dirrtyfeature:

Ciara's "Fantasy Ride" album review

Apr 30th, 2009; 4:38 pm (GMT+8) 0




The third studio album by Ciara, Fantasy Ride will be released in the UK on May 3rd 2009 and worldwide on May 5th 2009. Fantasy Ride was supposed to be a 3 discs affair, but at the end it only became a single disc release due to the management change.

First Impressions

rickified:
This album also suffers from the fate of being pushed back a couple of times, though not as much as Keri's. Expectations are high due to the idea of being 3 discs in the first place, but then the concept fell apart. The album's listenable, a slight improvement from "Evolution". I did liked "Like A Boy" though. =)

dirrtysean:
With the flop of Go Girl (feat T-Pain), it was good enough to push the release date of Fantasy Ride from September 2008 to May 2009. Never Ever (feat. Young Jeezy) was later chosen as the new lead single. In my opinion, it is a totally different approach by Ciara's team. She always have a dancey uptempto lead single. As expected, Never Ever didnt do as well as expected. The Collaboration with Justin Timberlake, Love Sex Magic was released soon after as her 2nd single. The song managed to peaked at #10 at the Billboard Hot 100 charts. With the success for this single, Ciara's camp can relax when it comes out in next week everywhere worldwide (except for the Japan market, which will be the week after)

Standout Tracks

  • Ciara to the Stage
    rickified: A mid-tempo groove song. A decent album opener. I can't help but compare this song to Keri Hilson. Hmm....

  • Love Sex Magic (Featuring Justin Timberlake)
    rickified: 2nd single from the album. The song that single-handedly revive the hype of the album from flopsville. With the help of Justin Timberlake and his production team, this song definitely set the charts on fire. Paired with the steamy music video, it's all good. =)
    dirrtysean: Whats not to love about the song. But i prefer the remixes tho. Especially the Jason Nevins Electric Bounce Radio Mix

  • Turntables (Featuring Chris Brown)
    rickified: Gotta admit this song is HAWT!!! An indian-infused track. Everyone seems to be jumping on the 'Slumdog' bandwagon. The Pussycats did with "Jai Ho", added lyrics to it. High chances that this song would be a single.
  • dirrtysean: I like this song, but i dont like the hindie influence in it. Will probably sound better off without it.

  • Never Ever (Featuring Young Jeezy)
    rickified: 1st single. "Go Girl" is more like a teaser single since it wasn't successful at all. This song grows on you. Dubbed to be similar to "Promise". It didn't really did well on the charts either.

  • Pucker Up
    rickified: An uptempo song. Fast songs are what Ciara does best. Her 'kisses' are addictive in this song. Heh. =)

  • I Don't Remember
    dirrtysean: Written by Ne-Yo. It has Ne-Yo's vibe all over it. Just another Ne-Yo Nemo Emo song. He contributed his vocals in the chorus.

  • Keep Dancing
    dirrtysean: Produced and written by Tricky Steward and The-Dream. The Demo version which i heard previously which features The-Dream himself seeems to sound better! But it's still not a bad song.

  • Work
    dirrtysean: A typical Ciara/Missy E crunk song. Love the catchy "Work Work Work Work" Part


Final Verdict

rickified: Some songs are definitely filler materials. Just wished that she could release an all uptempo song album. This album pales in conparison with Keri's album. Proves that Miss Keri is here to stay. It doesn't help that Ciara has a voice that's like thin ice either. Maybe the bonus tracks could save her. Perhaps. Production wise, it's an all stars affair with Danja, The Dream, Darkchild and Tricky Stewart headlining. It's an ok album. Not memorable for me.

dirrtysean: This album does not have any good standout tracks. I wonder what will be her next single would be?

Rating

dirrtysean:     

rickified:        


Previously Posted Tracks


Remixes


rickified's rants:

Booty Luv - Dance, Dance

Apr 29th, 2009; 1:15 pm (GMT+8) 0




"Dance, Dance" is the 5th and final single released by Booty Luv. Well, I considered this as a promo single only, not released in the UK but in some parts of Europe instead. And this song aint a cover version too, making it the 2nd orginal single release by them and again with song writing credits by the girls. This song only have 1 remix, by Hardwell.

I love the intro and the chorus loads, a party song definitely. =) So, that's the end of the "Boogie 2nite" era. Im still eagerly awaiting for the high quality version of "Say It", I'm crazy about that song!!! Would do well on the charts i must say. =)
Track

Remixes


dirrtyfeature:

Booty Luv "Boogie 2nite" Album Review

Apr 28th, 2009; 6:18 pm (GMT+8) 0




Ah, finally an Album review eh. Sorry for the lack of reviews last week i guess. So, Booty Luv took the name for their first single for their debut album, Boogie 2nite. Ironically, a cover version by Tweet but more successful than that original. Released on 17th September 2007 in the UK only by Hed Kandi, the album bazed straight into the UK album chart, debuted and peaked number 11.

