Walk With Jamelia (Walk With Me - Jamelia)

Member Name: salem_witch

Product:	Walk With Me - Jamelia
Date:	31/10/06 (2191 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Upbeat catchy songs

Disadvantages: A few fillers

After being disappointed with Jamelia's second album 'Thank You' I didn't think 'Walk With Me' would be anything special. After reading an article in the paper stating that 'Walk With Me' was her best yet I was curious and had to get it based on that. I thought that if I didn't like it then I could always sell it on eBay. Her debut album 'Drama' I really enjoyed although it wasn't a big seller. Since 'Drama' was released in 2000 she has come a long way and has had several hits including Sam Browns cover Stop! for the Bridget Jones Diary: The Edge Of Reason soundtrack. 'Drama' was predominantly RnB, which is why I liked it and 'Thank You' saw her coming back after 3 years after the birth of her baby girl with the hits Superstar and Thank You. Sadly the rest of the album had nothing that stood out and contained nothing but fillers.

My first impression of 'Walk With Me' wasn't a very good one and I was slightly disappointed. Someone asked me my opinion of it and I told them that it wasn't really worth buying at all. After listening to it many times it started to grow on me. I must admit I was still comparing it to 'Drama' and as they are so different that was why I was disappointed. In 'Walk With Me' Jamelia shows a more sassy side to her and the album as a whole is mainly pop with a bit of rock thrown in places. Most of the tracks have a good beat to them and it's more of an album to listen to in the car I've found. It would also be ideal for say getting ready for a night out or even doing the housework.

The album opens up with the catchy Something About You, which is currently in the charts. It starts off slow with the continuous beating of drums in the background and then by the time the chorus kicks in it is fast paced and the use of the drums and guitar are very apparent. Jamelia's vocals are powerful and the drums and guitar nicely compliment her voice. The actual song is about her relationship with her footballer boyfriend Darren where she was infatuated but not necessarily in love yet. From the lyrics - "There is something about you/ You don't even know it" it sounds like it was right at the beginning of the relationship and maybe even before they were an item. The rocky feel to the song means this isn't done in a soppy way. The song is uplifting and positive and whilst it's not a particularly long song it is one of the catchiest songs on the album and a good way to start it off.

Next up is Do Me Right which has a very eastern feel to it. I didn't like it at all to begin with but now I must admit I do quite like it. In the opening of the song a sitar is heavily featured, as are some vocals by Afrika Bumbaataa. Again a very catchy and upbeat song, which is the prominent theme of the whole album. The vocals by Afrika Bumbaataa aren't all that clear but he does sing 'bounce' a lot. Jamelia's vocals are smoother in comparison but with the sitar featuring heavily throughout the some she is somewhat drowned out. The actual lyrics aren't very deep and meaningful but more fun - "I'll be your coffee/ I'll be your cream/ I'll be your dirty magazine".

Window Shopping, for me, is one of the weakest tracks on the album. One first listening I skipped the song before it reached the end. I can see why people will like it and I have a feeling it could be a future hit. It opens up with a sample of Mrs Sugden's "Good morning Mr Grainger, are you free?" from Are You Being Served? Having never particularly liked the programme I thought it was tacky at first but now I find it fairly amusing and I think that others will as well. It isn't done in a silly way and the song features till rings throughout it as well as the occasional "Are you being served?" The actual till rings aren't loud enough to be intrusive and I only noticed them after several listens. It is a funky dancey tune about seeing what men are available and comparing looking for a man to a shopping spree. Overall it's not a song I'd go out of my way to listen to but my opinion of it has grown so I won't be reaching for the skip button quite as quickly.

Know My Name is a funky independent woman song. Lyrically it has the same message as TLC's No Scrubs. It's done in a more sophisticated way though. Basically it's about men trying to chat her up when out drinking when they don't even know her name - "You better brush up your etiquette/ A girl like me you'll never get." There are parts where she has spoken vocals. You couldn't really call it a rap, as it isn't fast paced. The use of synthesisers gives it an almost dance feel but the song is too slow for that. Although it isn't one of my favourites it is quite catchy the fact that it isn't in your face and brash is the reason this could be well liked.

As soon as No More starts you'll recognise the sample taken from The Stranglers' Golden Brown. At first this really annoyed me and it feels like she is competing with it to be heard. I'm personally not over keen on this sample being used and if it was taken out I think it would sound much better. With that being said it isn't a bad song really. The song is all about having walking away and keeping your dignity. Obviously the track is about an relationship which isn't working out and being strong and not taking any more - "No more trouble in my life/ No more tears over you to cry…" Musically other than the sample of Golden Brown there isn't much else to it. There are drumbeats but these aren't all that loud or noticeable.

Ain't A Love is produced by the same people who did Superstar. It is a dance track but not really in the same league as Superstar. It does have one of the funniest lyrics on the album though - "If this ain't a love/ Why is my arse in motion in all that you're thinking of?" At least that's what it sounds like to me! The song itself sounds likes it could be sung by the Sugababes. It is a catchy dance track with a good beat to it. The lyrics are about being rejected in public when you're not in private. It isn't something I can relate to and whilst I find the song catchy it's the actual melody that stands out and not the lyrics (apart from the one I've mentioned!)

