Ciara’s Fantasy Ride

I have been eager to listen to Ciara’s third album release Fantasy Ride for two reasons. First, I wanted to see what she had to offer now that she is no longer producer Jazze Phe’s protégé. Secondly, I’ve heard her talk up how this album was going to be so different then anything she’s ever done before. I was expecting some real originality on this album and I must say she did leave something more to be desired. The former “princess of Crunk &B” did take a leap a little bit with some strong pop songs, such as her second single “Love Sex Magic” featuring Justin Timberlake, but otherwise it was a typical Ciara album. After her provocative Vibe magazine cover where she appeared naked as a symbolism for her putting it all out there, I really was looking forward to her going deeper and making herself more vulnerable to her fans. Towards the end of the album I really began to get a headache from the repetition of references of her swag, hot body and/or curves, and slick dance moves. She collaborated with Ludacris again on “High Price”, but if you ask me, I could have done without her attempts to sing like an opera diva and Ludacris’s verse outshined her on the song. The album isn’t all bad though. I was impressed with the album opener “Ciara to the Stage”, the seductive “Like A Surgeon” and The Dream produced “Lover’s Thing”. She also took a successful risk revamping Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ classic “If You Don’t Know Me by Now” with her first single “Never Ever”. If you are a dancer like Ciara, you will love this album because it definitely is packed with dance flavor. Even the slow songs have a beat you can still rock too. All in all, I’d say
Fantasy Ride is a great dance album, but not much more. ~Nadia Torres