No wonder she's Fearless. (Fearless - Jazmine Sullivan)

Member Name: Sunrisesunset

Product:	Fearless - Jazmine Sullivan
Date:	09/09/09 (5 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: exceptional vocals, variety of music, deep lyrics, only one guest

Disadvantages: -

Today's music industry is full of stars who fulfil the 'little talent, good looks' mantra. As a result, many artists who lack 'mainstream' good looks but have exceptional talent get overlooked. Sullivan is proof that we need to bring talent back to the forefront, and her five grammy nominations support this.

Vocals: When you hear her sing it'll be hard to believe that she is only twenty-two years old. Her sultry, powerful voice is reminiscent of an era long gone. Instead of gimmicks like autotune, Sullivan simply sings like a singer should.

Music: Most of the songs are mid-tempo, and the rest are slow jams where Sullivan can showcase her voice best. There are no songs I can imagine myself being able to dance to. Even the most upbeat mid-tempos like One Night Stand and Switch sound like they belong in an Amy Winehouse/Duffy era, so no contemporary dance moves there. Besides those eras, there is reggae song, Need U Bad, and most of the songs are r'n'b.

Lyrics: This talented songstress co-wrote every song, and the lyrics are just as mature as her vocals. If you've been trying to find a new album with no empty lyrics then this is for you. Besides the tired subject of retaliation after being cheated on, in Bust Your Windows, Sullivan tries to branch into the other areas of love besides unfaithfulness and falling in love. In Call Me Guilty she represents a woman who is tired of being abused, and now wants to fight back even if she ends up doing the unthinkable. In Lions, Tigers & Bears Sullivan is a lover telling her partner about all the things she would rather do besides loving him, but not because she is angry but because she is scared of being his.

Another common theme in the album is Sullivan's thoughts. She started producing this album after being dropped from her first record label at the age of sixteen. Her fear of not making it is perfectly captured in Fear, where she lists everything she can't do because she is scared, only to banish her fears by saying fear is natural. Dream Big shows her determination to overcome her career's tough beginning by staying positive about the future.

I can play this album from start to finish, and it is perfect for those evenings when you just want to relax. There are songs for moments when you feel like bobbing your head, and other times when you need a pick-me-up. The mature vocals, lyrics and variety of music make this album a must have. So far the only thing working against Sullivan is the era she was born in, but with the demand for better music increasing, the future is bright and the only way for her talent is up.

Standout tracks: Bust Your Windows, Fear, Lions, Tigers & Bears

Summary: This grammy nominated, multi-talented debut lives up to expectations.