Fearless

Jazmine Sullivan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 23, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: J-Records
• ASIN: B001CJOHG6
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (121 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,761 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Import version of her debut album includes two bonus tracks, Need You Bad (Remix) and Dream Big (StoneBridge Club remix).

Jazmine Sullivan is an American R&B and soul music singer-songwriter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Due to her voice and style, Jazmine has gotten numerous comparisons to other female R&B artists, such as Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keys. As an Executive Producer and sole songwriter on Fearless, Sullivan (along with Missy Elliott, Salaam Remi and Peter Edge) has orchestrated a debut opus full of lush musical arrangements by Elliott, Remi, Stargate, Jack Splash, Fisticuffs and more - all complemented by her expressive yet witty songwriting skills and rich vocals. Jazmine brings her own experiences and observations on life and love with vivid storytelling imagery to her songs.
From the introductory reggae-inspired single Need U Bad, and the 60 s soulfulness on One Night Stand, to the prime-time drama of Bust Your Windows and the heart-wrenching After The Hurricane, Fearless will be a much needed respite from the multitude of releases set for the remainder of the year. Her U.S debut single Need U Bad claims the No. 1 spot this week on Billboard s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts, thus making her the first female in almost four years (the 8th this decade!) to accomplish this achievement.
Jazmine was also nominated for 5 Grammys this year including Best New Artist, Best R&B Female Vocal Performance (Need U Bad), Best R&B Contemporary Album (Fearless), Best R&B Song (Bust your Window) and Best traditional R&B Vocal Performance (In Love With Another Man) --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of 2008's Best R&B Albums Easily, October 2, 2008

By 

Michael Brent Faulkner, Jr. "Brent Faulkner" (Kentucky) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fearless (Audio CD)

Jazmine Sullivan caught my ear for the first time when I heard the exceptional first single from FEARLESS, "Need U Bad". The voice for me resurrected Lauryn Hill, who is one of my very favorite singers. Jazmine possesses soul in every song that she sings on FEARLESS, whether it is contemporary R&B or full on neo-/retro- soul favoring say Amy Winehouse. Face it, Jazmine can blow! This exceptionally consistent debut album that will probably be underrated as far as commercial sales ultimately is one of my favorite urban releases of 2008. Jazmine has successfully blended a plethora of styles and maintained sultry alto vocals all in the mix. There isn't a "flat" or bad song on FEARLESS in my mind.

"Bust Your Windows" opens the album brilliantly given and old school vibe the Mark Ronson could've easily produced for an Amy Winehouse album. In fact, here I believe Sullivan somewhat tries to embody that Etta James, Winehouse sound with her "extravagant" vocals. She sounds killer here that for sure. On "Need U Bad", Missy, as much as I hate to say it, isn't necessary at all as far as appearing on the track (yes she helped to write that brilliant song). Jazmine sounds fantastic with the tropical inspired beat supporting her. With that aside though, the track still sounds as if it could've easily appeared on a 70s soul album. "My Foolish Heart" keeps the momentum going with its great production work and with Jazmine's phenomenal vocal performance. "Lions, Tigers & Bears" keeps up the pace putting production absent of drums behind Ms. Sullivan. The result is vintage soul.

"Call Me Guilty" is great also, while "One Night Stand" is absolutely one of the best of FEARLESS. "After The Hurricane" is one of the best R&B ballads I've heard for sometime, while "Dream Big" is vintage Missy Elliott songwriting genius. Sure, it's a big clunky compared to some of the tracks, but it is still "great". "Live A Lie" is also strong, mostly because it is one of those R&B tunes where it is "out there" as far as the music theory behind it (for all the music nerds like me). "Fear" floats on by, though it is the soulful "In Love With Another Man" that steals the who as perhaps the VERY best ballad of FEARLESS. "Switch!" ends the album on a soulful, 70s pop-inspired high note.

This is nearly the perfect debut. The production doesn't sound cheap, even if it does sound like say, an Usher album. This album lays very well and vocally, Sullivan is phenomenal. Fantastic home run for Sullivan!

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Verging on Brilliance!, September 23, 2008

By 

A* (New York, N.Y. United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Fearless (Audio CD)

Jazmine Sullivan has a wonderful voice, it's rocky, deep and has a very extensive range. It sounds like nothing on the radio these days, especially when a voice such as hers at times takes on a soulful operatic quality as on "Bust Your Windows," with it's layered strings and handclaps. To take note of that production is to take note of the whole CDs nuances of sonic tweaks and bleeps that don't overpower her voice or the material. More often than not, the writing verges on excellent, especially on "Lions, Tigers & Bears." That song and the contemplative and deceptively simplistic "Fear" has hit written all over it.

There has been such a deep void of expressive women that have the ability to utter more than what women have been reduced to on radio, we've been reduced to nothing more than begging or whoring around ... in the really popular song, we do both at the same time.

Sullivan has made a great debut, at such a young age, and hopefully she continues to make amazing music, she's needed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Rebirth for Female R&B artists w/ the potential for staying power, June 22, 2009

By 

V. Pierce "The Paper" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fearless (Audio CD)

I think Jazmine Sullivan is a fantastic breath of fresh air for those of us who are hankering for young female R&B artists who don't feel the need to be half naked to sell an album. Her voice is beautiful, the first album is a solid stepping stone for breaking into the industry as the CD as a whole is strong. As she develops as an artist she will become stronger and stronger. As a side note, this CD is really funny to me because she's just so damn HONEST! And that's what appeals to me. Come on, don't get high and mighty like you never busted a dude's windows (or thought about it) or wanted his best friend instead of him? LOL, she's just being real. Keep at it, Ms. Sullivan. I see you doing big things. :-)