Search - Jazmine Sullivan :: Fearless

One of 2008's Best R&B Albums Easily

Musac Critic | 10/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jazmine Sullivan caught my ear for the first time when I heard the exceptional first single from FEARLESS, "Need U Bad". The voice for me resurrected Lauryn Hill, who is one of my very favorite singers. Jazmine possesses soul in every song that she sings on FEARLESS, whether it is contemporary R&B or full on neo-/retro- soul favoring say Amy Winehouse. Face it, Jazmine can blow! This exceptionally consistent debut album that will probably be underrated as far as commercial sales ultimately is one of my favorite urban releases of 2008. Jazmine has successfully blended a plethora of styles and maintained sultry alto vocals all in the mix. There isn't a "flat" or bad song on FEARLESS in my mind.



"Bust Your Windows" opens the album brilliantly given and old school vibe the Mark Ronson could've easily produced for an Amy Winehouse album. In fact, here I believe Sullivan somewhat tries to embody that Etta James, Winehouse sound with her "extravagant" vocals. She sounds killer here that for sure. On "Need U Bad", Missy, as much as I hate to say it, isn't necessary at all as far as appearing on the track (yes she helped to write that brilliant song). Jazmine sounds fantastic with the tropical inspired beat supporting her. With that aside though, the track still sounds as if it could've easily appeared on a 70s soul album. "My Foolish Heart" keeps the momentum going with its great production work and with Jazmine's phenomenal vocal performance. "Lions, Tigers & Bears" keeps up the pace putting production absent of drums behind Ms. Sullivan. The result is vintage soul.



"Call Me Guilty" is great also, while "One Night Stand" is absolutely one of the best of FEARLESS. "After The Hurricane" is one of the best R&B ballads I've heard for sometime, while "Dream Big" is vintage Missy Elliott songwriting genius. Sure, it's a big clunky compared to some of the tracks, but it is still "great". "Live A Lie" is also strong, mostly because it is one of those R&B tunes where it is "out there" as far as the music theory behind it (for all the music nerds like me). "Fear" floats on by, though it is the soulful "In Love With Another Man" that steals the who as perhaps the VERY best ballad of FEARLESS. "Switch!" ends the album on a soulful, 70s pop-inspired high note.



This is nearly the perfect debut. The production doesn't sound cheap, even if it does sound like say, an Usher album. This album lays very well and vocally, Sullivan is phenomenal. Fantastic home run for Sullivan!"

Verging on Brilliance!

A* | New York, N.Y. United States | 09/24/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Jazmine Sullivan has a wonderful voice, it's rocky, deep and has a very extensive range. It sounds like nothing on the radio these days, especially when a voice such as hers at times takes on a soulful operatic quality as on "Bust Your Windows," with it's layered strings and handclaps. To take note of that production is to take note of the whole CDs nuances of sonic tweaks and bleeps that don't overpower her voice or the material. More often than not, the writing verges on excellent, especially on "Lions, Tigers & Bears." That song and the contemplative and deceptively simplistic "Fear" has hit written all over it.



There has been such a deep void of expressive women that have the ability to utter more than what women have been reduced to on radio, we've been reduced to nothing more than begging or whoring around ... in the really popular song, we do both at the same time.



Sullivan has made a great debut, at such a young age, and hopefully she continues to make amazing music, she's needed."

It had to grow on me

Rising Phoenix | Georgia | 10/14/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I love the cd now, but the first few times i listened to it, i wasnt quite sold. the lyrics are pretty elementary, but her voice is very grown so that made up for it. this woman seems to have gone through a lot in her love life and most people dont want to hear about depressing stuff like that (good thing im not one of those people).



The tracks are ridiculous and the beats range from the late 60's and 70's to doo-wop. Thats another ear-catcher. Overall i give the cd 3 stars with a potential half a star the more i listen to it. maybe her sophomore album will get her 5 stars."