Showing posts with label Amerie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amerie. Show all posts
Album Review: Amerie - In Love & War
Artist: Amerie
Album: In Love & War
Release Date: 11.03.09
Since she first stepped on the scene with her 2002 debut, a few things have been evident about Amerie: she loves drums, she has a round-the-way-girl approach, and she’s NOT a powerhouse vocalist. Still, her limited range has always served her well in delivering love songs and tales of the heartbreak. With her Def Jam debut however, she reached for a grungier, grittier sound, more raw and revealing. The result is not quite where it should be, a misshapen attempt at mixing alternative rock sounds with R&B. In Love & War suffers from a lack of depth, and with 3 projects already behind her (one overseas release), it's about time she dug a little deeper.
Similar to her previous releases, Amerie’s strength still lies in her percussion-heavy hip shakers like the tribal-inspired single Heard ‘Em All and the opening cut Tell Me You Love Me. The other highlights on the album are the songs that offer some contrast to Amerie’s vocals, including Trey Songz on the Mint-Condition sampled Pretty Brown and Fabolous’ verse on More Than Love. Higher evokes the rocker-side, very Kravitz-type sound and is a decent song, as is the standout ballad Different People.
On many of the offerings here, the production outshines the star. While the melodies and arrangements reach the intended effect, it’s the vocals and even the lyrical flow that fall short. Dear John is everything a ballad should be, but when Amerie’s vocals are added, the track seems to falter a bit. The same holds true on The Flowers – both songs are just missing the crucial element that makes a ballad – the pure emotion. Beyond all that, Amerie is far too deep in her career to still have such surface-level content. There’s no connection with the listener beyond the dance numbers.
The album is very hit-and-miss and even the hits are mediocre at best. Amerie’s new home at Def Jam have brought about a new sound that has great potential for her vocal style, but fall just short of making hit records. From the vivid album art, I expected to hear a more soulful and eclectic style – I was halfway satisfied. Eclectic style is present, soul and depth missed the bus, and Amerie’s In Love & War misses the mark…
Sound-Savvy rates In Love & War with 2.5 out of 5 platinum headphones.
Amerie feat. Trey Songz and Lloyd Banks - Pretty Brown Eyes (Remix)
The original version of this joint was good enough, but here comes Lloyd Banks on the remix. Even when the beat drops, this new version is very reminiscent of 90's style music. Not a bad verse by Lloyd... In Love And War, the new album from Amerie drops November 3.
Audio: Pretty Brown Eyes (REMIX)
Audio: Pretty Brown Eyes (REMIX)
Video: Amerie - Heard Em All
This video JUST premiered on 106th and Park and Amerie looks sexy as always in this futuristic wasteland scenery. Her new album, In Love & War will be her first release at her new Def Jam home, and it hits stores November 3rd!
Amerie feat. Trey Songz - Pretty Brown Eyes
In our interview with Trey, we asked him about the lack of female collaborations in his catalog. Well, I guess he's working on that. Here's the latest drop from Ms. Amerie featuring the homie Trey Songz, a nice homage to the Mint Condition original. I dig the overall sound of this track, big production, vocals and all. Check it out...
Audio: Amerie ft. Trey Songz - Pretty Brown Eyes
Audio: Amerie ft. Trey Songz - Pretty Brown Eyes
Amerie - Why R U (Remix) (Feat. Nas, Jadakiss, Kain & Rick Ross)
You may recall us putting you on to the original version a while back. Here's the remix featuring Nas, Jadakiss, Rick Ross, and former Badboy whiteboy Kain. Amerie's Love & War album is scheduled to release August 11th via Def Jam. Props to Sav.
DOWNLOAD: Amerie - Why R U (Remix) (Feat. Nas, Jadakiss, Kain & Rick Ross)
PREVIOUS: Amerie - Why R U
New Music from Amerie - Dear John
Someone over at Def Jam hears our cries and they're pushing Amerie into a newer direction. If Dear John makes it as her next single, it will mark the first time Amerie has released a ballad as a single. The piano melody on this song is really nice, and the lyrics really highlight her femininity and softer side. It's not the best ballad I've heard and I think she should step it up a bit on the vocals, but at least she's trying some new sounds. In Love and War is scheduled for release on August 11.
Video: Amerie - Why R U?
Officially one of the baddest chicks in the game right now! Amerie is on the road back with her new single Why R U. The video clip is very fashion centric, giving Amerie a variety of rockstar looks and showing off her radiating sex appeal. Her new album In Love And War will be her first release under her new Def Jam contract and will be available August 11.
Amerie - Tell Me U Love Me
Amerie is killin' the game with these new releases!! As I stated before, Def Jam is where she should have been from the start. This sound really works for her, as it always has - the funky big band, blaring horns and live-and-direct feel. The album: In Love and War coming August 2009!
She's Back! Amerie - Why R U?
It's been three years since Amerie has released anything in the US, but her last album (Because I Love It) was released two years ago in Europe off the strength of her last single Take Control. In the meantime she has parted ways with Columbia Records and moved over to Def Jam, where I feel she should have been all along. She's gearing up for the release of her 4th album, In Love And War, to be available later this year. I'm definitely feelin this new first single, Why R U, it's a hot summertime jam, perfect for her comeback. Amerie's last album may not have been as well-received as her first two, but it wasn't a disappointment by far, and I anticipate her star power being raised a few notches with this new release. Plus, SHE SEXXXXYYYYY!!!
