thoughts on N'dea (yeah, I'm just gettin' round to expressing an opinion)

blackpearl (den_mum@yahoo.com)
Thu, 30 Jul 1998 08:39:25 -0700 (PDT)


Just thought I'd share my view on the N'dea Davenport debut: If this
was the debut album for any other unknown female singer, it would'nt
be that bad. But coming from N'dea, I expected more. Basically,
several musical genres are covered on the album–my guess is to show
her diversity and not pigeon-hole her into one category. But this
concept only works when its done well.

The first single, "Bring It On" is generic. Any r&b singer out there
could've sung it. The more notable tracks are: "Save Your Love For
Me"- an old school blues tune, "When the Night Falls" about a junkie
who sells her body to get her fix, and "Getaway", a New Orleans brass
and drum jam–recorded live–is probably the best track on the album
because of its spontaneity and good time feel. If you're expecting to
hear the same quality of voice as in the past, then don't expect it.
Many of the songs have no real backing vocals and this leaves N'dea
sounding a bit empty and lacking a certain ‘richness' which makes her
sound like a handful of other female singers out there. Other tracks
like "Old Man" (rock/blues tune), "Oh Mother Earth (Embrace)" (think
in the style of the MBeat/Jamiroquai track), "Placement For The Baby"
(one song where her voice really sounds good–tone and emotion)
could've been better. The only radio friendly songs are "Whatever You
Want", "Underneath a Red Moon" (another generic song), and
"Bullshittin'"(nice vocal wails and gymnastics near the end).

When I buy an album, I buy something that I intend to listen to not
only in the present, but in the future. And I just don't feel that
with this one. I wouldn't say it was bad or that it sucks. Just that
it should've been better. And that's my buck ninety-five.

Denise

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