The album contains Booty Luv's 4 hit singles, 5 of the tracks in the album are cover versions and 7 of the rest are original tracks co-written by the girls themselves, Nadia and Cherise. It's cool that the album is released in the US too,on 5th August 2008, same tracklisting with an exclusive bonus remix of "Shine" and a new colour scheme for the cover art for the album (Blue and Green). I prefer the original Blue and Pink. =)

First Impressions

The genre for this album is mashed with Dance-pop, house and R&B. Basically it's vocal house to me. Most artist usually slaughter cover versions badly, not Booty Luv though. A definite party album that everyone could spin on the weekends, this kinda albums are rare. And now on with the track by track review. =)

Standout Tracks

  • Boogie 2nite
    First single, covers Tweet's original. A reallt good song to set the tone for the album. Also quite popular back in the UK back then. This song introduces us to how Booty Luv sounds like. Already a House Classic.

  • Shine
    Second single, covers Luther Vandross. My fave track of the album. As I've stated in Rickified 's Rants before, this song marries Soul with Disco. Hearing this song would never fail to cause my body to groove.

  • Don't Mess With My Man
    Third single, covers Lucy Pearl. This song is fierce!!! An Anthem I guess. I like the arrangement of the production of the song.

  • Some Kinda Rush
    Fourth Single, an original co-written by the girls. The thumping beats of the heavy bass made me sit up straight. A good song to be played while driving a sports car. Get what I mean?? =)

  • Dance, Dance
    A limited release single. Loves the lyrics. Another one for the dance floor definitely.

  • Be With You
    Covers Mary J Blige. The girls has impressive vocals on this song without being over the top. Given the Hed Kandi treatment. =)

  • Good Girl's Gone Bad
    Not to be confused with Rihanna's GGGB. Both have different vibes. Yeap, this song is dance floor ready too. This song has writting credits by Diane Warren btw.

  • A Little Bit
    Has a middle-eastern feeling to the song. Worth a listen.

  • He's A Winner
    This song has the potential to be a huge hit. The beats are so clubbish. Not the house kinda, but the MOS vibe to it. One of my faves from the album too.

  • Something To Talk About
    A floor-filler. One of the gems from the album.

  • Where You Are
    The girls slow things down with a mid-tempo to close the album. Quite ok.


Final Verdict

Even though the tracks sounds repetitive, each of them still has a signature beat. Great effort even though 5 of the tracks are cover versions. Booty Luv sure knows how to choose their singles well. First 5 tracks of the album are the first 5 singles. This album would definitely make one let loose from all worries (Provided they have a keen ear to this kinda music). This album is on the heavy rotation in my Ipod too. Worth the Purchase. Excited for the Sophomore release from the girls. The girls promised that the album would see more original tracks written by them. "Say It" is so HAWT!!! =)

I’ve included a Megamix by them. First 5 singles in chronological order. It’s an official Megamix btw. =)

Rating

rickified:        


Megamix
Previously Posted Tracks


rickified's rants:

Booty Luv - Some Kinda Rush

Apr 27th, 2009; 4:47 pm (GMT+8) 3




Continuing on the Booty Luv Trilogy, "Some Kinda Rush" is the 4th single from them. At last, it is the first original release by the girls and has song writing credits by both of the gals, Nadia and Cherise.

Even though the song peaked at number 19 on the UK singles chart, response for the song is positive by the masses and critics alike. The promotion of this song caused the album to bounce back into the UK albums chart.

Ok, if u all seen the Vid before, it's kinda cheesy. All the remixes are alright, somewhere above average. Give it all a listen. =) The Paleface remix is kinda unique catchy with it's beats though.

Track

Remixes



rickified's rants:

Booty Luv - Don't Mess With My Man

Apr 24th, 2009; 11:36 pm (GMT+8) 1

[REPOST] Posted the wrong links... now fixed!





With the first 3 singles doing cover songs of other artists, Booty Luv kinda played it safe but they did add their own twist to the songs which makes it sound fresh. Being the 3rd single, "Don't Mess With My Man" covers Lucy Pearl's original. (They are a R&B group that consist of famed producer Raphael Saadiq back in the early 00s)

Booty Luv's version was released a week before their debut album was released, and had a good chart performance at number 11 on the UK singles chart and number 1 on the UK dance chart.

Seamus Haji does his "Big Love" remix again on this song. YAY!!! This song sends across a 'mark my territorial' message. Yeap, I would not like anyone to mess with my partner, that's for sure. =) A worthy note is that the Booty Luv version of the song is produced by Bimbo Jones.

Track

Remixes


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