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56 of 60 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
OK Debut from a Super Talent, October 4, 2008
This cd is difficult to review. I made sure I listened to it many times before writing this. I am a huge Jennifer Hudson fan and don't necessarily agree that she so much had to prove she could sing with this cd as show she could be a competitive cohesive artist. We all know she can sing. American idol and DREAMGIRLS showed us that. (And we are reminded with the inclusion of AND I'M TELLING YOU I'M NOT GOING here.)
Studios and producers can take a person with minimal talent and produce a very appealing cd that showcases them well. Here we have a singer with amazing pipes and range who can carry an album by those qualities alone and what do we get? Total overproduction and songs that are just not up to the caliber she deserves.
The cd opens very promisingly with the single SPOTLIGHT with strong and emotive vocals. Then IF THIS ISN'T LOVE comes on and the quality of song definitely diminishes. It's very generic but Jennifer does get to show her strong vocals at the end. POCKETBOOK with Ludacris is just silly and WHAT'S WRONG(GO AWAY) with T-Pain is ridiculous. So unecessary and just does not work. The static effect used with T-Pain is irritating and Jennifer merely floats through. GIVING MYSELF is the first ballad and it is ok. The song quality just doesn't cut it though and it works adequately.
Halfway through the cd starts to come into its own. YOU PULLED ME THOUGH is a better soulful ballad and Jennifer again gets to showcase those pipes. She soars range wise and emotively in the duet with Fantasia I'M HIS ONLY WOMAN and CAN'T STOP THE RAIN and WE GON' FIGHT are both priceless - highlights of the cd. She soars on both and showcase her amazing abilities as an artist. Then INVISIBLE comes and it does just that. It's a rather forgetful song. Including AND I'M TELLING YOU doesn't really fit - it merely shows what Jennifer is capable of with the right material. Even the final gospel track is ok - excellent vocal performance of an adequate song.
I wish this had been so much more. Clive Davis gets so much credit for his talent but his producing skills here get a very low grade. He was given pure raw talent and he surrounded her with nonsense. Never are Jennifer Hudsons vocals not supreme and heavenly. This just won't be the cd to start the true music career she deserves and is capable of having. There are not enough songs here to be singles and the set lacks any true continuity. Noit to say I can't enjoy it. I really do for I just love Jennifer Hudson's voice and abilities. I just can't help but wish she had been dealt a better hand. Till the next cd I will enjoy this one. SPOTLIGHT, CAN'T STOP THE RAIN, WE GON' FIGHT and a few others will carry me through.
This 3 star review is certainly not a judgement of the talents of Jennifer Hudson. Those would receive a 5+, but rather an honest review of the material on the cd. I do recommend purchasing it. It is enjoyable and she will become a legendary talent in time. Enjoy this in the meantime.
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35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Review of 'Jennifer Hudson', September 30, 2008
Jennifer Hudson's cd is finally here and of course the question is was it worth the wait and hype? I can say yes for the most part. 'Jennifer Hudson' offers songs that fit this woman's voice - there are no odd selections that will leave you scratching your head or have her reaching far out of her genre. Most of the songs showcase her vocal range with her hitting notes and doing runs that will have you on your feet and applauding in the privacy of your home or car. Is it perfect? Of course not, there are a few things that make it a bit drab and predictable but the good points outweigh the weaknesses and flaws.
The Good: The variety of the songs is the strength of the album. There's variety BUT her voice is never 'off' or subdued. In each song or within each style, the producers and the artist both find ways to keep things interesting and fresh. Unlike many artists, you can tell Hudson actually connected with the music and lyrics, which results in some really moving songs and fun moments. Stand-out tracks for me is the Beyoncé-esque 'If This Isn't Love' which is Hudson at her best in this pop ballad. 'Pocketbook' is also a winner with Hudson bringing out her sassy-edge that makes her endearing. Other tracks that left an impression were 'We Gon' Fight,' and 'Invisible' which contain lyrics many can relate to on some level.
The Bad: A lot of the mid-tempo or slower songs simply blend into one another. While her voice is always on spot, these songs just seem a bit boring because they sound similar. I would have liked to have heard her experiment and take a few more chances as she does on the song 'Pocketbook' but still, these seem a bit too safe and expected or predictable. While I can understand the inclusion of her song 'All Dressed In Love' from Sex and the City: The Movie, I feel like everyone in the world has heard the Dreamgirls track 'And I'm Telling You' and would have rather seen a new track entirely or a remix of the song.
A little dull and unbalanced in parts but in all, it's a good debut album that doesn't seem to be getting the 'spotlight' attention I think it should be. Check it out, you probably won't be let down.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
I Expected Much More From Jennifer, October 2, 2008
I purchased the new Jennifer Hudson CD, and am not feeling it. Maybe it
will grow on me, but right now it seems like Clive Davis used the same
formula he employed on Fantasia's debut a few years ago. There are a FEW
nice songs, but I expected so much more. The BEST song on 'Jennifer Hudson' is titled 'Stand Up', which is only available on CDs sold @ Target. 'Spolight' is nice, and I skip over the songs featuring T-Pain & Ludacris....CRAP!! The song with Fantasia....nice idea, but I heard it all before! 'And I'm Telling You...' is great, but WHY is it on this CD ??? 'Leaving Tonight' by Ne-Yo & Jennifer would've been a better choice (I remastered the CD and included it....HA!). All n all, 'Jennifer Hudson' sounds like producer driven crap that floods urban & pop radio for the most part, while there are tracks that aren't well suited to Hudson's voice. Personally, I think this CD was a bad attempt to reach every possible demographic. Bad move Jennifer...next time, insist on recording a CD with more 'focus'!! Too bad today's legitimate artists (like Ms.Hudson) aren't allowed to show integrity on CDs while obvious attempts at getting 'hits' takes center stage. Oh well, let's see how the upcoming Re-Release of 'Jennifer Hudson' fares....you KNOW Arista is gonna add some extra tracks next time for more loot! Seriously...;~)
In closing, this could've been in the same league of CLASSIC debuts by Whitney, Mariah and Toni, but this effort isn't even close!
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