Scary how this site was such a big part of my life for so long and even scarier how many of you are ...
Scary how this site was such a big part of my life for so long and even scarier how many of you are still here and still think Ciao is full of real people. I'm off to bigger and better pastures.
Member since:20.06.2002
Reviews:229
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Few people who follow R&B music will not have heard of Ashanti. This beautiful young lady has worked with some of the biggest names in the business such as Ja Rule on his single “Always on Time”, Big Joe and JLO on the single “I’m Real”.
Ashanti started her musical career, at the tender age of 12, and lists Ella Fitzgerald as one of her many musical influences. Now in her early twenties, Ashanti is taking the R&B world by storm. Her debut album “Ashanti” sold over 500,00 copies, and she has won many major awards for her musical talent.
Ashanti has recently released her second album entitled “Chapter II”, which can be purchased from most music outlets, or purchased for £8.99 from CD Wow.
“Shany’s World” features a guest appearance by Chink Sanata, who does the voice over at the beginning of the track, and introduces Ashanti, and the beginning of the album. The track has a slow, steady drum beat, and features Ashanti’s murmering vocals over the top.
“Rock wit’ U” has already been released as a single, and has received critical claim. A very bassy beat to the track, combined with the vocals of Ashanti, make this an infectious feel good track, and it quickly becomes obvious that the rock in the title has a sexual connotation rather than a musical one, due to the lines
“I can't describe what I want to do to you tonight, Aw baby when you come to me, I'll make it so you'll never leave”. Ashanti transformed herself into seductress for this track, and the song is the strongest on the album.
“Breakup to Make up” starts with the sound of wind chimes, before the introduction of a funky beat, and explores the reasons that some people relish the experience of breaking up, then making up again. Essences of Randy Crawford come to the forefront in this track, which has an almost soul feel in places. Not a particularly good track.
“I found Lovin’” is a cover version of the song, originally released in the Eighties by The Fatback Band. Although Ashanti does a reasonable job of this, it’s not one of my favourites on the album, purely because I have the original version, and it seems somehow wrong to have a female voice on the track! Another track with an Eighties disco feel.
“Rain on Me” starts with an almost military drum beat, before transcending into a pure R&B classic. This is the song that will play if you visit Ashanti’s official website, and is the latest release from the album. A slow song, almost a ballad, and the emotion in Ashanti’s voice can clearly be heard, when she tells the tale of a traumatic relationship, where she was lied to constantly. I am bored with this song already, due to its constant airplay.
“Then Ya Gone” features the vocals of Chink Santana, who provides a rap over the top of a R&B groove. Ashanti’s vocals on this track are the most powerful on the album so far, and tells a tale of desperation and despair over a ruined relationship. This track will guarantee to have anyones body moving in motion to it whilst listening, and in terms of importance on the album would fall I line with “Rock wit’ U”.
“Living my life” begins with keyboards, with a spattering of dulled cymbal noises, and proves that Ashanti is a strong independent woman who will not be phased by anything thrown at her during her life. Instead she will pick up the pieces and move on. A quieter and less busy track, ideal for background music.
“Feel so Good” begins with trumpets, and a male vocal, before the introduction of the female vocal, and describes total contentment in a happy relationship. Another ballad, and although a good song, Ashanti’s voice does sound quite weak during the song.
“Carry On” begins with a moody effect, with synthesizer providing a sound like fierce stormy wind, before the vocals make an appearance in this tale of positive vibes after a relationship has run its course. A weak track, as in places it is difficult to hear Ashanti’s vocal over the instruments.
“The Story of 2” begins with what sounds like a spade being banged against some metal, before the introduction of the piano. Again, Ashanti’s voice sounds very weak, and almost tinny in this voice, similar to Michael Jackson’s when he was a young child. A shame, because the music on this track is very catchy and had a stronger vocal been applied, it could have been one of the better offerings on the album.
“Ohhhh Ahhhh” begins with sound of bells, and a slow rhythmic brushed drum sound, and tells the yearning of a woman waiting for some time with her man. At this point, I’m going to be honest and say the album is becoming boring. The weak voice is really beginning to get on my nerves, and although Ashanti is trying to convey the personality of a sex siren, again the music is so loud, it is hard to decipher what she is trying to say, apart from the occasional moan.
“Sweet Baby” has the sound of steel drums in the introduction, and if it wasn’t for this track, I would probably have binned the album after playing it for the first time. Although again the vocals are relatively weak, there is a good beat to this track, and it is a song about finding love and happiness.
The remaining two tracks “U Say I say” and “I don’t mind” do nothing to redeem the album and are very nondescript.
Ashanti takes her lead from other R&B artists of the moments, by providing lots of skits on this album, and also an Intro and Outro. I do really feel that these silly, nonsensical minute long offerings detract from the rest of the album.
Sometimes you buy an album, and have such high expectations and preconceptions, that you are bought down to earth with a bump after a few plays, and sadly this was one of those times. I would class Ashanti as a very mediocre artist, and compared with the likes of Pink, Mary J Blige, and Alicia Keys, she would fade into the background like a wallflower.
I was quite disappointed with the album overall, despite liking the songs Ashanti has released as singles. In a fiercely competitive business, I am surprised that a woman who has a relatively weak voice, and who can sometimes not be heard over the instruments accompanying her songs, could be hailed as the “new sound of R&B”. Back to the drawing board I think.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Unless this person was a member of epinions or dooyoo then this is a copy because I've definately read it before. Not rated as it is possible they are the same person and by lack of dot they're not here now anyway.
base453 08.06.2004 22:24
love the song i found lovin
fabolous 25.03.2004 19:58
Aww I liked this, great op though, you know your stuff! xx
Chapter II, the second album by 2002 hip-pop debutante Ashanti, is aimed squarely at the ... more
mainstream portion of her audience. She made her name with radio-ready duets featuring Ja Rule and Fat Joe, butChapter IIgoes light on the rap, opting for only a s...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Chapter II, the second album by 2002 hip-pop debutante Ashanti, is aimed squarely at the ... more
mainstream portion of her audience. She made her name with radio-ready duets featuring Ja Rule and Fat Joe, but Chapter II goes light on the rap, opting for only a...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Intro / Medley (Ashanti) Shany's world (Ashanti) (Chink Santana) Rock wit U (Awww Baby) ... more
(Ashanti) What Are They Gonna Say Now (Skit) (Ashanti) Breakup 2 Makeup (Ashanti) I Found Lovin' (Ashanti) Rain On Me (Ashanti) Then Ya Gone (Ashanti) (Chink Santan...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: really good rymes and beats, nice songs, more of a r n b album so good for people who like that kind of music Disadvantages: all the intros
Advantages: really good rymes and beats, nice songs, more of a r n b album so good for people who like that kind of music Disadvantages: all the intros
Nov 17th, 2003
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