29-11-2010, 14:03
not as bad as I expected, but still, not for me
Grade - 1.4
released Nov 30th, 2010
![[Image: o97340ozmxe.jpg]](http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dro900/o973/o97340ozmxe.jpg)
from the album - Holding You Down (Goin' In Circles) - grade 1.5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwZl9WCHjnc
from all music
Bio
Contemporary R&B star Jazmine Sullivan spent several years learning the ropes of the recording industry before signing to J Records and making her solo recording debut in 2008 with the number one R&B single "Need U Bad." The Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter began her career at a young age, making her national television debut on Showtime at the Apollo at age 11 and signing to Jive Records at age 15. Her stint at Jive lasted only a couple years, however, and she was dropped by the label before any recordings were released. In the wake of this disappointment, she began working behind the scenes, for instance working with Missy Elliott on productions for Fantasia's debut album, Free Yourself (2004), and writing a couple songs for Christina Milian's third album, So Amazin' (2006), including the hit single "Say I." Sullivan was then offered a solo recording contract with J, which released her debut single, "Need U Bad," featuring and co-produced by Missy Elliott, in 2008. Fearless, her debut album, featuring productions by Salaam Remi and Stargate, among others, was issued that September. It topped the R&B chart and crossed over to reach number six on the Billboard 200, aided by "Bust Your Windows" and "Lions, Tigers & Bears" -- both of which went into the Top Ten of the R&B chart. Sullivan followed it up with November 2010's Love Me Back, which was previewed with the July single "Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)."
Album Review
One of the fears Jazmine Sullivan expressed near the end of her debut was that of being dropped by her label. Three remarkably distinctive Hot 100 singles, gold album sales, and five Grammy nominations later, the singer/songwriterâs safety was ensured. Thankfully, the J label isnât merely keeping Sullivan around but allowing her to remain her creative, imaginative self. Odds are that no other major-label R&B singer would be allowed to record a song like âRedemption,â in which Sullivan raps cold-eyed in the first person as a female crack addict and as a male woman-beater while breaking up the tales with a fraught gospel chorus. None of Sullivanâs contemporaries could possibly pull off âStutteringâ -- a gimmicky but palpable piano-led ballad conveying anxiety over a romantic interest -- without sounding like clumsy comedy. Love Me Back is, by no means, strictly experiments. Those who dug Fearless' throwback soul have plenty to soak up. The Missy-produced, Manhattans-sampling âExcuse Meâ is Sullivanâs most gorgeous in-love song yet, while the scorned-lover â10 Secondsâ makes the ultimate case for her frequent in-the-red mode, which always serves the song; when youâre bugging out, âthrowing and breaking shit,â and threatening to get your mom and cousins involved, thereâs no sense in trying to be the least bit restrained or cool about it. And then, just a couple songs later, perhaps as a way to prove that she can pull back, she adds the meringue to the impeccable synthetic pop-funk of âDonât Make Me Waitâ like itâs nothing, mentioning Vanity 6 in the hook as she lures a one-night stand. After factoring in the fictitious post-breakup duet with Ne-Yo (which is more like a verbal joust), the self-flagellating âHolding You Down (Goinâ in Circles)â (a collision of oft-used samples and references that does not sound the least bit tired), and the nakedly ambitious âFamousâ (where she yearns for girls to want to be like her), it becomes increasingly clear that Love Me Back sprawls and stuns in equal measure.
