Customer Reviews

Folklore

5 star:		(115)
4 star:		(61)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

In January 2001 I heard a song called "I'm Like A Bird" on the radio for the first time. I found out that it was by a new Canadian talent called Nelly Furtado. The song became a huge hit, and her debut album "Whoa, Nelly!" became one of Britain's top sellers in 2001. I bought that album and totally fell in love with Furtado. Her voice, her lyrics, her sound, her style, her melodies, Hell even the album artwork was exquisite! The album became my favourite of 2001, and one of my all-time favourites. So it was with the release of Nelly's second studio album, "Folklore" that I waited with baited breath. However, I need not have worried.

Folklore is an even more fabulous album than her debut, which sees Nelly bridging the gap and breaking the boundaries between different cultures and their musical styles. She hooks up with Track & Field once more, who she worked with on her masterpiece first album, but they've taken a different approach here. Gone is the record-scratching production of her debut, replaced by a much more serious, worldly and mature feel. Nelly's first album relied on its lyrics, beats and instrumental qualities. Folklore does more of the same, but bends the rules a little. It's hard to describe, but it's not hard to imagine Nelly and her production duo picking up any object from the studio floor and turning it into an instrument.

The album opens with the fantastic "One Trick Pony." Here Nelly declares that she is indeed no one trick pony, and that she will be around for a very long time. I have no doubt in this statement, especially when you have a wonderful orchestra build up to open the song, provided by the Kronos Quartet. The album's lead single, "Powerless (Say What You Want)," is easily Nelly's best single to date. It surpasses "Turn Off The Light" easily, and goes on to become one of 2003's best songs in a world of overproduced teeny-bopper junk. "Explode" could definitely be a single. The lyrics are deep with references to burns, rape, drinking and violence. Nelly sings of the 'teenage waste' which is followed by a phenomenal rap. It's catchy as heck. Nothing more to be said.

"Try" is the first ballad of the album. Nelly sings of people and their great expectations of her. All she can do is try as they just stand there, wanting more from her. The chorus is majestic, and reaches its pinnacle when Nelly wails, "And that's you, baby/This is me, baby/We are, we are/We are, we are!" "Fresh Off The Boat" could fit in perfectly on Nelly's debut. With a mixture of vocals and random sounds, the song has a hectic sound to it, with a fantastic clap-ending and some foreign warbling. "For?a" is like the centrepiece of the album. With its tropical and sunny feel, the song has a wonderful opening verse, followed by a swaying chorus that you can just jump up and down to, while thumping your fist in the air! The song peaks, falls, and carries on rising towards its fantastic ending.

"The Grass Is Green" is undeniably one of the best songs Nelly has ever recorded. The song opens with a deep and tranquil beat. Incredibly captivating and exotic, the bass is actually deeper than the vocals. It's so striking and deep as the ocean. It's these songs by Nelly that paint images of Canada in my mind. The mountains and the fields. Incredibly refreshing. "Picture Perfect" is one of the album's best songs, and a brilliant ballad where Nelly's vocals just rise and rise every second on the majestic chorus. The verses are so catchy, and the drums add that much needed rock-anthem feel to it. "Saturdays" is the shortest song on the album, and serves as more of an interlude in its acoustic style. In the context it's a fantastic song about Nelly's life before being a singer when she was a hotel cleaner. Jarvis Church helps her out, by repeating everything she sings in a high-pitched style.

"Build You Up" opens with the beat right next to the speaker, pumping out its violins. Nelly sings of the media and jealous people who build you up, but tear you down once you achieve fame. It's an emotionally-charged song, and it adds more dimensions to Nelly's already vast perspective on life. "Island Of Wonder" features Caetano Veloso as a guest on vocals. Nelly's voice is so passionate in this song, and the chirping/whispering as the song closes makes it even more surreal and multi-cultural. "Childhood Dreams" closes the album, and in awesome style. This song has done things to me that no other song has ever had the power to do. At just over six and a half minutes long, it's a moving masterpiece. An orchestra opens the song in a classical style, before the soft beat seeps in. After a minute, Nelly begins singing, "I can't believe you need me/I never thought I would be needed for anything," in such a beautiful voice. The lyrics are powerful and heartfelt. It almost makes me cry. A perfect ending to a second masterpiece album.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

Nelly Furtado has crafted another superb album here. Folklore is hands down my favourite album of 2003. Some people are hating this album, but I can't see why. It's a fantastic achievement, and I am sure that I will be listening to this for years to come. Nelly Furtado is already one of my all-time favourite female artists. She has so much talent that it's unbelievable. She writes some fantastic lyrics, produces some of the most creative beats, has some of the catchiest melodies, has a gorgeous voice, and is just drop-dead beautiful in the process! A true talent, and I'm sure she's going to be around for a very long time. I look forward to her third album. She could take 10 years for all I care. It would still be worth the wait.

