Ciara’s ‘Jackie’ Album: Review Revue
2014 has been a whirlwind for Ciara: she cut ties with former fiancé (rapper Future) and had her first child in the midst of all of the publicized drama. Now the proud mother has poured all of her recent experiences in the latest album, Jackie, which officially dropped today (May 4)
In our review, we stated: “Instead of expanding on how her life has changed, though, Jackie finds Ciara settling into her comfort zone. These songs are good fun, though they aren’t as revelatory or forward-thinking as ‘Body Party’ or the rest of 2013’s Ciara, the best album she’s made.”
But how do other music industry critics feel about Ciara’s new album? Read what they had to say down below!
:: The New York Daily News applauded it, stating: “The new album features the most upbeat, and fun, music of Ciara’s career. But, inevitably, some will see its sweaty lyrics as a way of telling Future, ‘See what you’re missing?'”
:: But Complex was definitely not into it, giving the LP two out of five stars: “Ciara’s inconsistency fascinates me. On one end, you want to cheer any artist willing to forgo formula for the sake of innovation. However, sometimes trying new things feels more rooted in cynicism than creativity. Like they’re simply trying whatever, hoping something sticks. Whatever the case, where you land on Ciara’s sixth new album, Jackie, likely depends on what kind of artist you think Ciara should be at this stage in her career.”
:: Virgin Media had this to say: “The album is a triumph, an orgy of luscious, sharp-witted R&B and sumptuous soul assembled by a crack team of producers. The Missy Elliott collaboration ‘That’s How I’m Feeling’ is a lovely airy flirtation as a chilled Ciara drifts into a night that could go anywhere, and probably will. It seems like a track that nothing could spoil… until Pitbull turns up and starts grunting over the top.”
:: TIME called Ciara this generation’s Janet Jackson: “Yet though we typically demand two club-banger singles from our divas before a ballad ever hits radio, Ciara also routinely launches album campaigns on the strength of her breathy slow jams. Favoring friskiness over filthiness, they make the club feel like the bedroom and the bedroom feel like the club.”
:: Our friends over at SPIN gave it an 8 out of 10: “But the strong-heeled Jackie is far from conservative, and possibly more daring, with three of the year’s best songs at the very top, middle, and bottom (‘Jackie [B.M.F.],’ ‘I Bet,’ ‘One Woman Army’), which couldn’t be more different from each other. She’s every woman: mother, lover, bad motherfucker.”
:: Lastly, Press Play OK gave the album a 3 out of 5: “As usual, Jackie falls somewhere in between and leaves Ciara still struggling for a stronger foothold in the genre. Annoyingly, it’s more because her production lets her down. ‘That’s How I’m Feelin’’ is a pretty solid chart attack, let down by a beat plagued by familiarity (almost a slowed-down version of her own Got Me Good), not to mention a Pitbull. On a song that also has Missy Elliott. The term ‘smh’ feels more than appropriate here.”
Did you enjoy Ciara’s Jackie? Sound off in the comments below!
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