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Album Review
by SaschaS
9-3-2004
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| Jamelia: proud flying of da Union Jack |
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Jamelia: 'Thank You'
(Parlophone)
Jamelia sets new R&B UK standard
Album has debuted at No. 4, the title track-cum-single stalled at No.2 the previous week due to ‘charity’ re-release by jungle-bore Peter Andre… ‘Thank You’, after a bit of a delay, finally sees Jamelia’s arrival in the main arena. And, about time: a genuine article, not just a copy of the American megastars. There have been Brit-sistas - Mica Paris, Beverly Knight, even Lisa Maffia, but nothing sounds this seriously on par.
It is unjust that Beyoncé gets all the column inches for even doing/wearing next-to-nothing while Jamelia has had to re-promote her album to get a proper shot at the charts. Fair, if you are a local talent, it ain’t because it looks like the punters are all so Yank-taste trained. Karaoke-queens like Ashanti, watch out, a real-deal babe has entered da house!
Jamelia kicks off the album with a ‘Rocky‘-style ditty, ‘Bout’, that sounds as confident as anything Missy Elliott would drop - beatz, rhymes, soaring vocals and a hook to kill. The heavy rhythms are dropped on ‘Off Da Endz’, ‘Dirty Dirty’ gets even more club-shaking, followed by the heavenly ‘quaker’ ‘Club Hoppin’’ (rapped by Bubba Sparxxx)… [He is only one of three ‘featured’ artists that is refreshing - sometimes all the guests simply obscure the ‘above-the-title’ star.]
Jamelia gets more emotional on several other cuts, mid-paced and dreamy ‘Taxi’, similar in mood to the current hit single ‘Thank You’; ‘B.I.T.C.H.’ asserts her agenda in sexy ‘motions’, ‘Life’ adds to her canon of medium-tempo’d tracks. ‘Antidote’ is the slowest cut but it is pity that she doesn’t really offer a proper ballad to demonstrate the extent of her vocal chords.
Young Ms Davies certainly comes across as her own woman who has co-written most of the songs on the supplant to the 2000’s debut ‘Drama’. Handling Hip-hop, R&B and some Nu Soul with ease, she certainly is in the forefront of Urban music UK. The fact recognized by the Brit Nominations Committee that mentioned her in two categories: British Female Solo Artist and Best British Single [for ‘Superstar’.]/
Alas, she won neither [in favour of everyone’s next-door-Goddess Dido] but at Jamelia’s age, and with her talent, there will be plenty of other opportunities, one sincerely feels.
Jamelia sounds, portrays herself and looks - with all the right ingredients of a diva… without the corresponding behaviour, one hopes for the sake of her label.
8/10
SaschaS
9-3-2004
Jamelia’s album ‘Thank You’ is available now on Parlophone
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