Customer Reviews

Erika Jo

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I thought the album was boring. I didn't watch Nashville Star but I'm a big country music fan and I like to listen to new artists. I bought the cd and loved the catchy song "I Break Things". The other songs really didn't grab me, even after several listens. I was disappointed in her cover of "I'm Not Lisa"- although Erika Jo has a beautiful voice, I found the rendition lacking emotion. She's a good singer but I hope her next album has some better material.

The line I used for my title is from "Strong Tonight," one of several strong tracks on this 2005 release from this Nashville Star alumnus. This is a very good record which hit #5 on the country chart but did not translate into long-lasting fame for the teenaged Erika Jo. Just as talented as any, she joins a slew of young female country singers, much like the trend of the late-90s.

Erika's clear, unadorned soprano highlights this CD, which includes radio-friendly material as well as traditional ballads. "I Break Things" is full of attitude, as is "Strong Tonight;" it is sassy and spunky, appropriate for an 18 year old. "Go" and "There are no Accidents" are enchanting. Her cover of "I'm Not Lisa," the 1975 ballad by Jessi Colter, was released as a single but didn't chart. That's too bad because its certainly a fervent rendition.

I wish Erika would get another chance to record because she's a better, more passionate singer than much of her competition. My only knock on this CD is that it doesn't do enough to distinguish her from the aforementioned current crop of young female country vocalists.

Prime Cuts: There Are No Accidents, They Say Love Is Blind, I'm Not Lisa

Wasting no time, recent high school graduate Erika Jo releases her debut CD in less than a couple of months after she has been crowned 2005 Nashville idol. On this eponymous record, Jo ups the ante on contemporary pop-country with a state of the art production with an occasional nod to the ancient tones of rustic country. Save for the occasional fiddling and steel, stinging guitars and forceful percussions over bubbly pop tunes are the order of the day. Pride of place is also given to the chockablock lineup of songwriters on this record, this includes fellow artists such as Katrina Elam and Rachel Proctor plus tried and true hit writers Danny Mayo, Sunny Russ, Blair Daly, Stephony Smith, Dave Berg to name a few. Nevertheless, the spotlight is Jo's energized and spirited vocals: Jo has the vocal tenacity of LeAnn Rimes and the mellifluousness of a young Brenda Lee. Hence, it's no surprise Jo has been the darling of the million plus viewers of Nashville idol.

In the spirit of Nashville idol, where contestants tend to sing their heads off, Jo's full throated voice is on full display on the midtempo "Good Day for Goodbye." Refusing to take the mediocre as an excuse for a dying romance, "Good Day for Goodbye" finds a determined Jo finally calling it quits with her paramour. Such a strong-willed woman theme resurfaces again on the Sunny Russ' penned "Strong Enough." A popish anthem dedicated to stating over again, there's camaraderie that ought to identify with anyone who has had been emotionally sliced and diced. Written by Jim Collins and Stephony Smith, "Go" continues the theme of taking chances. "Go" has an inherent Tanya-Tucker bluesy grit that makes it quite an experience to be beheld.

However, Jo is even better in the album's slower and more subdued moments. From the first tinkling of the piano on Jessi Colter's "I'm Not Lisa" (which is also covered by Elizabeth Cook on her "Hey Y'all" and Faith Hill on her forthcoming "Homefires" CD lately) every note of this cheating ballad is mesmerized with an emotional intensity that wouldn't let go. The plangent "They Say Love is Blind" brings to mind Lorrie Morgan's "I Guess You Had to Be There," as Jo witnesses her former boyfriend kissing a new love on a romantic street. This is heart rending stuff at its best. On the other hand, "There Are No Accidents," is a gorgeous love ballad that finds Jo philosophizing on the epitome of her relationship. Listen especially to how her astringent voice imparts wisdom as she sings: "I used to talk about coincidence/And how true love is only found by chance/Now I look at you and I'm convinced/There are no accidents."

Nevertheless, there are a few tracks that veer on the contrived side. Lead single "I Break Things" has perhaps one of the most cliché and trite lyrics: "Rain is wet/The desert is dry/That's the way it'll always be/Fire is hot/It's dark at night/The sun comes up in the east." I am sure an eight year-old can come up with better lyrics than that. Perhaps befitting to Jo's age, "Love Is" is at best juvenile and it sounds out of place with the abovementioned gems. "Who You Are," one of those inspirational type uptempo numbers, about searching for one's identity is so blend that one gets lost straightaway as the first note strikes.

"Erika Jo" is a promising debut from a young lady who can sing and when she wants she is able to burn vocally with vivid passion that is hard to resist. Nevertheless, she's often let down by some of her songs. Perhaps, they were hastily chosen and if she has had more time, this CD would have had been even better. Jo is a name to match and with such a copious crowd of fans behind her, over a million can't be wrong

Erika Jo people are so wrong about you, you can sing anything slow or fast and I will buy every CD you record. I love your voice and experiece isn't why I listen to a song, who cares what you have or have not experienced, that's not what sells records anyway. Do people say "Oh I don't think I'll buy that record, because she didn't experience it" I don't think so! You go girl, you'll be shaking up the music industry long after I'm gone, cause you are a "Natural" and sound different on all your songs, not the same ole same ole.

I think Erika Jo is a very talented singer but she probably would have benefited from more time to create her first record. She mostly sang fast songs on Nashville Star and the CD contains mostly slow songs. The CD was not as good as I was expecting it to be but I still think she has talent and would be a great performer to see live.

The competition on Nashville Star this past season was tough, but America voted, and Erika Jo was crowned the new Star. This album definitely let's everyone who voted know that they made the right choice. It's a great country album from a young new singer with a powerful voice. The first single "I Break Things" is a great up-tempo song that really showcases Erika's powerful voice. If this choice of a single says anything about her, it's that she can sing. She further proves this on the ballad "Go", an inspirational song that deals with going after your dreams, something that seems almost autobiographical for Erika. Other great songs are "Strong Tonight", a great song that follows in the footsteps of Leann Rimes "Suddenly", and the meaningful ballad "I'm not Lisa". If you're a fan of good country music and great vocals, Erika's is definitely an album that you'll want to pick up!

This cd is amazing i just love it!! The only thing that i have to complain about is that she has alot of slow songs on here and her voice is so much better on songs like "I Break Things" and "Strong Tonight" her voice is better suited for faster songs! But Erika Jo will go far in this business, this girl has just begun! Rock On Erika Jo!!!!!!!! :)

I really liked this album a lot. I think that she has a good voice and picked songs that went well with it. My favorites were "I break things" and "I'm Not Lisa."

Why is Erika Jo not a country music superstar? I watched her on Nashville Star and voted for her to win. She was beyond the shadow of a doubt the best singer and entertainer in the history of the show. Her CD "Erika Jo" is GREAT! I will admit that it has too many ballads and not enough upbeat songs. Even with that said she still makes it great because of her beautiful voice. Actually, it shows just how great of an artist she is by taking mediocre material and creating a wonderful CD that is very enjoyable to listen to. In my opinion, no other female in country music today could pull this off, except for maybe Reba. I am certain that Carrie Underwood, although a fantastic singer does not have the talent to duplicate Erika Jo's results. I watched "American Idol" also, Unfortunately for Erika Jo It has fifty-million viewers compared to two or three million for Nashville Star. That is why she is not a superstar. I look forward to what the future has in store for Erika Jo. The CD is great. I strongly recommend it. Rose Reaves.

This was a great item, great price and came quickly. It was a replacement item for my daughter whose car recently burned up. Her sister got it for her.