Album Review: Mandisa - True Beauty

Mandisa - True Beauty

01 - Only The World - This track is not the track to open up a CD with; it has that filler track sound (you know that "sound") all over it. Everything about this song is wrong: the vocals, while stellar at the bridge, don't match the instrumentation; the background vocals are very lifeless--very robotic. This is something I expect from Jessica Simpson's first album. In fact, it reminds me of Simpson's, "I Think That I'm In Love". Rating: 2/5

02 - True Beauty - The song has a very positive message to it; very India.Arie, "I Am Not My Hair" meets "Video." A very self-esteem driven lyric, proclaiming to let the world see your true beauty. The instrumentation is lacking, yes; very Amy Grant. Again, the vocals kind of overpower the instrumentation. Not my favorite track, but could see major success on Christian radio. Rating: 2.5/5

03 - God Speaker - This has the same overall lyrical theme (while being a tad more Christian) as "What If God Was One of Us." Mandisa delivers this gem effortlessly and powerfully; CeCe Winans would be proud. The instrumentation, though, is kind of all over the place in spots as if she runs ahead of it or it falls behind her. It's not a bad track, though once the instrumentation finds its place. Rating: 3.5/5

04 - Voice of A Savior - This is very Stacey Orrico (when she was still a Christian artist) meets CeCe Winans. A rock based track, Mandisa delivers the song effectively without getting overpowered by the track. The message is beautiful and so true. It resonates with me on so many levels lyrically; it's a very thoughtfully written track, and although it's been done before, it's altogether refreshing to hear again. Rating: 3/5

05 - Love Somebody (featuring tobyMac & Diverse City) - This is her single from the album if a single hasn't been released yet. This, while instrumentally blah, is a definite hit on Contemporary Christian radio, definitely. It has a very 90's-tries-to-be-70's-contrived soul feeling, and while it doesn't work on any level, the song is definitely a hit for her. It's more of a song you hear on at the end of a movie while the credits are running. It's akin to Aretha's 90's semi-hit, "Deeper Love." Rating: 2.75/5

06 - Unrestrained - I'm not the biggest fan of contemporary Christian music, but I'll give it a chance if the message is right and I, on some level, can stand to listen to it instrumentally. Lyrically, it's true testimony of any believer and speaks to where my heart is with God right now. Mandisa goes straight into worship vocally on track! It's an awesome worship track and this would be the follow-up single to "Love Somebody" if her record company were smart. It's an AWESOME TRACK, especially if you adore worship! Rating: 4/5

07 - Shackles (Praise You) - Yes, it's that "Shackles (Praise You)" by Mary Mary. I couldn't even listen past the first 35 seconds. The background vocals and instrumentation ruined it for me. If you're gonna remake a song like this, you better do it better. No thanks, ma'am. Rating: 1.5/5

08 - (Never Gonna) Steal My Joy - Instrumentally, it's the second coming of that 80's joint that goes, "everybody wants to..." (can't remember the words, but I think Tears For Fears sings it). If it weren't for her vocals and the lyrical content, this song would be automatically skipped, but she adds a little gospel fire to the song that distracts me from the instrumentation. Rating: 2.75/5

09 - Oh My Lord (featuring The Fisk Jubilee Singers) - This is probably the second strongest track on the album. It has that old, traditional gospel feel and this could be what she services to gospel music radio and it would go very far. It's semi-acappella, and she's sanging on this tracks. The breakdown on the bridge is catchy and I love it! This will definitely be going on repeat! Awesome Mandisa! Rating: 4/5

10 - Only You - Another CeCe Winans flavored mid-tempo Contemporary Christian track that Mandisa delivers on! She does not disappoint. Her instrumentalists, however, leave much to be desired. Rating: 3/5

11 - He Will Come - This is a very soft and delicate encouraging track. She delivers a it, her vocals overflowing with hope and only a piano and it's the third best track on the album. No big vocals, just Mandisa passionately singing out to God and it's another gem. Rating: 3.75/5

Overall Album Rating:

I am a gospel boy at heart; in other words, I love that choir sound from The Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir and the Mississippi Mass Choir and gospel singers like Vickie Winans and Karen Clark Sheard. Rarely do I listen to contemporary Christian music, mainly because if I'm listening to gospel or Christian music I don't like studio tracks; I love live tracks with the congregation clapping, worshipping, and praising. Mandisa delivered a CeCe Winans flavored album which is not a bad that; I love CeCe. She just went a tad more contemporary Christian than I like, but the vocals are fire, the lyrics, while done in Christian music before are altogether refreshing, but her instrumentation is horiffic at times. It sounds very dated and sometimes even sloppy.

Would I recommend buying this album? If you love contemporary Christian music, you will love this album. Buy it. If you're more of a gospel boy like myself, I say download a few tracks and see if you like what you hear, then go from there.