Make no mistake, Nelly Furtado's second album is one of the best -- if not the best -- albums of 2003. Folklore is a wonderfully thoughtful, highly polished, and absolutely vibrant album that is worth the price of admission.

One thing about Folklore -- and also Whoa, Nelly!, for that matter -- is that each song is unique. If one song doesn't appeal to you, chances are another one will. From the lush, dream-like quality of "Island of Wonder" and "Childhood Dreams" to the simple, yet profound tracks such as "Saturdays," Nelly Furtado demonstrates an excellent spectrum of her capabilities.

And yet, despite the diverse styles, the songs all come together perfectly. The consistency and continuity from track to track are unmistakable. One thing that never wanes is its quality. The themes and imageries in Folklore are something a lot of us can relate to. Something that speaks to us.

Music, then, has a way of communicating to and touching its audience. In that sense, Folklore embodies everything that "music" ought to be. A casual listen of Folklore may hook you with its unique sounds and rhythm. But that's merely scratching the surface. A serious listen undoubtedly provides a deeper, richer experience -- as an awesome mix of instruments complements Furtado's silky-smooth delivery; and her lyrics, syntax, and choice of words paint a colourful, beautiful picture.

I say this without reservations: Folklore is an intelligent album. You'll understand once you sit down and genuinely listen to it. The overall experience is one you should not pass up. Like the previous reviewer said: don't download this. Buy it. Obviously, this is my personal opinion, but for what it's worth, Folklore has my highest reccommendations.

Ultimately, if you take the time to really listen to Folklore -- following the lyrics, and paying attention to what Nelly Furtado is trying to express, you won't be disappointed with what the album has to offer. And who knows, it just may turn out to be your most cherished CD.

This is one of the 5 cds that I have been waiting on this year. And Nelly did not disappoint me. I know a lot of people didn't like her first cd "Whoa, Nelly" because of her vocals and her music was so different. This time, the music sinks into you more easily. Some songs require more than one listening. But it's all worth it. Also her vocals have really matured and she sounds great. I love Canada for many things, but producing Nelly is one of the top reasons. Lets break it down:

1. One-Trick Pony- I really love this song. What an inspiring song about being yourself (no matter how different you may be). She uses a banjo on this song. How cool!

2. Powerless (Say What You Want)- as a black person, this song says so much to me. But the song is so universal that anybody can relate to it.

3. Explode- probably my 2nd favorite song. This song makes me dance and it talks about being teenagers and learning your lessons. I really love the beats and she is singing on this song.

4. Try - beautiful song about trying to be a good person because of another person. It continues the theme of growing up that's on this album.

5. Fresh Off the Boat- Nelly talks about her family leaving their native country for NA. She's proud of her culture.

6. Forga- I really love this song and the title is of her native language. Makes you dance.

7. Saturdays - a song about how she spent her childhood's Saturdays. I love the fact that its only her, a guitar and a backing soulful male singer.

8. Picture Perfect- the music is rather bluesy when it starts off and then just explodes with the chorus. IMO, the song talks about how some things are not what they appear to be.

9. The Grass Is Green- a good mid-temp rock song. I love this song, but not as much as I love the others.

10. Build You Up- Nelly has grown up a lot and you can tell with this song. She is talking about finding your soul mate and accepting both the good and bad about him. She's also talking about how people build you up to tear you down. I love the Latin sounds of this song.

11. Island of Wonder- wow!! This is favorite song on the album. She is singing with a Portuguese man (one of her idols and a music icon in Portugal) and their voices sounds amazing.

12. Childhood Dream- with a beautiful church organ playing in the background in the beginning and elsewhere. Nelly sings with so much passion on this song. A nice ending to this album.

Get this album and give it a chance.

