With her dark fingernails, heavy eyeliner, and dyed-black spiky hair, Backstreet Boys protégé Krystal looks like Pink, but that's where the similarities end. While Pink is all hip-hop street cred, Krystal is a se... more »nsitive young Christian woman who's devoted to her piano. Most of the songs on Me and My Piano sound the same: piano, strings, drum machines, overproduced vocals, and traditional pop structure, right down to the key change three-quarters through each track. Standouts include the first single, "Supergirl," a strong, danceable blend of girl power and youthful vulnerability, and "Angel on My Shoulder," a ballad that recalls Mariah Carey's early inspirational offerings (with the accompanying vocal tricks). "You're the Reason," a mid-tempo ballad featuring the Backstreet Boys, would be a perfect TRL chartbuster with its handclaps and softly strumming guitar if the melody wasn't so high, making it impossible for both Krystal and her teenage audience to sing along. The lyrics of every song could be about either a boyfriend or the Lord, which should comfort Christian parents looking for "secular" music appropriate for their adolescent girls. Overall, the album is capable but seamlessly uniform: background music to do your homework by, but little else. --Courtney Kemp« less
With her dark fingernails, heavy eyeliner, and dyed-black spiky hair, Backstreet Boys protégé Krystal looks like Pink, but that's where the similarities end. While Pink is all hip-hop street cred, Krystal is a sensitive young Christian woman who's devoted to her piano. Most of the songs on Me and My Piano sound the same: piano, strings, drum machines, overproduced vocals, and traditional pop structure, right down to the key change three-quarters through each track. Standouts include the first single, "Supergirl," a strong, danceable blend of girl power and youthful vulnerability, and "Angel on My Shoulder," a ballad that recalls Mariah Carey's early inspirational offerings (with the accompanying vocal tricks). "You're the Reason," a mid-tempo ballad featuring the Backstreet Boys, would be a perfect TRL chartbuster with its handclaps and softly strumming guitar if the melody wasn't so high, making it impossible for both Krystal and her teenage audience to sing along. The lyrics of every song could be about either a boyfriend or the Lord, which should comfort Christian parents looking for "secular" music appropriate for their adolescent girls. Overall, the album is capable but seamlessly uniform: background music to do your homework by, but little else. --Courtney Kemp
"I first heard about Krystal when she was featured on the Backstreet Boys CD from Burger King as the hidden track, me being a big fan of them. But I was really pleased with her strong sounding voice and I decided to check out the rest of her material. I haven't been able to stop listening to the album since I got it! I think she sounds a lot like a young Mariah Carey, a very powerful voice..some of the tracks featured on there that I think should not be forgotten are Supergirl!, which is a faster song and very catchy, My Religion, which is a slower song, inspirational and beautiful vocals, You're The Reason, featuring Nick and AJ of the Backstreet Boys with the rest of the guys as backup vocal, they all blend so well, which makes the song even better to listen to. When You Hurt is between fast and slow, very pleasant song..a lot of the songs on this album are slower, but they are all wonderfully done. Krystal is a great piano player and she provides that for all the tracks on this album. She's a very talented singer and I think this girl is going places! I would definately recommend this album to anyone! Krystal should not be overlooked!"
SHE'S UNKNOWN NOW, but everyone needs to get to know KRYSTAL
essgee13 | Buffalo, N.Y USA | 07/26/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I can describe Krystal in 2 words AMAZING TALENT. I first saw and heard her summer 2001, when TRL, played her SUPERGIRL video a few times, I knew it wuz on The Princess Diaries sndtk, but didn't know when she had an album comin'.I thought the video wuz cool, I wuz feelin' her playin' the piano like my girl Alicia Keys, and she had a nice voice. Fast forward too like Feb, or March 2002, I hadn't heard from the lil cute white girl who plays the piano and looks like Pink. To be truthful I forgot about her. But I wuz in Best Buy, see her album at a low price, um like " THat's that Krystal girl"!!. I bought it, listened to it, the rest is history.
I wuz BLOWN AWAY by her voice throughout the whole album especially on "Angel on my shoulder" and "Let me be your friend". Krystal if u ever read this never stop singin', even if the world doesn't take notice, because me and the rest of ya fans do and we appreciate u and ya skills. People if u love an incredible voice, and a lil bit of rock and roll, pop, soul,and gospel mixed 2gether then kop the album(meaning buy it). I gave this 5 stars because honestly, I luv every song, I don't skip anything, she co wrote 4 or 5 songs, plays the piano on em all, and she sings like an angel. to the kid who wrote review dissin' Alicia Keys, don't do that man. My girl Alicia and Krystal are crazy talented, and I could listen to em both all day, they need to collaborate. To Courteney Kemp, who reviewed and dissed, the album, everyone's entitled to their opinion, but I bet a million bucks u don't even like this genre of music, and u let ya dislike for Backstreet Boys signin' her cloud ya judgement.
