Keyshia Cole - The Way It Is
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Free Music Notes for The Way It Is
Free Music Review: A Stunning Debut
Hit: 5 Stars
From the first horn blasts on "(I Just Want It) To Be Over" to the last lingering chords on "Never," the debut album by R&B singer Keyshia Cole is absolutely stunning. This album grabs you right out of the gate and doesn't let go until the end, practically demanding to be replayed again and again.
Although slickly produced and well written, the album is first and foremost about the power of Cole's voice. This songtress has a ferocious set of pipes on her, which she uses again and again to amazing effect. Cole is a belter that can blow with the best of them, with a raw edge to her voice that gives her music that much more of a gutteral punch. Yet she is also able to pull back and show a softer side, as evidenced on tracks such as "I Should Have Cheated" and "Superstar."
Yet while the softer tracks provide a nice break and help round out the album, it's the powerful ballads on which Keyshia Cole shines brightest. Her voice soars on tracks like "You've Changed," and even at her young age Cole has clearly experienced her share of romantic heartache, as the emotion on this disc cannot be faked. She also has the daring and bravery to expose the heartache in her songs, while simultaneously showing a ferocity that bodes ill for anyone who dares to cross her.
I have purposely held off on talking about the album's smash single, "Love," until now. It is, in my opinion, one of the greatest songs and recordings of the new millenium, and stands above the rest of the tracks on this incredibly solid album. Cole's rendition of this R&B power ballad is like a sucker punch to the gut, grabbing your attention and making you feel the unbridled joy of love and the devastating effects of its betrayal in the same breath. Merely hearing the first minute of this song was enough to convince me to buy the album, which has become one of my favorite purchases of the past year. And "Love" is the crowning achievement on this jewel of a CD.
Cole has been increasingly compared to Mary J. Blige, and although I think that there will never be anyone quite like MJB (my personal favorite artist), Keyshia Cole has everything it takes to become just as huge. She has a voice that can tear any song to shreds, the maturity to know when to use it and when to hold back, and the life experience to bring honest and deepfelt emotion to her songs.
If you like R&B music at all, you MUST buy this album. It will provide countless hours of enjoyment. And ten years from now when Cole is just as big a name as Mary J. Blige, you'll be able to smile and know you were with her from the start.
Free Music Review: I Love This Joint!
Hit: 5 Stars
Now This Is What Am Talking Bout! A Young Sister Who Has Mad Skills That, Sings From The Depts Of Her Soul. "I Changed My Mind" "Love" I Just Want It To Over". My Favs On This Cd.Free Music Review: Has a good future in the music business!
Hit: 4 Stars
This lady will have a good career if she gets support from her record label and provided she records good material with good producers,she has the vocal chops,which is more then I can say about a lot of the new artists today. I brought the CD I am not disappointed with it,I find it emotionally moving. I hope she continue the good work.Free Music Review: Debut splitting at the seams with potential...
Hit: 4 Stars
With the recent release of Keyshia Cole's sophomore album `Just Like You' I decided to go back to her debut album and give it the grade. Well, to be honest her sophomore album is superior, and that's a good thing since it shows maturity and growth in this young star. That said `The Way It Is' is a great debut album on its own for it delivers track after track with raw appeal. Keyshia has a very unique voice, one that caught me hook line and sinker from the moment I heard her sing `I Should Have Cheated' but honestly it was `Love' that really got me on my knees for this young talent. I still get chills when I listen to the track.
The album stars strong with `(I Just Want It) To Be Over'. The track has that great mix of infectious beats and Keyshia's raspy swagger. `I Changed My Mind' with Kanye is even better. Keyshia's vocals are just so silky smooth here I can't help but call this my favorite track on the album. It's just the perfect song, from vocals to lyrics to the West produced beat. `Guess What' continues the slew of club heavy tracks, this time assigning Jadakiss as the token rapper who once again proves unnecessary since Keyshia blows just about everyone else away. The track itself is brilliant, fiery, sassy and energetic and it's not that Jada is a waste here, it's that he pales in comparison to the breath of life that is Keyshia.
Laying in the middle of up-tempo beats and slow jams are songs like `Love, I Thought You Had My Back' and `I Should Have Cheated', the later being the gem that brought Keyshia to the ears of so many fans. As some have noted already, the magic that is Keyshia really manifests itself when her voice is provided the right backdrop, and the sultry musical arrangement accompanying her on `I Should Have Cheated' is perfect. `You've Changed' works even better, soft and sweet and catchy, something you can really get into. Same can be said for `Situations' which continues to rise up on my list of favorites on this album.
Keyshia's voice though is at its best when she's allowing it to really go there despite her lack of Mariah Careyesque reach or power. The perfect example of this is `Love', a song that really draws attention to the emotion and depth within Keyshia's music. As her voice strains to hit the notes and or the emotional meaning of the song during the chorus her words become much more real to the listener because that raw delivery carries so much weight, so much realism. `Love' remains a highlight of the entire album.
Sadly Keyshia has a few low points as well. Songs like `We Could Be', `Down & Dirty' and `Superstar' are not necessarily bad but they fail to be memorable. Listening to `Just Like You' is becomes apparent that Keyshia took the opportunity to grow before delivering her sophomore album and this is a good thing, it shows and it is much appreciated. The closing track `Never' sounds very dated, but it's within that dated feel that I find sheer enjoyment. Coupled with Eve and a beat that would suit the likes of Michael Jackson help create a fresh and fun vibe.
So, this is not as perfected and polished as `Just Like You' but it serves up a slew of worthy tracks and will definitely be loved by her fans and fans of the genre in general. It blows away her competition and proves that Keyshia is the complete package. She is here to stay and for that we are grateful.
Free Music Review: keyshia
Hit: 5 Stars
what do you say to this cd??? OMG! i just love her voice! can't wait for more & more from this girl! this is a great cd. not one bad song on it!