Because I Love It [Import]

Amerie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 15, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Columbia Europe
• ASIN: B000OI1JDA
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #602,448 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Forecast Intro

2. Hate 2 Love U

3. Some Like It

4. Make Me Believe

5. Take Control

6. Gotta Work

7. Crush

8. Crazy Wonderful

9. That's What U R

10. When Loving U Was Easy

11. Paint Me Over

12. Somebody Up There

13. All Roads

14. 1 Thing [*]

15. Losing U [*]

16. Take Control [*]

Editorial Reviews

International pressing of the 2007 album from the R&B star includes two bonus tracks: '1 Thing' and 'Losing U'. As a whole, Because I Love It, Amerie's third album, unapologetically falls into no particular box. There are many elements ('70s soul, '80s New Wave, Hip Hop, live instrumentation), yet the sound is remarkably consistent throughout and makes complete sense. Although the musical inspiration is broad, the arrangement of the material is signature Amerie: strong, aggressive vocals, beautiful melodies, and lush harmonies. Sony/BMG. 2007.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! I love it., May 26, 2007

By 

W. E. Phillips (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Because I Love It (Audio CD)

I have loved Amerie since she came out. I loved her first two albums. So when I heard that she was working on a third one, I was so excited. That was about a year ago. The amazing, innovative "Some Like It" was intended to be the first single. In an unfortunate twist of events, Amerie decided to not release it because other females were beginning to talk in their songs also, and she didn't want to be seen as just a follower again. (First off, I think that was a bad decision. The song could've had a huge impact and is nothing like anything out there. Plus, the whole reputation of being a copy-cat is a mistake. Amerie actually recorded "1 Thing" before "Crazy In Love" even came to frution. But I digress...)

So she releases "Take Control" instead. Catchy song? Yes, but it's just too much like her other works. So that single came and went without any airplay or success and us fans are left wondering what's going to happen next. A few months later, the inspirational "Gotta Work" leaks onto the internet and there is hope. I wait and wait and finally there is news of the new album... but not in the US. It figures. This kind of stuff always happens. I see that this album is coming out everywhere else in the world, except for the United States, in May. I get worried. Based on previous tendencies of the American recording industry, I begin to think that this may never see the light of day in my country. And if it ever does (it's supposed to come out in July) the track list will be extremely altered. So I decided that as soon as this came out, I would buy the import. I am so glad I did.

I love this album from start to finish. It is energetic, fun... wonderful. The first half of the album is mostly composed of Amerie's usual fare: blasting horn-infused track layered with bursts of harmonies. They are all catchy in their own right and I never skip them. But the second half shows why the working title of this album was 'None Of The Above.' The whole album doesn't fit into one category. Amerie completely flips things around and challenges herself, broadening her horizons. She dabbles in pop-rock balladry with successful product. It's unlike anything she's done before. Yet, she still keeps it personal and soulful. It feels genuine; it's still 'Amerie.' I am now convinced that she can pull off almost any genre.

Because I Love It will please all. Not only does it have the upbeat, energetic pieces she is known for, but she also branches out into 80's, pop, rock... wow. I listen to the whole thing straight through. This is her best to date. Great job, Amerie! Here's to hoping it's released in the US!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Because I Love It, June 4, 2007

By 

Geminigirl (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Because I Love It (Audio CD)

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the reviews of this album because I, too am a huge Amerie fan and highly anticipated getting this, her third offering. I grew up in a family that truly loved & exposed me to many different genres of music especially the funksters like Rick James, Lakeside, Confunshun, Prince, The Isley Brothers, The Brothers Johnson, and on and on and on. These artists' music featured horns, drums, guitars, harps, strings - you name the instrument and they probably had them on a track.

This is what I love about Amerie's music and this album in particular - as we all know by now, her single '1 Thing' was "pushed back" by the label so that another artist could steal the thunder of stepping out first with the go-go beats but this didn't stop Amerie from gaining widespread exposure with the track; unfortunately not enough people supported her 2nd album to make it the breakthrough "hit" that she so richly deserves. I've said this before in other reviews but it is really a shame that artists like Amerie, Kelis, Joi and even Mya, Ashanti, etc take true risks with their music yet are ignored by the masses while the same christened few trot out recycled music that receives undeserved accolades.

I honestly haven't stopped listening to this disc since I got it last week - the lead off single, 'TAKE CONTROL' mesmerized me and I was really puzzled as to why it did't take off in the US - it's got a great beat, musical production and Amerie sounds as sassy as usual but it just didn't capture attention.

BILI shows that Amerie is in this game to win it - she co-wrote all of the songs and showed a lot of versatility with her sound - not just relying on the sound that she & Rich Harrison devised - on these tracks, listeners will hear a variety of styles from '80's technopop & soul/r&b, to go-go to ballad pop/r&b. I hate to pick favorite tracks because they're all THAT good but the ones I keep pressing the "repeat" button on are: TAKE CONTROL, FORECAST, HATE 2 LOVE U, CRUSH, THAT'S WHAT U ARE, SOMEBODY UP THERE & PAINT ME OVER.

I'd recommend that fans get the imports because we really don't know how the label will mess around with this disc when (or even if) it's released in the states. To those who aren't 100% fans, I'd recommend this disc because of the variety of musical genres Amerie crossed yet still managed to create a cohesive fun album!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars AMERIE, WHAT'S IN YOUR FUTURE?, June 10, 2008

By 

razorpimp2002 "razorpimp2002" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Because I Love It (Audio CD)

It is apparent that Amerie worked very hard on this cd and pushed herself beyond her previous efforts!! It's unfortunate that this cd was released in Europe only...because of someone else! But the stupid move by the record company will cause her to be an international star as it seems she will be if her management is paying attention. Anyway this is my first Amerie cd and there are some songs I could do without but there are some songs she nails over and over again! She put in work!!!!