Ya can't front on Krystal and ya can't give this album any less than 4 stars. Hopefully soon the world will take notice, and her current label, or maybe another label will give her the exposure she so deserves. Oh yeah, I think Stacy Orrico's cool, but Krystal called and she'd really like her voice back Stacy. This is ess-gee, the ultimate music critic signin' off sayin' PEACE&LUV!! & PUT CHRIST IN YA LIFE &THINGS WILL BE AIIGHT!!7-26-03"
HER AND HER PIANO ROCK !!!!!
A music lover | Fort Lauderdale, Florida United States | 07/11/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A Gift straight from God is truly the only way to describe this girl's voice. I would give this album 7 or 8 stars if I could , and I truly cannot say enough good things about it ! I first heard her song " My Religion " on the Backstreet Boys' Burger King cd ( the 7th track on the blue one ), and instantly fell in love. I had to have more of this heavenly voice, but didn't know how do do so w/out knowing the name of the artist, or even the song title at that time anyways. I saw her live at the Backstreet Boys' Black and Blue world tour, and instantly recognized the song being sung by this beuatiful young girl. ( yes, I am a male Backstreet Boys fan. I just appreciate and love GOOD MUSIC! ). I patientally and eagerally awaited 5 LONG Months for her album to come out ! Believe it or not, it was scheduled to come out originally on June 5th ( my birthday ! would you call this " a sign " ? ) but was pushed back until July 10th ! AWWHHH! Needless to say, a little upset here. But it was SOOOOOO worth the wait !!!!!!!! I have only listened to the full album twice and could not have possibly asked for anytthing more !!!! It is truly something special, that's all I can say. Praise the good Lord for bringing this woman into the world ! 1. "SUPERGIRL!" - The first single, and one of the three songs she preformed at the BSB concert. AWESOME song ! *10/10 2. "My Religion" - The 2nd of 3 songs she preformed at the BSB concert , and the reason I bought the album. need I say more? *10 3. "Angel ( on my shoulder )" - AWESOME BALLAD ! the 3rd song she preformed at the concert , beautiful song ~ *10 4. "You're the Reason" - My favorite song on the album ! It is featuring the Backstreet Boys, and tells God / their " baby " ( how ever you interput it ) that they're the reason for everything in their life . AWESOME SONG ! *10 5. "Love is a Beautiful Thing" - This song is featured on the legally Blonde Soundtrack. I LOVE this song ! *10 6. "...Or Someone Else Will" - cool song *9 7. "When You Hurt" - A very good song that says When you hurt, so do I , but we'll get through it because all it takes Is Faith. This is an awesome song too *10 8. "1/2 My Heart" - a BEAUTIFUL ballad ! *10 9. "Goodbye" - " catchy tune " , lol. I really like this song, it's kind of a " you messed up, now say bye bye " lol *10 10. "Lead Me" - a song that talks about guidance, great vocals *9 11. "Let Me Be Your Friend" - This is one of my fav's too ! This is a ballad where she has a backround choir , kind of like on " THE PREACHER'S WIFE " soundtrack. I LOVE this song ! *10 12. "Me & My Piano" - This is kind of a re-prise of " You're The Reason " where's she just kinda of free stylin' on the piano, i LOVE IT ! *10!!! I could not possibly give this album enough stars, because the girl has such an amazing gift from God. Please don't think that *9 instead of *10 means the song is not any less great, that just means compared to my favorite ones on the album. just believe me when I say this album is the BOMB ! and you'll love it ! It's DEFINALLY worth the MONEY !!!!!! I Promise !!"
This was a good CD!
J. Anthony | Clifton Park, NY United States | 08/09/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This CD isn't my favorite, but songs like : Super Girl, Lead Me, ...Or Someone Else Will,and Angel on My Shoulder, were very good in my opinion. She has a nice voice and I think it's a shame that she's not too popular!!! If you like POP, that has funk and piano mixed in, this might be the CD for you. I know it was a good one for me!"
The best CD of 2001!!!
Jamie Fulcher | Bassett, VA USA | 07/26/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If anyone has came to me in the last week and asked what cd to buy, I highly recommend "Me and My Piano" by Krystal. This cd is for all ages, because it just speaks about positive things and everyone can relate to it. I look up to her as a role model, because she is not like other teen female singers today. She has positive morals, and is just an awesome person!!! My personal favorite on the cd is "Let me be your friend" because it just talks about how when you need someone to talk to, you can count on your friends. "Supergirl" gives girls my age a higher self-esteem level, by encouraging them to "save the world" and I think Krystal is a true "Supergirl" because of her deep religious background. "My Religion" teaches people not to judge other people. "You're the Reason" features the Backstreet Boys, who actually discovered Krystal. It's definately a personal favorite. The album ends with a lovely ballad, "Me and My Piano", which is basically just her and the piano, no extra instruments. TOTALLY AWESOME!!! Don't hesitate any longer, GO GET HER CD TODAY!!!!"