Upon hearing ''I'm Like A Bird'' for the very first time, I instantly took a dislike for it. Her voice and the simplistic lyrics pulled me off the song. I completely dismissed her as a MTV darling and never purchase her debut album. The other single releases from ''Whoa Nelly'' did peak my curiosity though Nelly Furtado didn't manage to keep my attention. However a gem named ''Powerless (Say What You Want) did the trick and evidently I gave in and purchased ''Folklore''.

Given the massive success of ''Whoa, Nelly'', there must have been a huge pressure on Furtado's shoulders to deliver the goods. Whereas ''Whoa, Nelly'' did extremely well, ''Folklore'' seems to be a slow-burner reaching No. 38 in the US and No. 62 in the UK. Massive sales don't always equal better or quality, so despite ''Folklore'' not selling millions, it is still one of the better releases of 2003 in my opinion.

The album-starter ''One Trick Pony'' is a perfect platform to open ''Folklore'' with. Nelly Furtado declares she is determinate to be a force to be reckon with. The tune starts off with dream-like music and evolve into an anthem celebrating indecency and individuality. Perhaps it might see the light of day as a single release, it's definitely worthy of one. The lead single ''Powerless (Say What You Want) reached no. 13 in the UK and it's most likely one of Nelly Furtado's best releases to date. Perhaps the use of instruments rarely heard in ''pop music'' captured my attention. It sounded completely different than most of the music playing on radio and still does. ''Explore'' is one of the most upbeat tracks on ''Folklore'', however its lyrics and rock-inspired music holds the attention of the listener. ''Try'' is easily one of my favourite tunes off ''Folklore'' and I'm hoping it will be given a single release. Nelly Furtado's voice sounds extremely good in the chorus, which showcases her grown as a vocalist as well. Gone for the most parts are her nasal-sounding voice from her debut single releases, however ''Fresh Off The Boat'' sees Nelly Furtado using it once more. ''Forca'' is a mixture of handclasps, banjo and different noises through-out the entire ordeal and the chorus is so enjoyable, you can't help singing along. The sway-like and seductive ''Grass Is Green'' is one of my favourite off ''Folklore''. ''Picture Perfect'' displays one of Nelly's best vocal performance on the record. Her voice goes up and down through-out the song. ''Saturday'' is a short introduction to her past. The opening of the song works quite well, however it bounders on annoyance towards the end of the song as a guy keeps repeating her words in a very high-pitched voice and suddenly Nelly Furtado bursts out laughing. The Sade-esque ''Build You Up'' is easily one of the best offering on the album. ''Island Of Wonder'' is an erotic gem, which features Caetano Veloso as a guest vocalist. It's soft and dream-like sound takes you on a journey of love, infatuation and lust. The closer of the album belongs to ''Childhood Dreams'', which could be classify as a lullaby of some sort. It's a tad long for my liking though I still seem to enjoy it anyhow.

So what is it that makes ''Folklore'' a rewarding listen? For once the use of ''un-tradional'' instruments such as banjos, various noises etc. really makes the album far more interesting. The production of the album is truly marvellous. ''Folklore'' is filled with fresh and well-crafted tunes and there are hardly any fillers to skip, it's enjoyable from start to finish. Sure ''Folklore'' doesn't have a stand-out song like ''I'm like A Bird'', which I didn't care for anyway. Some might argue that there isn't enough single material on the album, however as a whole ''Folklore'' is a very cohesive release. The record lures you in within a couple of listens and you are hooked. I regard ''Folklore'' as one of my favourite releases of 2003.

Overall Rate: 8.5/10

After her annoying debut "Whoa Nelly," Nelly Furtado didn't seem aimed anywhere except down. Surprisingly, her sophomore album "Folklore" has a relatively fresh sound, a sort of acoustic folk-pop. Her songwriting and vocals are still lacking, but they are made up for by the excellent music.

Starting off with the defensive banjo-led "One Trick Pony," Furtado kicks off into the catchy, strong-willed "Powerless" and odd, intense "Explode." Then she spreads her wings with some slower numbers ("Try," the pretty "Childhood Dreams"), more ponderings on her background (the rock-edged "Fresh off the Boat," the traditional-sounding "Island of Wonder") and some steady pop ("Build You Up," the steady acoustic "The Grass is Greener").

Every instantly-acclaimed artist's second album is worse than the first -- right? Not exactly. Furtado seems more at home in the folky pop-rock influenced by her Portuguese ancestry and less by a crazy-quilt street sensibility. The music is more acoustic and less poppy, and her style seems to have settled into its niche. In short, Furtado has matured musically.

