Rihanna, an American Idol Winner?

OK, there have been a few Idol winners with kick-ass first CDs. I’m not ashamed to say I dig Kelly Clarkson, and I even bought Ruben’s CD.

But um, Rihanna, what happened? I don’t recall dialing a number for you so Seacrest could announce that you beat the runner-up by 2,584 votes. So what gives with putting out a CD that sounds as generic, as packaged as an Idol CD?

I dig Rihanna. I still jam her earlier songs; “Shut Up and Drive” is one of my favorite because it shows her versatility. I went into this CD wanting to like it despite others talking about how bad it was.

Well, I came, I listened, I disliked.

And I think I disliked because the lyrics of the songs, what I think Rihanna was trying to convey, gets overshadowed (or is out of sync) with the beats and music that’s layered with the vocals. In a lot of the songs, I get her angst and anger, but the music SO does not fit the mood she’s trying to convey. It’s so disconcerting. Wish there could be a DO OVER on it. Seriously.

Why am I throwing the “American Idol” card? Feels like this CD has a major clash between someone with something to say (the singer) and higher ups trying to make the music do something else (producers, etc.) This might have been cool for a first CD, but after “Shut Up and Drive,” “Umbrella,” “Unfaithful,” “Take a Bow,” and others, it’s hard to hear this CD.

Overall CD grade (based on songs and based on my hope of what another CD from Rihanna, considering the escalation of her previous success, would bring): C- (songs, C) // (expectations, D)

Song breakdown- thoughts as I listened

Mad House – C+ – kinda liked this intro – makes me anticipate the CD.

Wait Your Turn – C – waited for that SOMETHING to hit the song and get me into it, but halfway through, it just seemed redundant, insignificant. Think it was the music…Not sure if it were too much or not enough for the song.

Hard – C – does hardly anything for me. Like “Wait Your Turn,” waited for it to get me, make my head nod, body sway, something. Beats are cool – vocals, bland. Again, seems to be a clash of music/vocals.

Stupid in Love – B- – Piano at the very beginning got me, and I thought, “This is going to be a good one, watch.” And it was good. It felt like it was something more attached, more personal to Rihanna, and it resonated with me.

Rockstar 101 – B – OK, beat at the beginning gets me. I even smiled, nodded head, thought, “OK, she gonna do something good right here.” I dig this one.

Russian Roulette – C- – beginning made me think it would be cool, but it didn’t do anything for me. OK music, beats, lyrics, vocals – didn’t have that extra something to kick it up a notch. Think that match of those things is what was off-putting for me.

Fire Bomb – C- – I almost liked – probably because of the guitar. In the hook, Rihanna’s voice made me go “Huh?” when she dipped her vocals low. The vocal move didn’t sound like a good one for me; felt very…hmm…”American Idol.”

Rude Boy – C- – I’m starting to think Rihanna is trying to hook us in with a cool beginning and then wallow us in an OK, mundane song. Again, I liked the beginning. OK, and don’t say the same thing three times just to fill space, LOL– Want, want, want. It does nothing for me.

Photographs – D – Beginning of song and end of song – music, feel, vibe, so off for me. Feels disconnected.

G4L – C – I kinda like this one…maybe that slight edge to it draws me in. But I have to say, so far in listening to this CD, I’m like WHOSE CD IS THIS? Doesn’t seem to have a real personality. It’s almost like I’m looking at the CD through thick gauze. Like it’s there, I see it, but not clearly.

Te Amo – D – Generic. Next.

Cold Case Love – C+ – Feel the metaphor is a bit cheesy, but this song at least seemed to BE something.

The Last Song – C – laughed at title, considering it’s the last song on the CD. Music seemed TOO MUCH for the song.

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3.5 out of 5 Rating

Love Never Dies

You’re the happiest woman on the planet because you are about to marry the love of your life: then tragedy strikes.

Imagine having to go on and live your life as if a huge part of you hasn’t died and broken off. Imagine having a mind and a heart that can’t let go of that love, that constantly replays precious, wondrous moments of absolute happiness. How do you go on? Can you really?

Erica N. Martin’s novel Something Old Something New is a remembrance of love story that shows us through Audrey, the dedicated main character, that love never dies, and when it’s real and when it’s true, you will never lose it.

Martin does a good job pacing this story to its climactic ending with a nice twist, and what I enjoyed most of the story is the importance of love and memory. We all know the traditional love stories of boy meet girl, gets her, loses her, then gets her back; but this is a story that celebrates the sweet moments of a love story cut short but is determined to return.

If you want a story that reaffirms love, then definitely check out Martin’s latest fare.

Click the cover to order your copy of Something Old Something New today!

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4 out of 5 Rating

Worth the Interruption

When reading a book, I love to be entertained; even more so, I love to be taught something, and while reading Tracey Michae’l Lewis’ latest novel, INTERRUPTION: The Gospel According to Crystal Justine, I definitely received big helpings of both.

Crystal Justine is a young woman in a long line of women in her family to endure a devastating generational curse, a curse that finds the weakest parts of the women to crush their spirit and kill them. CJ has a slew of issues, many of them stemming from the mother who, succumbing to the curse, died when CJ was young. CJ, searching for a life that is all hers and all good, must battle for every good thing she wants, for evil refuses to allow her to be the interruption to stop the curse from coursing through her family’s veins.

