Goodies

About three weeks ago now, I was vainly skipping through my mass of random music channels, when a particular young girl caught my attention. Needless to say, I liked what I heard because I'm sitting here listening to her album as I type. And here is my honest opinion.

1. Goodies: This track is crazy. The beat is very original and the lyrics are unusually reserved for such a rythmic tune. Ciara's class shines on this record, and despite the bashing that she often recieved for her vocal performances, I enjoy listening to the chick. She has something a little different and I really think it's unfair of people to compare her to the likes of Whitney and Mariah. She sings crunk, not soul, so an eight-octave voice really isn't required. This song often ends up on my repate button and I adore the video more than you could imagine. Especially the dance part over Petey's rap. God I wish I could move that consistantly. I don't know anybody who hates this song, my college is full of My Chemical Romance fans like myself, but when this track got played on the jukebox, everybody literally stopped eating and talking to holler along to the rap. A deservant number 1 and one of my personal favourites.

2. 1, 2 Step: The lyrics are really unusual in this track. It's all about the music itself and isn't layered with a bunch of empty sexual innuendos. Missy sounds hott and the whole track blends together well. The second single and another US smash. I can't wait to get the video over here, I'll be looking out for that one. Another highlight.

3. Thug Style: The first slow jam of the album. Her voice sounds a lot more mature on this track and I give her credit for sticking to an almost child-like approach to her music. She knows that she aims herself toward impressionable young girls, so she isn't singing about sex and drugs, she has a very real approach on love and taking your first steps into adulthood in the romantic sense. Great beat to lay back to on a Sunday morning.

4. Hotline: This is my favourite track on the entire disc. It's a mid-tempo cut with an amazingly refreshing beat. This is crunk at it's greatest and I know that I am defanately now a fan of this genre. The lyrics flow together better than a lot of other songs out there right now and they rhyme in an intellectual way. She manages to step away from your typical baby, lady, crazy type lines. Her intelligence shines through and gains her a lot of respect in my books.

5. Oh: Rumoured to be the third single. This track has a sick beat, it's the kinda thumping hardcore backing you would expect of a gritty hip-hop artist or even aspiring rock acts. I absolutely adore the way she sings in this song. Her tongue seems to really get around the words and she has this anticipation and expectancy in her tone that gives it an almost gothic edge. This is the only place that she can ever be compared to Aaliyah. I was melting when I first heard this trackand Luda is on fire as per usual. His rap is viscous and flows perfectly against her tempting approach. A collaberation I'd love to see again on her next disc.

6. Pick Up The Phone: I think this track is very sweet. It's a mid-tempo groove and the hook gets caught in my head for days. My friends literally threaten to beat me up for singing this one so much. The lyrics are simple but effective and she displays a realy emotion that couldn't really be expressed with the previous tracks. It talks about the other half disappearing and failing to pick up his calls. I think a lot of people will relate to this cut.

7. Lookin' At You: My favourite mid-tempo song on the disc. I just dig the opening more than I can express, "so nice to meet ya." She very nearly sounds sarcastic and that's exactly what I love about her. Her attitude seems to shine through in various ways on every single song. The bridge is really cool and the production is really on key. I can't pick any faults with this track.

8. Oooh Baby: Honestly, the first time I heard this song it did nothing for me. But then i found myself humming along and the more and more I heard it, the more it progressed to grow on me. The lyrics, again, are very unique and I give Ciara credit for co-writing. I'm a lyricist and I tend to pick on written context, but she has me wowing at some of the elements she uses. She taks an appraoch that a lot are scared to do and it works well for her. This one is a little old skool in my book, but that isn't at all an insult, it's rather refreshing.

9. Next To You: The innocence of her tone in this song surprised me at first. She comes across as very naive and submissive and for Kelly, it's something of an unusual move. He's generally more into the risqué angle, but this one comes across wuite nicely. One of the more weaker songs on the album, but when the mood strikes me, I can really get into this one. In a way, she almostsets an exapmple for younger girls with this cut. It's not always necessary to lay down with someone, and she doesn't want to, so doesn't. Extra brownie points for her class.

10. And I: The first real ballad on the album. This one displays her voice quite nicely and has more of a depth than certain previous tracks. Again, mature lyrics give her more of an appeal in my eyes. She wants somebody who respects her, not money, and that can proove quite rare in society today. The emotion of the track seems very raw and heartfelt and whilst not spectacularly outstanding, I think it's a memorable track.