Don't expect the usual synth instrumentation. Furtado weaves in acoustic guitar and banjo, with some added stuff like flutes, mandolins and squeaky wheels. It has a richer, more rounded feel. What's more, the deeper folk-pop helps to camoflage Furtado's voice. It's still nasal, but she sounds like she's reining it in when she sings. Good idea.

Furtado's third-grade-level songwriting was the lowest point of "Whoa," but she's shaped up and smoothed it out in "Folklore." Instead of nonsense words and spoken blather, Furtado actually writes some better material; they lack complexity ("For you I will not dance/For you I will not prance") but they're solid enough. Too bad she is still telling us what a force she is to be reckoned with. Sure, whatever, okay. At least she's not saying it quite so often.

Nelly Furtado's brand of ethnic folk-pop is a step in the right direction, with more musical maturity and seriousness. While "Folklore" is far from legendary, it is worth checking out.

Although it is three years after the release of this album, I felt that in light of her releasing her new album (Loose due out June 20th, 2006) I should revisit her album Folklore. I absolutely adore this album, and although I can't force you to buy it (because if I could I would) I hope this review will excite you to buy and listen to this amazing album.

The album begins with the ever powerful track 'One-Trick Pony'. Aside from amazing orchestration (Kronos Quartet) and interesting beats throughout the song, the deep but simple lyrics make the best statement. Standout lyrics: "You say, you're identical to none but you're identical to some, who wants to be a some? Not Me"

The first single 'Powerless' is the second track and has one of the catchiest beats on the album. The lyrics are extremely representative of a ethnic person's fight in a country that is not their own to fit in and be somebody. Standout lyrics: "Hey you, the one that don't fit in, how ya, how ya gonna get in, get in? Hey you, the one outside, are you ever gonna get in?"

The third song is 'Explode' and it's very representative of the emotions teenagers experience in this day and age. It's extremely captivating. Standout lyrics: "It's truth or dare, we don't care."

There really are no words to justifiably represent the beauty of the fourth track 'Try'. The lyrics and the music are fantastic. The arrangement is breathtaking. Unlike the single/video version, the album version is much more like a freestyle poem. The chorus only happens twice, she ad-libs in the ending. It's just.. wow. Standout lyrics: "All of the moments that already passed. We'll try to go back and make them last. All of the things we want each other to be. We never will be. We never will be. And that's wonderful. That's life." and "That's you baby. This is me baby. We are. We are. We are. Free to love."

'Fresh off the Boat' really hit close to home because I am a Canadian immigrant like Nelly (although she is Portugese and I'm Latin American). Although the exciting and busy music took a while to grow on me the message is exactly how you feel as an immigrant. The beauty of it is that while the statement 'fresh off the boat' is usually used as an insult she takes the saying back and uses it as a representation of pride, beauty and the idea of being grateful of the opportunities in a new country. Standout lyrics: "I rock these bare feet like no one else can. My hands are dirty I like 'em that way. Shows who I am"

'Forca'. A moving song about the power from within. Standout lyrics: "It is the passion flowing right on through your veins.
And it's the feeling like you're oh so glad you came. And it's the moment you remember you're alive. It is the air you breathe, the element, the fire"

'The Grass is Green' is about wanting what you can't have. And if by chance you do get what you want, it's about realizing that sometimes things can be deceiving. Standout lyrics: "You opened up to me 'til I could only see the beauty in your dishonesty."

'Picture Perfect' is perfect. The round/buildup at the very end is simply magnificent. Standout lyrics: "So you made an oil painting to immortalize all of the hope and vision in your eyes..."

'Saturdays' is the only song I will skip on the CD but that is of no fault of the lyrics or the music. I just cannot tolerate Jarvis Church singing in the background. Otherwise a very personal tribute to Nelly's previous life. Standout lyrics: "I rest my heart and dream of the city."

'Build You Up' is about how many people can and will let you down. But then there's that one person who never will. Standout lyrics: "Put your heart in my hands and I won't hurt you." and "I'll never build you up only to tear you down...I love you the way you are." The piano at the end is simply brilliant as well.