Aside from the story itself, which I really enjoyed, my favorite part of this story is its discussion (through literature) of “the generational curse.” We are set for victory, but there are a lot of forces that don’t want us to succeed, and sometimes, those forces go beyond dealing with a person one-on-one; it infiltrates an entire family, an entire bloodline for the sole purpose of completely obliterating that family.

Lewis’ novel vividly shows us how these forces can use everything against you, to include your family, to break you down, but there can be victory if you keep your eye on God, keep your heart on what’s true, and keep your mind on what’s right.

I look forward to seeing what Lewis can teach us with her next novel.

Click the cover to order your copy of INTERRUPTION: The Gospel According to Crystal Justine today!

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4.5 out of 5 Rating

A Lot to Be Hyped About

I’m a person who fully believes in the importance of reaching the youth. The problem that usually prevents us from doing this is we don’t try to reach the youth where they’re at.

Enter filmmaker and author Booker T. Mattison and his debut novel, Unsigned Hype.

From a reader’s perspective, the book doesn’t miss a beat; I read the book in one sitting, captured by the music backdrop, the tight writing, the well developed characters, and the drama that ensues well to the end of the novel.

As a person, the book touches me because it meets the youth where they are, where their dreams are, where their trips and stumbles through life are, and it shows youth that having faith, having God is important. That with him and your faith, you can still have your dreams–even if they’re a little altered due to their journey.

I definitely recommend this book to all readers interested in a strong story and an equally strong message. Looking forward to see what Mattison puts out next.

Click the cover to order your copy of Unsigned Hype today!

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4.5 out of 5 Rating

No Deception – This Is a Sexy Sweet Book!

I’ve been a fan of Patricia Sargeant’s since I interviewed her in 2007 on ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING; back then, I was digging her novel On Fire. For 2009, I am telling all romance fans to check out her June 2009 release, Sweet Deception.

You want a book description, you can head to Patricia’s website and read one; you want to know why you should pre-order this book TODAY, keep reading!

I have read a lot of romance novels, and oftentimes, I get irritated at how “damsel-in-distress” the woman is or how – even when strong – she always manages to loosen her backbone when the man comes with his demanding, “I want you now” ways. I like both my male and female leads to be strong, yet vulnerable, and Sargeant handles this wonderfully in Sweet Deception. We have two strong, sexy characters, both struggling to deal with familial issues while trying to find and reconnect with themselves and ultimately with each other. We have humor – not your typical man-made comedy, but life comedy – those things that happen just from living and breathing and dealing with the world. We have yearning because each of these characters desperately want love and affection in their lives and as readers, we want them to receive it. And no sexy romance novel could be complete without sex, and Sargeant laces the novel with sensual scenes that will warm you and make you enjoy the novel all the more.

Those of you who are hard core romance fans and believe that romance novels have merit within the publishing industry, you’ll have an added reason to buy the book, too; I won’t tell you why – just to say that very early on in the novel, Sargeant places the characters in a situation that will hearken many a YAY FOR ROMANCE cry!

Sweet Deception hits shelves in June; however, you can pre-order your copy TODAY by clicking the cover above!

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Jade’s Diary by Nikki Urban

3 out of 5 Rating

You can’t read the cover of Nikki Urban’s debut novel, JADE’S DIARY without being intrigued. A diary? Sex, lies, lust, betrayal, and vengeance? These words alone will get your voyeuristic self to crack the spine to read Urban’s tale of a daughter who receives her dead mother’s diary, a diary that reveals life-changing secrets not only of the mother, but also of the daughter. The idea behind JADE’S DIARY is a strong one, and I liked the overall read, but the formatting of the book made the read a slow one for me. I also wish the story was longer so that I could get more into the characters’ thoughts and motivations. Those interested in quick reads laced with eroticism will definitely get something from Urban’s story. With such a strong story premise, I’m interested in seeing what Nikki Urban comes up with next. ~~Shon Bacon

Purchase JADE’S DIARY @ Diamond Stone Productions.

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Caring What People Think by Daphine Glenn Robinson

4 out of 5 Rating

I love characters, characters with depth, characters that make me feel and make me care about their journey. The main character of Daphine Glenn Robsinson’s latest novel, CARING WHAT PEOPLE THINK does all those things for me. We get inside Dannica Rawlins’ mind, a mind riddled with depression and low self-worth since the passing of her father and her leaving the church…and God. When a successful, strong, loving, faith-filled man falls for her, Dannica must decide if it’s time to allow God to wash away her pain and let joy and love into her heart and soul. I enjoyed following Dannica on her path, and I equally enjoyed reading a Christian fiction in which the main characters were REAL and not so sanctified that they couldn’t be reached. Several messages resonate throughout Robinson’s novel, but there was one that connected with me and made these characters and the story all the more entertaining: you can overcome past hurt and be happy with the help of God and the help of people who truly love you. Although there were a few things that slowed the read for me, like lengthy dialogue and some telling, overall this is a story I would definitely recommend to others who want to be filled with faith yet not preached to. ~~ Shon Bacon

Purchase CARING WHAT PEOPLE THINK @ Amazon.com.

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