Keyshia Cole - A Different Me
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.84 You Save: $7.14 (51%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.32 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for A Different Me
Free Music Review: A Sexier Side of Keyshia?
Hit: 4 Stars
Being a huge fan of Keyshia Cole, I snapped up this, her third studio album, almost as soon as it was released. After repeated listening, I'm still not entirely sure what to make of it.
One thing is certain: Keyshia Cole has an incredible voice. When she wants to, she can really tear up a song, but she also has the restraint and taste to know when a song would be better served by a softer approach. Yet in my opinion, the "different" Keyshia promised by the title is a little too restrained. Not enough tracks take advantage of the full potential of her voice, and as a result she seems more distant and less connected to these songs than on her previous efforts.
The CD starts strong. The "Different Me Intro" certainly piques my interest, and then Cole comes out of the gate running with "Make Me Over." It is an up-tempo jam, slickly produced, that takes full advantage of the power, range, energy, and sassiness of Cole's voice, and is easily the best track on the CD. Which unfortunately means the rest of the ride is downhill.
None of the album is bad, per se. And it does present a different side to the singer, which is nice (wouldn't want to go against the title, after all). But it doesn't live up to the promise of the first couple of tracks. It is enjoyable in its own right, and if this had been the first thing we had heard from Ms. Cole, it would likely appear much more impressive.
But it is not her first CD. It lacks the crackling energy of her debut ("The Way It Is," which I recommend to any R&B fan), or the more mature themes and musical structure of her second album, "Just Like You" (which I find myself enjoying more with each listen). Fans and newcomers alike will enjoy this album, even if it won't inspire the same kind of love her previous efforts do. But I don't think Keyshia is going anywhere soon. And if we judge by the model of Mary J. Blige, the artist Cole is most often (and rightfully) compared to, the best is yet to come.
Free Music Review: A Tale of Two Albums.....Two Pretty Good Albums
Hit: 4 Stars
Perhaps "A Different Me" should have been titled "The Two Sides of Me" because that is what seems to be happening here. We have more uptempo stuff here than on the previous release (ironically titled "Just Like You) from 2007. A handful of tracks, such as "Erotic" showcase a more sexual side as opposed to the songs about heartbreak that were abundant on her last two albums. Fortunately, her soulful vocals (usually) shine thorugh on the uptempo stuff (Make Me Over) as well as the slower tracks (Trust). There are plenty of guest appearances (Nas, Amina Harris, Monica) as well as a voiceover of Tupac from one of his original tracks. One could make the argument that in order to make an intimate and sensual album, the songs have to be the sole work of that artist alone, but that is not the case here. Cole deserves major credit for successfully expanding her formula to incorporate a wider range of songs and styles, and enough of them work for this to be a very successful effort. Take into consideration the path that Keyshia Cole has taken to get where she is before you listen to these songs. That way, the triumph of this record can be fully appreciated. The music is passionate and immediate, as always, and if you like your music that way, then this is for you. If you prefer glossed-over vocoders, excess production, and regurgitated beats, then look to other pop singers for your listening pleasure. Unlike all the cookie cutter vocalists out there who proclaim to be "R&B Divas," Keyshia Cole actually is one, and at her age, she is coming into her prime. This album is very good, but her best is undoubtedly yet to come.Free Music Review: A Different Keyshia..
Hit: 4 Stars
When I first listen to this album I really didn't know what to expect being that she titled it 'A Different Me'. Listening to this album, it seem as though Keyshia left some of the 'soulfulness' out in most of the songs. This album consist mostly of love songs, which isn't a bad thing, but in my opinion it would have been perfect if she had included some of the music she is known for making.
I really tried to like 'Make Me Over', but I wasn't really feeling the jazzy/blues sound, but I did like what she was saying. 'Please Don't Stop' is not even a song, to me she just repeats the same thing over and over. I'm really proud of Keyshia for stepping out there and trying something new. I did enjoy a few songs on this album:
I LOVE the intro and outro!
Erotic (this one is nice and different)
You Complete Me
Oh-oh Yeah-yea (not really excited about Nas verse)
Playa Cardz Right
Brand New (I need to listen to this one again..it's okay)
Trust (this one is still growing on me..Monica stands out more than Keyshia on this one)
Thought You Should Know (I LOVE this one! I love her vocals in this one and what she's saying)
This Is Us (I LOVE the words to this song!!)
Beautiful Music
Overall, I like the album but my message to Keyshia is...Okay, you've tried something new now get back to what we're use to from you! Bring the soul back!
3 1/2 - 4 stars rating
Free Music Review: A sexier Keyshia
Hit: 4 Stars
There seems to be a great need to express "the other side of me" among R&Bs leading ladies this year; Beyoncé showing off her 2 different sides (which we always knew, by the way), Brandy showing her frailty and humanity. Now comes Keyshia Cole. "I'd like to introduce a sexier side of me" Cole announces on the intro to her third CD, "A different me". What this means in plain English though is far more ballads and fewer upbeat songs. Oh, and a sexy album cover photo!
"Make me over" opens the disc proper, a sparse upbeat song with percolating percussion and a Jazzy big bass sound. Other upbeat songs are "Please don't stop", "Erotic" (which doesn't sound erotic at all but is a lovely synth driven number with nice harmonies) and the gently stomping "Beautiful music".
Everything else comprises ballads of which the duets stand out to be honest. These are the Spanish guitar-tinged "No other" with Amina Harris, "Oh-oh, yeah-yeah" with Nas (and a nice deep bassline), "Playa cardz right" with Tupac, and the stunning "Trust" with Monica (with exciting vocal interplay), the latter my favourite.
This CD comes rather soon after her still selling Grammy nominated sophomore disc "Just like you", but it continues her steady ascent. Not outstanding (there isn't another "Changed my mind" or "Should have cheated") but solid!
Free Music Review: Really a little more than a 4.5 but less than a 5
Hit: 4 Stars
Very obviously, this CD is showing a "different" side of her. Which it does. When first listening, I was a bit worried it was going to be all upbeat songs, because although they aren't bad songs, I love her ballad song. 'Make Me Over' reminds me of something PCD would do. And that's not her music, but again, it's her different side. But at the same time, it still has a lot of songs that would be considered 'Just Like You' material. But for those who say it's horrible and all that, it's really not. If you aren't into different sounds from an artist who makes music that kind of all sounds the same, in a sense, then yeah you won't like it. But give it a chance. Nas and Keyshia? I love that. Pac and Keyshia? I love that too. And Monica coming back on a track with her... great people featured. I agree that it may have been rushed, because I didn't even realize Playa Cardz Right was a single from her CD, next thing I knew I saw a release coming up for her.