Track Listing
1 Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles) Askey, Atkinson, Barnes, Blige, Combs⦠3:36
2 10 Seconds Remi, Sullivan 3:07
3 Good Enough Harmon, Sullivan 4:02
4 Don't Make Me Wait McKinney, Miller, Sullivan, Vandross 3:29
5 Love You Long Time Remi, Sullivan 3:12
6 Redemption Bell, McKie, Sullivan 3:51
7 Excuse Me Elliott, Germinaro, Lamb, Sands⦠3:33
8 U Get on My Nerves Brandon Green, Smith, Sullivan 3:53
9 Stuttering Gad, Sullivan 3:10
10 Famous Ewing, Randolph, Sullivan, Wilson 4:43
11 Luv Back Davis, Elliott, Lamb, Riley, Sullivan 3:36
Grade - 1.4
released Nov 30th, 2010
from the album - Holding You Down (Goin' In Circles) - grade 1.5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwZl9WCHjnc
from all music
Bio
Contemporary R&B star Jazmine Sullivan spent several years learning the ropes of the recording industry before signing to J Records and making her solo recording debut in 2008 with the number one R&B single "Need U Bad." The Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter began her career at a young age, making her national television debut on Showtime at the Apollo at age 11 and signing to Jive Records at age 15. Her stint at Jive lasted only a couple years, however, and she was dropped by the label before any recordings were released. In the wake of this disappointment, she began working behind the scenes, for instance working with Missy Elliott on productions for Fantasia's debut album, Free Yourself (2004), and writing a couple songs for Christina Milian's third album, So Amazin' (2006), including the hit single "Say I." Sullivan was then offered a solo recording contract with J, which released her debut single, "Need U Bad," featuring and co-produced by Missy Elliott, in 2008. Fearless, her debut album, featuring productions by Salaam Remi and Stargate, among others, was issued that September. It topped the R&B chart and crossed over to reach number six on the Billboard 200, aided by "Bust Your Windows" and "Lions, Tigers & Bears" -- both of which went into the Top Ten of the R&B chart. Sullivan followed it up with November 2010's Love Me Back, which was previewed with the July single "Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)."
Album Review
One of the fears Jazmine Sullivan expressed near the end of her debut was that of being dropped by her label. Three remarkably distinctive Hot 100 singles, gold album sales, and five Grammy nominations later, the singer/songwriterâs safety was ensured. Thankfully, the J label isnât merely keeping Sullivan around but allowing her to remain her creative, imaginative self. Odds are that no other major-label R&B singer would be allowed to record a song like âRedemption,â in which Sullivan raps cold-eyed in the first person as a female crack addict and as a male woman-beater while breaking up the tales with a fraught gospel chorus. None of Sullivanâs contemporaries could possibly pull off âStutteringâ -- a gimmicky but palpable piano-led ballad conveying anxiety over a romantic interest -- without sounding like clumsy comedy. Love Me Back is, by no means, strictly experiments. Those who dug Fearless' throwback soul have plenty to soak up. The Missy-produced, Manhattans-sampling âExcuse Meâ is Sullivanâs most gorgeous in-love song yet, while the scorned-lover â10 Secondsâ makes the ultimate case for her frequent in-the-red mode, which always serves the song; when youâre bugging out, âthrowing and breaking shit,â and threatening to get your mom and cousins involved, thereâs no sense in trying to be the least bit restrained or cool about it. And then, just a couple songs later, perhaps as a way to prove that she can pull back, she adds the meringue to the impeccable synthetic pop-funk of âDonât Make Me Waitâ like itâs nothing, mentioning Vanity 6 in the hook as she lures a one-night stand. After factoring in the fictitious post-breakup duet with Ne-Yo (which is more like a verbal joust), the self-flagellating âHolding You Down (Goinâ in Circles)â (a collision of oft-used samples and references that does not sound the least bit tired), and the nakedly ambitious âFamousâ (where she yearns for girls to want to be like her), it becomes increasingly clear that Love Me Back sprawls and stuns in equal measure.
Track Listing
1 Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles) Askey, Atkinson, Barnes, Blige, Combs⦠3:36
2 10 Seconds Remi, Sullivan 3:07
3 Good Enough Harmon, Sullivan 4:02
4 Don't Make Me Wait McKinney, Miller, Sullivan, Vandross 3:29
5 Love You Long Time Remi, Sullivan 3:12
6 Redemption Bell, McKie, Sullivan 3:51
7 Excuse Me Elliott, Germinaro, Lamb, Sands⦠3:33
8 U Get on My Nerves Brandon Green, Smith, Sullivan 3:53
9 Stuttering Gad, Sullivan 3:10
10 Famous Ewing, Randolph, Sullivan, Wilson 4:43
11 Luv Back Davis, Elliott, Lamb, Riley, Sullivan 3:36