Customer Reviews

Identified

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

You know you're getting old when your kids start demanding their own CDs, and it seems like that stage occurs earlier and earlier with every generation. After listening to my music for the first seven years of his life, my son now wants exclusive listening rights to his latest favorites, namely Snack Time, Crazy Frog, anything American Idol, Jonas Brothers and now Vanessa Hudgens.

Don't tell him, but this is one I don't mind listening to in the car, especially after months of Davids Cook and Archuleta and the Jonas Brothers "SOS". (Mind you, I still like Crazy Frog - Bam! Bam!)

Hudgens may not be the best singer around, but the arrangements and great song choices make up for this, and her fresh faced good looks don't hurt either. The good songs (even for elderly folk above 25) include first single "Sneakernight" a three minute dance track; first track "Last Night"; the title track; "First Bad Habit"; "Hook It Up" (a Gwen Stefani-type track); "Amazed"; "Don't Leave" and "Did It Ever Cross Your Mind" (mid tempo).

The dance tracks definitely dominate the album, which is a solid follow up to her 2006 debut album "V". Make a note of this one for the "High School Musical" fans on your gift list.



Amanda Richards, July 5, 2008

I was 25 when I first heard of Vanessa Hugens. I bought her debut album on itunes because i liked the single "Come Back To Me" -- I already downloaded it. I think her voice is good, sounds kind of like the R&B singer Paula DeAnda ("Walk Away", "Doin Too Much", "Easy") only better. Vanessa's albums have been underrated. Even though I'm 26 now I still like her. Her music can reach older AND younger audiences which is what's so great about her. I like every song on this album especially her new single "Sneakernight." It gets in your head! If you like Vanessa Hudgens or the "High School Musical" series this album is for you!

Every track on this album is good, with some of them being great. The best ones are Last Night and Gone With The Wind. On these two song, Vanessa shows what she can do with her voice. This is an album that will appeal to the more mature audience as well as to the younger generation.

After the massive success of both High School Musicals, it's only natural that a good majority of its stars would release their own pop albums and of course subsequent sophomore efforts-Vanessa Hudgens is the first of the group to do both, and her second offering comes in the form of `Identified,' which doesn't quite improve upon her debut-and in fact as a whole, it's not really as satisfying-but is not without its assets. First single "Sneakernight" is bluesy, cheesy, and altogether wonky, especially upon first listen. It's a bit of a grower, but unfortunately never sinks in nearly as fast as her previous hits. Most of the attempts at growth displayed here come in the form of poorly sung, awkwardly opera-esque R&B tracks (the worst of the bunch, "Last Night," is the misbegotten album opener, ironically). Beyond these and a few moderate undertones of sexiness, there isn't really anything here that one wouldn't have expected to hear on Hudgens' first album; so in a sense, at its worst, this album comes off as a not-as-good `part 2' to the `V' disc. "Hook It Up" isn't catchy enough to maintain its momentum and just ends up sounding like Jessica Simpson at her clumsiest, while the wannabe soul of "Gone With The Wind" never really clicks. Ironically, where the album shines is where it stays pure pop-"Identified" could have very easily been on the `V' album, and it's one of this album's best cuts. The bleepy electro-pop and snappy camera clicks make the song infectious, and an altogether enjoyable dance song. "Amazed," which features a surprisingly good rap verse by Lil' Mama, is also a fun upbeat song with very hooky verses and intoxicating distorted vocals. Dr. Luke, the master pop-rock producer responsible for the likes of Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend," Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" and Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl" produced almost all of the album's best cuts-"First Bad Habit" is a driving pop rock track that's relatable and fun, although the hook begins to sound a tad awkward after multiple listens. Unfortunately, one of the album's very best tracks isn't on standard versions of the disc-the bonus track "Vulnerable," available only on the iTunes and Japan editions, is a gorgeous pop ballad (not unlike "Say OK") with infectious backing vocals and a beautiful chorus. Track that down and you'll find a song that's frankly better than most of the actual album cuts (this was a similar problem with `V'-I still strongly believe "Make You Mine" should've made the final track listing). "Committed" is one of the very few stabs at R&B that actually clicks and is quite catchy, although it also is unfortunately a bonus track and not available on all editions. The disc's other ballads, "Paper Cut" and "Don't Ask Why," have good beats but not-so-good vocals and melodies. Overall, Vanessa stretches herself in areas where it really doesn't work for her, whether it be vocally or by genre, and just ends up sounding awkward or lost. However, when `Identified' does click, it's a fun, low-key pop album with a general sense of freeness not felt in her debut, which may indicate that she has undergone some musical growth-it's just too bad it isn't consistently displayed throughout this album's entirety.

This stuff is surely for the younger generation, but not too young.

Ms. Hudgens sounds a little like Christina Aguilera, but that is where the comparison ends.

She doesn't have the range or the production to fully pull it off.
Based on the lyrics, the audience is probably pre-prom love sick girls. Not a bad effort though.

I'm sure she's hitting her target market, but I'd be anxious to see a more well rounded effort.

I'm giving this 3 stars because 2 of the tracks on the album have a good dance mix, and some powerful vocals respectively, they are the title track "Identified" and the final track "Gone with the wind."

Cherry picking those tracks might probably a better way to sample her music until a more complete and mature album emerges.