Overall Album Rating: 3/5

Album Review: Keyshia Cole - Just Like You

Keyshia Cole - Just Like You

01 - Let It Go (featuring Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim) - I tried to listen to this song with virgin ears, but I couldn't; it's been overplayed and, despite that, I still like it. Missy worked her misdemeanor magic with this track from the beat to her interpolations. The only problem I have with Missy's beats and rap interpolations is that they are all beginning to sound the same. Vocally, it's a tad strained but it works for the song. Instrumentally, it's nothing unlike what's on Hip-Hop radio today. Lyrically, blah. Rating: 3/5

02 - Didn't I Tell You (featuring Too Short) - One problem I have with the hip hop generation is that every song is carried by a guest rapper or entertainer; not to say that it's a bad thing occassionally, but the first two tracks should not feature guests. The vocals on this song are a smooth and distracts from the horribly cliched lyrics; the instrumentation is a typical hip-hop beat--crashing bass and lots of high hat. There's nothing original or different about this song. In fact, this song is better suited for Monica, but Keyshia does not disappoint. Too Short actually takes away from the song. This, though, will likely be a single from the album. Rating: 2.75/5

03 - Fallin Out - She sounds oddly like Deborah Cox on this track. This is a nice, smooth R&B track that will never see the light of day on radio. I'm proud of Keyshia on this track; every time I've seen her live on television, she has a hard time staying in the key she began in (I happen to measure all singers by the standard of live delivery--if you can deliver live without lipsynching and not going sharp or flat, you've, at the very least, earned my respect) but she kept the melody and harmony "in the pocket." My only qualm with this song is it required, at least at the bridge, some big SANGING which I think Keyshia is unable to deliver. It, however, is a nice mid-tempo groove and she delivers it convincingly and beautifully. Rating: 4/5

04 - Give Me More - This is definitely a "Diary..." era Alicia Keys track instrumentally. In fact, she sounds remarkably like Alicia in this track right down to her delivery of the song. It has that nice old school vibe to it and that's what pulses this song forward. Keyshia delivers this song like a pro; nothing contrived or forced here. Lyrically, it's not original; it has been done before. But she does it in a refreshing manner; it doesn't feel as if it's been done to death before somehow. Good job, Keyshia! Rating: 3.5/5

05 - I Remember - Deborah Cox, is that you? I swear this girl has tones from Deborah and Alicia Keys alike. This is an excellent slow groove. She has a slight problem with enunciation, but that can be overlooked for her delivery on this song. This sounds like an updated version of "Never Gonna Break My Heart Again" (Deborah Cox). Keyshia delivers a passionately soulful vocal on this song; I only wish it were longer. Rating: 4/5

06 - I Shoulda Let You Go (introducing Amina) - This is a filler track, but unlike most filler tracks, it's actually listenable. This is the uptempo follow up to "I Shoulda Cheated." Same message lyrically. Only the instrumentation differs, but the song is even in the same key as "I Shoulda...". Nothing special. Rating: 3/5

07 - Heaven Sent - Instrumentally this sounds like an updated mixture between Monica's, "Angel of Mine" and TLC's "Unpretty." This is an excellent track! The arrangement is beautiful. Keyshia needs to learn to interpret what she's singing though; she delivers an excellent vocal, there's simply no life in her delivery. Rating: 3/5

08 - Same Thing (Interlude) - Nice for an interlude. Again, she's falling into that traps of not interpreting what she's singing; excellent vocal, just no life in it. Luckily, I'm a vocal kinda guy... Rating: 3/5

09 - Got To Get My Heart Back - This is her Mary J. Blige track; sounds like it came off of Mary's, "Love & Life" release in every way. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Mary turned this track down at one point. There's absolutely nothing special about this track or even remotely memorable about it. It's a filler track. Instrumentally, it's blah. Vocally, the same. Lyrically, nada. Rating: 2/5

10 - Was It Worth It - Skip this track. The songs seem to be getting progressively worse as the album goes on. Everything is beginning to sound the same--her adlibs, her lack of interpretation, the melodies, the harmonies, the same tired beats... Rating: 2/5

11 - Just Like You - Okay, it's getting on my nerves at this point! The delivery of each song has become the exact same. There's no living in the lyric, no build up, no nothing. The instrumentation is the same. The lyrics are cliches. It's irritating. And this is her gospel track, too...I'm a gospel boy and this ain't it...leave it to Kierra "KiKi" Sheard, Keyshia. Next. Rating: 2/5

12 - Losing You (featuring Anthony Hamilton) - They lost me the first 20 seconds of the song. There's nothing more that I despise than sampling the vocals of an old school classic then making it sound like one of the Chipmunks or Chippettes are singing it. Turn on R&B radio at any point during the day and you'll hear something mid-tempo that sounds like this. Next. Rating: 2/5

13 - Last Night (featuring Diddy) - It's getting painful now. I'd heard the song before and I liked it out of the context of the album. But now I hear it in the context of the album and how the last 3-4 tracks have been delivered the same way with the same adlibs and the same inflections, this song does absolutely nothing for me. Instrumentally, it's very 80s, but vocally it's tired. Rating: 2/5

14 - Work It Out - Sounds very "The Writings on The Wall" (Destiny's Child). It sounds a bit dated, but she actually does her thing on this track for the most part. I'm trying to get over the fact that her delivery is the same in each track. Rating: 3/5

15 - Let It Go (remix - featuring TI, Missy Elliott, and Young Dro) - It's your typical remix when one set of rappers think they can make the song hotter than the original set of rappers. Next. Rating: 2/5

Overall Album Rating:

There's no doubt that Keyshia can sing--at least on CD. I have yet to see her deliver live as a true singer (i.e., staying on key, not becoming pitchy, not straining every vocal, etc). But she delievered a strong 8 tracks. The rest of the album is simply filler and it even sounds as if Keyshia wasn't feeling singing it; every song and track began to sound the same which is unfortunate because this could have been a great 12 track album if she had got rid of some of the junk and found four more solid songs that match the first 8. I don't know how this album will perform or fare with her younger fanbase; there's a far more mature sound on this album and that works to her advantage, at least in my humble opinion.
Would I recommend buying this album? No. I say, join MP3.com and download the first 8 tracks for .99 cents a track.

Overall album rating: 3/5