Customer Reviews

Martika's Kitchen

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the most amazing pop album by one of the best pop artists to come into the music scene. The follow up to her smash debut is riveting, fun, exciting, romantic, and much more. Starting off with the funk Martika's Kitches the album starts off with a bang and does not stop. Next is Spirit-the best track on the album written by Prince. It is so engaging and build and builds to a climatic ending that will leave you breathless. Other fantastic dance tracks include the sultry Don't Say U Love Me and Temptation. The ballads are also worth taking a listen too. Martika shines on the gorgeous Take Me to Forever and the stunning Safe in the Arms of Love. Other noteworthy tracks are Pride and Prejudice and the sweet and enjoyable Coloured Kisses. Martika is a true talent that has not gotten the recognition she deserved. A must for pop music fans. Even if you have not heard any of these songs before you should still have it in your collection. Also included Love... Thy Will Be Done, the gospel tinged ballad co written by Prince.

Martika / Martika's Kitchen
Label: Columbia
Year: 1991
Track Title
1. Martika's Kitchen
2. Spirit
3. Love...Thy Will Be Done
4. A Magical Place
5. Coloured Kisses
6. Safe In The Arms Of Love
7. Pride & Prejudice
8. Take Me To Forever
9. Temptation
10. Don't Say U Love Me
11. Broken Heart
12. Mi Tierra

This album takes me back to my university days. I loved it when Martika was riding the charts with hits like "Toy Soldiers", "More Than You Know", "I Feel The Earth Move" and "Water". When she came out with her sophomore release "Martika's Kitchen" in 1991, I was thrilled. The first single, "Love...Thy Will Be Done" was an instant smash and many were surprised to know that she collaborated with Prince on this hit.

The rest of the album is just as good, if not better. The title track, "Spirit" and "Don't Say U Love Me" are the other collaborations with Prince that are just slammin'! My personal favourites are "Pride and Prejudice", "Safe In The Arms Of Love" and "Take Me To Forever". The whole album is solid and every track has/had single potential.

I was surprised to hear that Sony Music dropped Martika from the label after this album. After all, she'd only released two albums. I knew then and still believe now that we'll hear from Martika in the future. Apparently, she sings lead for a rock band named Oppera. I checked out some samples of their songs and wasn't too impressed but then again, I haven't really given their music a chance. Nonetheless, I still enjoy listening to this album. The music is timeless to me.

Length:: 0:29 Mins

Produced by Prince, this album found Martika breaking away from her previous teen pop bubblegum trend. This album aimed for something a bit more adult, a bit more raw and a bit more cultured and spiritual, and it succeded.

"Martika's Kitchen" pulses with sexual hunger and willingness to fulfill erotic desires. "Love... Thy Will Be Done" is a beautiful prayer song about sexual healing with some from the soul lyrics and lush and sexually climaxing musical backdrop. "Take Me To Forever" is a very deep song about loneliness, rejection and suicidal thoughts- not in the ridiculous Papa Roach style, but really contemplative and subtlely artistic. "Pride and Prejudice" is another lush and thoughtful song, about forbidden love and societies prejudices. And "Broken Heart" is a very moving and optimistic song about teenage preganacy and single motherhood, and the struggle and the hope. Truly inspired lyrics! Throughout Prince's funky and picturesque production and Martika's spiritual and escapist lyrics make this a sure masterpiece of Teen pop.

I REALLY MISS MARTIKAS MUSIC, IT IS SO FINE AND ROMANTIC.MARTIKA YOU DID GREAT WORK (EVEN IF I JUST KNOW 2 ALBUMS THEY ARE LOVELY).

Virtually unlistenable in this day and age, I was quite surprised at how horribly Martika's second album had aged, as compared to her debut CD from 1990. While the debut album had its moments of cheesy synthesizer pop, try listening to it today and you'll find that the tunes just shine. And it did contain "Toy Soldiers", admittedly a seminal anthem for those of us who were teens in the 1990s.

First hearing this albums' title track (and also first single) I remember being quite interested in the actual CD release. Ironically, it took about another year before I could get my hands on it, and at the time it had a fairly decent amount of airplay in my home. Still, there was no real catchy single here other than "Martika's Kitchen" itself, and one can easily choose her debut over this anyday.

"Love Thy Will be Done" is a beautiful, stripped and organic love ballad that shows off Martika's solid vocals (this woman could actually sing!). A huge hit on college radio, this should have been her second No. 1 single but wasn't. However, despite this songs' obvious beauty, it didn't quite get a hold of me like anything off her debut did, and this is probably why I lost my copy of this album over the years and never felt like I'd missed much.

Cut to 2007, when I finally manage to track down a copy of this online. Listening to this now, the Prince connection is less obvious than I had previously thought. "Spirit" and the instrumentation soaked "A Magical Place" are prime examples of everything that is mediocre about this album. Martika's usually beautiful voice are drowned out here, and the tunes themselves are very weak and insipid. Indeed, one of Martika's more authentic tunes, where she pays homage to Cuba - on "Mi Tierra" - is a total waste of time. This could have been a poignant and melodious tribute (such as Gloria Estefan's track of the same name), but instead is dull, lifeless and unlistenable.

"Pride and Prejudice", a song that actually has a good tune, is ruined by some awful production. In all fairness, and I've sat through this twice now, the only `great' song here is the title track (try finding its' very funky video), and to a lesser extent, the single "Love thy Will be Done". Granted there is a huge fanbase for Martika in cultville, but despite being a fan of her voice, I must admit that this is not the album she should have made. It's the equivalent of Mariah Carey's sad "Charmbracelet", where everything seems to work, but you'd never really want to replay the CD ever.

Martika would return in the 2000s with the goth-pop band Oppera, but her masterwork will always remain her special 1990 debut CD. You might want to pick up "Toy Soldiers : The Best of Martika" for a comprehensive overview of her work. It's a budget compilation, but if you're new to Martika, that's the best place to start.

Three Stars.

Having really listen to this album yet. I like her toy soldiers album though.

This album is amazing and it is a shame that it wasn't a big hit. I love every song on this album, especially "Pride & Prejudice." The meaning of the song is what lures me in, but her VOICE on this track is killer. During the line (climax) "sticks and stones may break bones, but the fire, the fire will burn us down!" she goes ultra-high, then growls down to to a startling finish that is truly sung from the heart. Passionate. The entire album is a gem. The ballads are breathtaking and the writing is amazing. WHERE IS MARTIKA TODAY?!