Ever since Vanessa Hudgens, 19, debut album V, I have been slightly attached to her music. From "Come Back To Me," which was her debut single, to "Say OK," "Let Go," and many other tracks off of her debut V. Although, V, was missing a lot of more up-tempo songs, the album pulled through enough to become an easy listener.
On her new album IDENTIFIED, Vanessa sets up her own rules, and sings the songs she wants. With music influenced with Pop, R&B/Soul, Dance, and a little bit of Hip Hop, this album is definitely one you want to check out. Songs like "Last Night," the title track "Identified," and the leading single "Sneakernight," will all be stuck in your mind all day!
The album photography is beautiful, Vanessa has definitely grown up on this album, not like V, when she recorded sort-of 'ordinary' music, on IDENTIFIED, she takes a step out of the box, into a new territory.
I will have to say that Hollywood Records have been releasing great albums lately, including Raven-Symoné's new self-titled album, Jesse McCartney's new release DEPARTURE, and now, IDENTIFIED!

You can say what you want about Vanessa, but you have to admit that she releases some good albums. I didnt think she can top eclectic sounds of "V", but she does it again with "Identified", mixing R&B, with some dance and even an appearance by Lil' Mama! Definitly check out this album if you liked her first album, or like Pop music in general.

This album was not good. "V" was a much better album. Vanessa Hudgens has talent and sounds well only with the right material. The way that she chooses to use her voice does not work with the songs that she sings. I bought it because I was interested in the difference between her first album and her second. I would give the first on 4 stars, but this one just can't be rated as high. I would give it a 1.8

The only songs worth listening to are: "Identified," "Don't Leave," and "Paper Cut," which sounds a bit too literal in the lyrics. Most of the rest of the songs sound cheap, and extremely unpleasing and unenjoyable to listen to, with the strange and alien way that Hudgens uses her voice. Some have catchy choruses, but the chorus does not make up the song. (Check out Avril Lavigne's "When you're gone.")
These songs include: "First Bad Habit," "Hook it up," "Don't ask why," "Amazed," "Last Night," and "Party on the Moon."
Other songs like "Gone with the wind" and "Sneakernight" get very irritating after a while. As a younger teen, which is the target audience, nearly all the people at my school scorn Vanessa hudgens and do not like her.

The only real thing that saved this album from 1 star is that the lyrics are some-what well written, and the background vocals aren't that bad. but seriously, Vanessa Hudgens needs to take voice advice from other singers like Natalie Horler (singer of band Cascada) for catchy tunes, Carrie Underwood to widen vocal talent, Avril Lavigne for plain old fantastic and popular music, and/or Ashley Tisdale for good lyrics. It wouldn't hurt to listen to Hilary Duff and Ashlee Simpson, either. They are both natural sounding, and all of the other mentioned singers have both catchy choruses, as well as catchy verses.

I'm sure this could be good if you had made this download available to customers living OUTSIDE the United States as well as American citizens... I really hope this album will be available (as a download) in Scandinavia - Denmark, Sweden and Norway as well as other European countries

Vanessa may not have a powerhouse set of pipes(yet) but she makes do with what she has with this album(well as good as you can get considering the fact that Hollywood records places too many restrictions on her song selection because of both Vanessa's and Hollywood record's association with Disney). I think Identified is a great follow up to her debut album V but unfortunately for her, Identified may not sell as well as V did because of the dent her scandal made to her image(and because Hollywood Records is doing a horrible job in promoting this album).

As for the CD itself, Identified doesn't really identify Vanessa as an artist as the title suggests but it is rather a well organized mix of Dance, Electronic, R&B, Jazz and Pop. Some songs like her first single Sneakernight and Did It Ever Cross Your Mind have to grow on you, others are quite solid: Identified, Amazed, and Don't Leave. While other songs like Hook It up, First Bad Habit and Party on the Moon, may not showcase her vocals as well, are great catchy dance songs. It is clear however that her strengths for the moment lie with ballads like Papercut and Don't Ask Why(she should definitely consider more and longer ballads for her 3rd album). However, Last Night and Gone With the Wind are the two most important songs of her album because it shows a glimpse of where Vanessa MIGHT go as an artist(in the foot steps of Christina Aguilara, however she will need help getting there seeing as her vocals aren't quite there yet). Vulnerable, is one of the three bonus songs she's released and is actually quite good; perhaps if she would've managed this album a little bit differently she could've have a hit with this song, however as the song stands it is just a great addition to the album. Set it Off and Committed are her other 2 bonus songs.

As a whole the album serves it purpose, which is to transition Miss Hudgens current tween fans to a more mature selection of music which makes sense because her fans will eventually grow up. 4.5 stars out of 5 in the Teen Pop Category

On a side note I must confess that in general I live in horror of the music Disney Stars tend to release because lets face people, whether you admit or not the only reason they are successful is because Disney had already made them popular with some sort of TV show or character that created a brainwashed cult of kids who are willing to bawl their eyes out to get their parents to buy them crappy music(I'm sorry Miley Cyrus, Hilary Duff, Selena Gomez, Demi Lavato and to an extent Jonas Brothers, etc., etc., you guys all seem like wonderful people in real life but you just can't sing no matter how hard you try. Have you listened to Miley Cyrus, the poor girl sounds like a train wreck with a cold and ten times worse when she sings live without lip-singing.). However I must say Vanessa Hudgens(Tisdale too, and to a far extent Bleu) surprised me, she can actually sing, she has talent and it can take her beyond HSM. Unfortunately Disney(under the deceiving name of Hollywood Records) is ruining her career by restricting her music to PG to appease the kiddies who shouldn't even be listening to this type music at their age. Hopefully she wises up and ditches Hollywood Records(and Disney along with them)and signs with a record label that will help her develop as an artist.