Just My Kind (Not That Kind - Anastacia)

Member Name: fooyoo

Product:	Not That Kind - Anastacia
Date:	08/08/03 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice mix of tracks, Great vocals

Disadvantages: Too warbly for a lot of people

The debut release from this American solo artist was met with a lot of critical acclaim when it was released, mainly down to the uniqueness of her voice on the first single 'I'm Outta Love' which was an instant hit around the world when it was released in the autumn of 2000, and became an anthem for many people who have been wronged by a person that they loved. At first, I thought she was a woman who sang songs for women, about being strong and not being ruled by men, and although I am all up for fair play, I did not want it rammed down my throat. I am pleased to say though, that after my wife played and played this whilst we were driving to the Midlands, it grew on me, and is now a firm favourite, and I have to admit the fact that she is extremely easy on the eye is always a plus point!

Opening track 'Not That Kind' was the second single released from this album, and it had a hard act to live up to, but it is an excellent track with a really funky bassline. With this song,
Anastacia sets out her stall to the listeners, and if vocal gymnastics are not your type of thing, then I warn you in advance this album may not be for you, but there is certainly no Mariah Carey type warbling, so it works really well.

Debut release, and still one of my favourite tracks on the album is ' I'm Outta Love'. Now, I am not a dancer, but this song never fails to get me moving....not in a John Travolta way I must add, maybe a foot tapping and head nodding at the most! I love her voice on this disco influenced track with the brilliantly catchy chorus, which about half way through builds up into a crescendo where the vocals are powerful, attention grabbing and communicate the mood of the song perfectly.

'Cowboys and Kisses' is a milder, more laid back track than the
previous two, but it is here that Anastacia proves her worth, by showing us how versatile she is as a performer and a vocalist. This was her third re
lease, and it did not do as well as the other two, which is a shame, but maybe it is because people expect all of her songs to pack a punch, and the country influence means that it is not mainstream enough for the majority of people who spend their hard earned cash on singles.

'Who's Gonna Stop The Rain' keeps the mood mellow, with toned down vocals and drifting melodies, and lyrically this is the best song on the album. It is all about things which are wrong with the world, pollution, war, child poverty, and many of social problems. The whole track has a really sad melancholy feel even if you do not listen to the lyrics closely, as the vocals convey so much emotion.

'Love Is Alive' has a harder edge to it, and relies heavy on keyboards and guitars. It is a nice enough track, and it feels very familiar, but I cannot get out of my mind that it sounds like it was written for a television advert, and I think the heavy backing vocals are responsible for that. This said, it is probably no surprise that this is my least favourite track on the album, and it never sticks in my mind.

'I Ask Of You' is another ballad, and it is a typical big American ballad, which is not my cup of tea, but my wife absolutely loves this song, and informs me that this is the kind of song which people make 'their song', and I can see what she means as the lyrics could be adapted to match many different couples, with lines such as "I found a place where I belong, it's right here next to you", but personally it is just a bit too cheesy for me.

'Wishing Well' picks up the tempo slightly, and it reminds me a lot of the stuff The Brand New Heavies used to do. There is an obvious R&B influence, and the heavy backing vocals add to that feel. It is a nice track, nothing special, but one of those songs which are great to just sit back and chill out to. It would never do well as a single release, but it sits nice
ly in the collection on this album.

'Made For Lovin' You' will be familiar to a lot of you without you knowing it, as it was included in an advert for a car, and the make escapes me at the moment. For me, this rates as highly as her early releases. It has a funky upbeat verse, but it is the chorus which really sets this song alight, and it is one of those songs which really gets under your skin, and you find yourself singing it days later.

'Black Roses' is another track where the lyrics are the key rather than the performance. It is a ballad with an R&B influence about the end of a relationship, and what happens when you walk away from someone, and it reminds me a lot of the ballads released in the late 1980's from female artists such as Brenda Russell (Piano In The Dark), due to the emotion and the total feel of the song.

There is an immediate 70's disco vibe at the start of 'Yo Trippin'. This is a song about a woman who refuses to conform to the stereotype that certain men want as girlfriends. Again, it is a nice enough song, it does not grab me, and to be honest I could not tell you what it would have to do to be a standout track, as it is sometimes nice to just have a track wash over you without challenging you too much.

Back to a ballad with 'One More Chance', and it is a stereotypical 'give me one chance' song that seemed to be popular when the likes of Whitney Houston were in their hey day, and to be honest, I am disappointed that Anastacia changes from this strong bold woman, who was evident at the start of the album, to this frankly wet blanket of a woman,
who goes crying after a man who obviously could not take the pace! Her voice is the most toned down I have heard it, and it is a beautifully warm voice, but this song is not the way to show that.

Last track 'Same Old Story' brings the album to a neat end. It is another of those tracks which will n
ot remain in your mind long after it ends, but at the time you are listening to it, it is a nice soothing track which does it's job well.

Even though there are some very middle of the road tracks on here, I still enjoy this album everytime I listen to it, as the mix of styles and tempo keeps the interest and enjoyment levels high. Anastacia has recently taken a break from her career after hopefully beating breat cancer, and I for one am anticipating an even grittier Anastacia on her return.

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