Album Review: Ciara

Ciara

Ciara (to be released July 9, 2013)

It’s been a long, looooooong road to Ciara’s fifth album.

Remember her song “Sweat?” How about “Sorry?” Or “Got Me Good?” Remember when her comeback album was to be called One Woman Army?

Nah, you probably don’t remember any of that. And for good reason. CiCi stumbled along for over a year trying to rediscover the magic that had listeners clamoring for her “Goodies” almost a decade ago. A couple of months ago, she finally found it.

The magic formula? An old So So Def song.

A catchy sample from 1996’s “My Boo,” songwriting from current rap hitmaker Future, and production from radio kingpin Mike Will Made It became the keys to success. The result, “Body Party,” is really a stroke of genius – the familiar beat makes it immediately accessible, the midtempo groove is perfect for Ciara’s vocals and it’s tailor-made for mainstream play.

It’s easily the crown jewel of Ciara’s self-titled comeback album.

Sadly, it’s the ONLY jewel in this crown. And that’s the problem.

CiCi has never been known as a vocal powerhouse. To compensate for that, many of the tracks here try to mask those shortcomings with infectious production and pseudo-rapping instead of actual singing. It doesn’t work. “I’m Out” and “Sophomore” are hindered by lyrics straight out of a fifth-grade lunchroom (“not even hammer can touch this” and “you say you a bachelor, then step your game up, get your masters”).

“Super Turnt Up,” “Livin It Up” and “Keep On Lookin” are more typical Ciara tracks and like her early singles that failed to make a mark, they meander along without making an impact. The latter features interesting production from Cam Wallace that’s a bit reminiscent of the warped sounds of late-90s Timbaland but even it can’t save the unmemorable performance. The tracks aren’t totally insulting but they’re nothing that will stick with you 2 seconds after the songs end.

Ciara’s lightweight vocals do sound at home on “Where You Go” but instantly get jumbled amongst Future’s horrible hook, constantly cracking and screeching like a five-car pile-up. How this guy has become this generation’s Nate Dogg I’ll  never know. Thankfully, CiCi finds a small victory in “DUI.” Like “Where You Go,” the midtempo groove is the perfect match for her wispy vocals. It’s a dreamy, erotic ride that doesn’t try to overexert itself.

The album is just 10 tracks long, which doesn’t leave much room for mistakes. In this case, though, it doesn’t allow much room for redemption. Ciara superfans likely won’t be bothered by the hackneyed lyrics and grating guest stars (for the sake of my sanity, I didn’t even mention Nicki Minaj’s two cringe-worthy guest verses).

For the rest of us, it’s really just a one-note album.

Best tracks: “Body Party”

3 stars out of 5