean for it to happen that way. I just sort of spontaneously thought I'd go for it. I didn't know everything that was going on at the time. And I'm sure things were happening in your life in other areas that affected events. But, we probably shouldn't try to start something where compatibility becomes a problem. I can't really be all over the place in terms of relationships over short periods of time. So, I'm going to step back and
LOL @ virginiafam and datjont! Believe it or not she has an album coming out there was a video shoot for her single setup in LA on the 7th this month...
but yeah im kind of mad this album didnt make a US release
like virginiafam, I had no idea another album was available, but there's no need to be trying to fing Ashanti, leave her be. but SINGERS like Faith Evans should resurface.
I never knew when this album came out, my friend sent it to me via email , idk who markets her but theyre not doin a good job, b/c none of the songs up here made it to the radio. But my faves were "Paint Me Over & Somebody Up There" Please come back out Amerie were missing you all of the attn is on "BDAY" and i know she aint the only female r&B artist. ex. tamia,monica,brandy,and where the hell is Ashanti???????
It's funny, I never heard about a release date with this cd. I had to get it from one of my friends. I think it was released somewhere in Europe. Anyways, I love Amerie!!