Customer Reviews

Relationships

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It's been five years since Vesta's last release, "Everything and More," and she's apparently put the time to good use. Not only has she shed a good 100 pounds at least (the sultry picture inside the booklet of her lying on a bed in a negligee is quite an eye-opener for those of us who were fans back when she was the size of Chaka Khan) but she's retooled her overall sound to a near-perfect adult pop/soul/jazz collage. And her fans have every reason to be happy about it.

Vesta's albums have always been enjoyable, but they've also always been a little too in the moment...her ballads were great but the uptempo numbers followed whatever trends were dominant in R&B at the time, making the albums a bit dated down the line. Thankfully, "Relationships" has no such problem. The tone here is mature and sophisticated; this album is one for the adult R&B fans (thank God someone remembered we still exist!).

"Somebody for Me" and "Can You Feel Me" are smooth, polished numbers waiting for radio, "Like Today" and "Just Fine" are gorgeous modern jazz/soul pieces, helped by the production and co-writing of Lee Ritenour. And "I Have To" is a slow-swinging, supper-club jazz number, an instant jazz/soul classic along the lines of Anita Baker's "Been So Long." But don't think she's afraid to get a little funky..."For Old Times Sake" and "Who" are pulsating midtempo numbers, and the album's closer, "All Because I'm Free," is a finger-popping gem that matches a funky upright bass with a psychedelic, vibrating Rhodes keyboard and a flawless vocal to create one of the album's very best cuts.

After years of great singles and good albums, it's great to see Vesta evolve into a mature soul artist not afraid to take her own, jazzy path. We fans are richer for having shared the journey.

vesta williams is back, after a five-year hiatus, with a new album that showcases a more mature and sultry version of the diva than some of her fans may be used to. songs like "i'll be alright" and "somebody for me" seem more personal than her earlier work...almost as if the listener has become privy to the intimate thoughts running through the soulstresses mind. meanwhile, a stronger jazz influence on songs like "i have to" and the stevie wonder-penned "you and i" combine williams' chaka-like vocals with dianne reeves-like riffs that may finally earn her the recognition that she deserves. meanwhile, "who" let's us know that vesta hasn't lost her street credibility and may even draw in the aaliyah/nicole crowd, if they know what's good for them. here's hoping that it won't be another five years before we're treated to another sampling of this diva's talent but, if it is, we know it will be well worth the wait.

Vesta, if you by chance read this, your cd is great. Listeners I highly recommend this cd. It is so good. I can not stop listening to it. Vesta should be dominating the radio waves right now. Not to diss hip hop artists but with a voice like this, why can't Vesta being experience some of the success the hip hop artist are experiencing...there's room at the top for everyone.....

I was browsing reviews, and I just had to say something... This CD is Vesta's best to date, most consistent... etc etc etc!!! After hopping between sounds for awhile, she seems to have found her niche... Like someone else said, generally her ballads are strongest, but when she gets to the uptempo numbers, it just doesnt fit her... Here, she keeps it jazzy midtempo, and ballad driven...

The lyrical content here is so personal... clearly she just got out of a relationship... and she details all the emotions one goes thru from the mistreatment... the breakup... the loneliness, to hopes of reconciliation, to ultimately getting over it and getting on with her life...

Unfortunately this CD didnt get the exposure it should have, but this is a great piece of work for jazz and r&b fans...

OK, i loved every song on this cd, and recall the nice video for the one song. I always thought she had a great voice, and this CD shows her talnet. I know she is gone on to be with the lord, and we will miss her! Much love to her family, and her church family (that would include me).

though this album wasn't seeing her earlier work, but it had some moments. she was still something else vocally and one of the most underrated vocalist Ever to me. she truly had soul and feeling when put her all into a song. i remember when she backed up chaka khan and was somewhat in her shadow on the artistic side for a minute, but believe me Vesta Williams after some good material and her strong vocal presentation carved out her own spot and place. she never got her due, but she stayed in her lane and did her thing and I always dug her talent and she was cool People. RIP and her music was always cool and to the real.

I like this relaese the best of all...its got so much soul with a hint of Jazz..Vesta sizzles on this realese from start tio finish.

U just put it on and let it play there is no need to skip any tracks.....lets have many more Vesta........its HOT...

True...the results are a bit mixed. There's no question that Vesta is a superior singer. Her attempts to sing uptempo material are her downfall. Had she been a recording artist in the golden age of Disco, she's have been a major star. But drum machine, hip-hop-style, up-tempo tracks do not suit her. Happily, this album is mainly a ballad-heavy set. The opening number is a frightening mess,-an uptempo dissapointment. But it passes quickly and the remainder of the album is a heavenly surprise. Two of the tracks sound like instant classics. Seek these numbers out, and judge them on their own merits: "Just Because I'm Free" and the thrilling "I Have To". These two tracks alone are worth the cost of the entire album. As a fan of Vesta since her first album, it's my opinion that this is her best so far, and I hope to see her continue to inch closer and closer to recording the perfect album.

This is my first "taste" of Vesta. As someone who really enjoys a female vocalist that can ACTUALLY sing (no Brandys , please), I was looking forward to this album. Unfortunately, I was left disappointed. First of all, she does have a great voice, but she fails in the delivery of those lyrics. Instead on letting the song flow then build to a cresendo, I felt like I was on a rollercoster ride, with constant highs and lows at almost every turn. I expected a much more polished delivery from someone with the experience of Ms. Williams. Also, her material was just plain weak. It did nothing to showcase the vocal range of the singer. I kept saying to myself "insert diva of the week and this song would still have the same impact, none." It takes a good producer to select appropriate material for any singer, then surround that singer with quality talent. Again, the producer failed to deliver in this area. Finally, the audio quality of the first track was noticibly better than on the rest of the disc. What happened? These are tough times for those of us who still appreciate quality singers, especially female. With a good producer and some material suited to her voice, Vesta may finally get the respect that she deserves and evolve from the diamond in the rough that she is now.

$2,000 .....BookGroveMedia

Are you for real...... to see someone try to profit over someone's death...... it is the ultimate disrespect to MISS VESTA WILLIAMS ....you should be ashamed of yourself. I'll remember that sellers name and will never order from you.