'Island of Wonder' is about the island of Azores (off the coast of Portugal where she is from). It's very mysterious and hypnotic. Caetano Veloso adds an excellent vibe to this beautiful ethnic song. Standout lyrics: "Island of wonder. where do you come from? Is it the way the sun hits my face? Or is it your memory which I cannot trace?" and "Look at me I have so much pride. I took my shoes off I ran I did not hide."

and lastly 'Childhood Dreams' which is most definitely my favourite track on the entire album. The organ intro is haunting but intriguing and sets the mood for the rest of the song. It's about finding the one person who is meant for you entirely, who if you haven't found yet, you know is out there somewhere. Standout lyrics: the entire song.. but if I have to choose: "I can't believe you need me. I never thought I would be needed for anything. I can't believe my shoulder would carry such important weight. As your head and your tears..." and "Before this existence you were always there waiting for me. You are, you are the realest thing I know." This song is just absolutely magical.

This album is definitely a must have.

This album is just incredible, from the first note to the last.
"Folklore" really shows us that Nelly has evolved as an artist. "Whoa, Nelly!" was good, but it didn't seem to have much direction, she was all over the map genre-wise, from R&B to Trip-Hop to Rap all the way to Bossa Nova, the album didn't seem to flow together nicely.
"Folklore" on the other hand has a direction it takes and shows us that Nelly has grown as an artist.

1. One-Trick Pony [4.5/5] - A really nice song! The string Quartet on it sound great, I really like the into, makes it sound very mysterious. Great song, great message, great everything.

2. Powerless (Say What You Want) [5/5] - GREAT Message, I love this song! The banjo in it is incredible. While it won't pack the dance floors in clubs you can dance to this song, not a crazy dance, but a very native-y dance.

3. Explode [5/5] - This song has a GREAT beat, would be a party song if it weren't for it's serious message. Very true-to-life lyrics. Splendid.

4. Try [5/5] - Here's when the CD starts to get incredible. The song takes your breath away. Her voice sounds real in it, the lyrics are insanely deep. The music is just incredible. Her new single, bound to be a greater success than Turn & Bird.

5. Fresh off the Boat [5/5] - THIS SONG ROCKS!!!!!!!! This track is just plain catchy. The lyrics, the beat, everything. The portugese in it sounds incredible. A real winner here. The only downfall I see with this song is that her voice is a bit on the nasely side so you can't really listen to it more than 2x in a row. But side from than it's probably the best on the disc.

6. Força [5/5] - A Great song!!!!!! Like Fresh, the portugese really works here. It's a great flowing song. It's in the running to be the theme for the next world soccer champs. I hope it wins, it's very sporty. This and Fresh are alone worth the price of the Disc.

7. The Grass Is Green [4/5] - This song's good. Many people claim that it's the closest to Whoa, Nelly! she gets but I think that title goes to Fresh. I'm not sure how she ment this song to come off as but I take it as a metaphor for sex. The Grass Is Green - sex rocks. But I think I've stained my jeans and Everyone knows I've been in it - I got preget and now everyone knows I ain't a virgin. But meh, whatever, just what I think. Either way, nice song.

8. Picture Perfect [4/5] - This song is alright, I guess. Probably my least favorite. It's just too long and dull. However, the message of the song garns it points.

9. Saturdays [5/5] - I really wouldn't classify this as a song, but more of an interlude/intermission song. The laugh is great.

10. Build You Up [5/5] - Stunning. Just incredible....

11. Island of Wonder [5/5] - Wow, this song is soooooooo good. It's very folky. Just amazing.

12. Childhood Dreams [5/5] - This song sounds like a poem put to words. It's just breathtaking, an amazing way to close the Disc.

Overall, the CD is insanely good. Anyone who enjoys music should pick this one up.

Nelly Furtado is back! With a more mature sound, Nelly is out to give fans a sample of who Nelly Furtado really is. Nelly starts the album by declaring that she isn't a "One-Trick Pony" and moves right into vilifying the media w/lyrics "paint my face w/your magazines / make it look whiter than it seems / paint me over w/your dreams / shove away my ethnicity". "Explode" is a feverous, rhythmic tune that entices listeners w/its odd use of instruments while "Try" is a definite radio-friendly ballad that will last. "Fresh Off the Boat" will surely be Nelly's big hip-hop hit, as "Força" will probably be heard on many movie soundtracks... Overall, "Folklore" is a fun-filled album w/maturity yet it still has the loveable trip-hop, hip-hop, "folky", rock sound that makes Nelly Furtado a person to respect and love forever and ever (amen)!