11. Other Chicks: My least favourite track on the album. A mid-tempo joint that starts off with a wicked beat but seems to disintegrate from there. I think they tried to go for the Aaliyah, "I Can Be," vibe. I'm not comparing the two, but the messages seem very smilar, except that Other Chicks lacks a certain depth. If this was done with a more vindictive tone, i think it could have been single material, but something just doesn;t hit it for me.

12. The Title: I love this song. Very Old Skool, it's perfect for relaxing on a Summer's day and riding in the jeep. A cute message, a great beat, tight production and a smoulderingly sexy vocal performance. She just oozes appeal here and you can really chill to this cut. Another personal favourite of mine, it has that unique twist that I adore so much in Ciara.

13. Goodies Remix: Honestly, I don't really get the point to including this. Same song, just different raps. TI guests, but he does nothing for the track and I find myself just skipping back to the original and listening to Petey really hit it up. The two don't compare on here and TI comes off very weakly. The rest of the song is exactly the same, so it seems kinda pointless to me.

14. Crazy: This song breaks my heart. I can completely relate and I think the lyrics are very in-depth and thought out. Her voice is on fine form and we get that raw emotion again here. I can't understand this song being left off of the US versions. I think it's one of the strongest on the album. Her boyfriend is her best friend, but they're just not in love. If they split up, they lose everything and she just doesn't know what to do. I think everybody must ahve been here at least once. A great ending.

So, in conclusion, a very decent buy and a very pleasant surprise in my eyes. Pick it up yourself and I'm sure you won't be disappointed :D

This LP has some good crunk beats on it and also the songs just bounce out the speakers. for her age(19) she is exploring the vibes of music and not trying to grow to big for her boots being the teen she is.the album is packed full with fun and energy, no track needs to be skipped. Awesome for a first album!

Crunk has become very popular this year, perhaps it all started with Usher's Yeah featuring Lil Jon, that was a good song and was the first really popular form of crunk. Then i heard tell of someone who would stand out this year, someone compared to Beyonce. Along came Ciara with her debut single "Goodies" and at first i thought it was terrible, the beat annoyed me and i wondered how she could possibly end up more famous than Beyonce. The song was a grower though and although it is not my favourite on the album it is a good crunk song. Along comes a second single, 1,2 step and it has to be one of my favourite tunes ever! So i thought i might just get the album, here is what i thought:
1.Goodies-9/10-Very catchy and a top tune when you hear it alot.
2.1,2 step-10/10-It's automatic, supersonic, funky, fresh, outrageous and so contageous!
3.Thug Style-8/10-A bit of a let down after the first two songs, it slows things down a bit when you don't want it to, but it is a good song if not a little bland.
4.Hotline-9/10-This is a right song! It isn't quite as good as 1,2 step but it is not far off. A stand out song!
5.Oh-10/10-This tune is down and dirty ghetto musick. This is the reason crunk was invented! It should do well in the charts, it is fantastick.
6.Pick up the phone-7/10-Similar to thug style, it is not all that impressive or catchy, i would skip this one to be honest.
7.Looking At You-10/10-Really similar to 1,2 step but at the same time very different. This is catchy, cool and another stand out song.
8.Ooo Baby-8/10-Not bad, the chorus should get you movin, it really isnt bad but it isnt really good either.
9.Next To You-6/10-ok this is probably the worst song on the album. Ciara attempts to take it slow and serious and fails.
10.And I-10/10-Ciara decides to try serious and slow again and this time it works, this is one of the best songs on the album even though it is a slow one, it is catchy and the vocals are beautiful.
11.Other Chicks-6/10-Literally back to basics here. It is very similar to next to you and that is not a good thing. This song is best when it is skipped.
12.The Title-8/10-Quite similar to the slower stuff that Missy Elliot has done. It is a good song but by no means the best.
13.Get On The Dancefloor-10/10-This song is not on the album i think but it is on mine, don't ask why. I do not have a track 14 either, this is the last song on mine, and if you don't have this song on yours then i think you should find it because it is a fantastic way to end the album, very crunk as it features lil jon.
All in all this album is mostly impressive with only a few let downs in between the stand outs. Get this album if you like crunk, r&b, hip hop or if you are new to the genre because it is one of the best of its kind! I am looking forward to the new album!