The only song, which Jamelia didn't have any input writing wise, was La La Love. This is one of the softer tracks on the album. It is all about someone regretting not having told someone that they loved them and now they don't know - "I la la love you now with all my heart/ That's all I've ever done" I really like the lyrics and the melody of the song is very soulful. It starts off slow and then as the song goes on it becomes louder and has more of a beat to it. It has an acoustic feel to it and I think it works really well. Those who like songs with a catchy more upbeat feel to it will be disappointed with this but this is one of my favourites.

Compared to the rest of the album Go opens up like it'll be a ballad. Jamelia's soft mellow voice fools you into thinking that at first. It is one of the softer songs but it is by no means wishy-washy. The melody is more harmonious than previous tracks but it is memorable enough for you to only listen to it a few times before it becomes infectious. On the first listen to the album this was a firm favourite of mine and has since been listened to more than the other tracks. In the song Jamelia questions why her someone stays when they are clearly not happy. The chorus is catchy and the message is clear - "Go, why would you stay?/ Go, go/ Why would you stay when it does nothing for you?" Towards the end of the song she does what I can only describe as almost a rap. Her powerful voice questions why they won't leave to the beat of drums and the piano. After this softer chorus it acts as a contrast and the backing vocals add to this effect as well. The use of the piano throughout the song makes it different from the other tracks on the album. I initially thought it was about someone trapped in a relationship but after looking on her website I've found out this is actually about her mother and deciding not to emigrate to Jamaica.

There is swearing in Get Up, Get Out but it is bleeped out so those who are offended shouldn't worry. I don't see why it was added it if is bleeped out. The song is an angry rant at someone who is cheating on her - "Get up, get out/ Take your s*** and get out of my house." Anyone who has just been cheated on and has just broken up with them would relate to the lyrics. There is some kind of string instrument, which is used in the background, which is catchy and quite choppy. It does work well but I can't see this being released as it wouldn't appeal to everyone.

Beware Of The Dog is the next song to be released and you can see why it's been chosen. It has a rocky feisty feel to it. It opens to drums beating and a good rhythm and then Jamelia's vocals warn about men who use you - "Stop, you better shake him off before he gets ya/ He's comin to getcha, he's comin to getcha". It samples Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus, which I personally don't know so I can't say if any Depeche Mode fans would be offended. I think the song works well and it'll no doubt get played in clubs and have plenty of people dancing along to it.

Got It So Good is a feel good song telling you that life isn't that bad - "Hey now, don't you cry, there's no drama in your life/ You're gonna see you got it so good." It has a nice message in the lyrics, which may make people think that although they think their life isn't that great it isn't as bad as others. It is a soft RnB song with a nice melody to it. There is a subtle beating of a drum, which really goes well with Jamelia's soft velvety voice. It isn't a track that immediately stands out but for those who like more of a mellow song this would really appeal.

The final track, Hustle sounds a bit like a 70s disco track. There is a trumpet used in the background, which gives it a really jazzy feel. There are additional vocals by Sway, who raps towards the end, which aren't intrusive. Jamelia belts this song out and it really suits her -"I wanna feel vibrations up my spine/ You gotta work that hustle how I like" You could imagine Beyonce singing this track and although I like her I don't think she could do it better. Simply because it is a dance song I can see this doing well in the charts and wouldn't be surprised if it was released. It's a good way to finish the album off.

Tripping Over You isn't actually on the CD that I bought but if you buy the album off iTunes this is included. I have no idea why they haven't put it on the actual CD but I expect this will annoy many fans. I got it free with the codes you get from Coca-Cola so I wasn't overly bothered. I wanted to know what I was missing out. The song itself is just under 3 minutes so not entirely worth the price but it is a reasonably good rock track so I'm glad I got it. The style reminds me a little of Kelly Clarkson on some of her racier tracks. It is punchy and the drums and guitar give it the rocky feel. The lyrics are about not being able to find someone - "If it's such a small world/ Why can't I find you?/ And if it's such a small world/ I should be tripping over you" This is a good track and it is a pity they didn't include it on the album.

The variety of different songs on this album is refreshing. I hate it when you buy an album and they all sound similar that you can't tell one from the other. Jamelia can't be accused of this and each track has a different feel to it even though they are all edgy and original. Another thing that has also given me a higher opinion of Jamelia is that most the tracks she has either written herself or co-written. None of the songs are really long and not a single song last longer than 4 minutes. However, they are all packed and the songs aren't dragged out. Jamelia has been compared to Beyonce, which I can see why, but just because you like Beyonce doesn't necessarily mean you'll like Jamelia. I'd say that if you like any of her previous chart releases then you'll most certainly like 'Walk With Me'. As I said at the beginning most the songs have actually grown on me so if you do get this album and after the first play aren't all that enamoured then give it another try.

http://www.jamelia.com/

You can listen to Go and Something About You on her MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/jameliawalkwithme

Summary: A good third album