One-Trick Pony: 9/10 ~ it's a bold song stating, "I am not a one-trick pony" and furthering it w/amazing backgrounds.

Powerless: 10/10 ~ It is one of the catchiest songs ever. I cannot get that song out of my head and I've listened to it over and over...

Explode: 10/10 ~ another catchy song w/deep lyrics. It also displays fireworks, a squeaky organ, rhythm guitar and many other live instruments to make a feverous song.

Try: 10/10 ~ It is basically a pop-rock song Nelly Furtado style.

Fresh Off the Boat: 10/10 ~ this song sounds like a "Whoa, Nelly!" track w/its simply catchy rhythms and deep lyrics.

Força: 9/10 ~ though, Nelly's nasal voice is present on this track more so, the song is amazing. You will definitely catch this song in many movies of 2004. It is a soundtrack song Nelly Furtado style and I LOVE IT!

The Grass Is Green: 9/10 ~ At this point, ppl may get bored with the album but Nelly doesn't let that happen easily. This, like other Nelly songs progresses to the point where you're singing along and you don't know why.

Picture Perfect: 9/10 ~ same as above

Saturdays: 7/10 ~ it is an impromptu song which is a little irritating at first but you grow to love and you may even start skrewing around as Nelly Furtado and Jarvis Church do.

Build You Up: 9/10 ~ I think it is a radio-friendly ballad. It progresses from slow to slow and rhythmic. It is an amazing song.

Island of Wonder: 10/10 ~ this song sums up the entire album w/its use of instruments to its scratches by DJ Lil'Jaz to its guest Caetano Veloso. It is hip-hop and Latin and a lil' bit of everything really.

Childhood Dreams: 9/10 ~ the song starts slow but progresses to another catchy beat as "Build You Up" does. It ends the album on a high note w/it's bright lyrics and w/the way the song seemingly soars through the sky.

I purchased Whoa Nelly soon after it came out. I listened to it once, and don't remember being all that impressed. About three months ago, I saw it sitting on my cd rack. I took it to work to listen to because I felt guilty about buying something and not listening to it. I listen with headphones at work, and I suddenly realized what a great cd it was. I've been a great fan ever since.

I purchased Folklore right away, and again, I listened to it on my stereo at home, and was unimpressed. Knowing all the time I wasted not enjoying the first one, I listened to it on my headphones. Once again, I came to love it.

The trick with Nelly Furtado, in my opinion, is getting used to its uniqueness. Unfortunately, we get rather used to the same thing, and when something new comes our way, it takes a bit of focus to understand it and decide whether we like it. It doesn't always work out, but with Nelly Furtado, for me, at least, it does.

I love the beauty and sadness of both Fado and Cape Verde music. There is a lot of this in Folklore, and I think I like Nelly Furtado for many of the same reasons. Also, Caetano Velaso is a legend, and speaks well of Nelly being on the cd.

Five stars are a true rarity, but four stars is equally uncommon, for me.

I am blown away by this album. It would be easy to write a review based on comparisons to her first album, but one of the things that really excites me about Nelly Furtado is how different this album is from her debut. Nelly Furtado broke onto the pop scene with "I'm like a bird", but her first album demonstrated that she was no mere 1 hit wonder. In her second album, she demonstrates her versatility and talent at a whole new level, proving that she can excel in different genres of music as well. It becomes obvious right from the beginning of the first song that this album is going to be something new, and very exotic - The sounds of Dance and R&B in her first album have given way to a brighter fusion of pop, electronica, and multicultral folk.

From the exotic, almost middle-eastern groove of the opening track "One-trick pony" to the poignant folk/pop melodies of "Try" and the kinetic, exotic dancability of "Fresh off the Boat" (my favorite track), this album really delivers. However, fans of the first album who are looking for more of the same should be warned. "Folklore" is just as good as "Woah, Nelly!", but it's apples and oragnes, and only hints of the brilliant R&B lyricysm in her first album remain.

In conclusion: Nelly Furtado is an artist who I think is going to continue to rise in popularity, and continue to release even better music, until she takes her place beside great popular musicians like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Alanis Morrisette. Dispite a few tracks that are sub-par in my opinion (Childhood dreams, The grass is green), or just plain strange (Picture Perfect), there are so many touching, catchy, lush, and powerful songs in this album that its a shoe in for the rare "5" rating.