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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Don't be fooled...this album is great., May 17, 2007
Natasha Bedingfield is back! Following the worldwide success of her debut album Unwritten, she is back with a new album titled N.B.
The album opens with the acoustic-funk pop track called "How Do You Do", this album's version of her hit song from her last album, "Single". The great chords and powerful vocals from Natasha make this one a surefire hit. The next song is already a hit, that being "I Wanna Have Your Babies", which has reached Top 20 in the UK, is the quirky kind of pop track Natasha is notable for. The album's most heart-wrenching ballad is track #3, "Soulmate". Rumored to be the next single, this song is like "I Bruise Easily" part two, only not much like the latter. The chords and melody of the song make it beautiful, and Tash's deliverance on the track is A+. "Who Knows", "Say it Again", and "Pirate Bones" all follow (in that order), and all are a little something different from her. Keeping the album fresh is what keeps the artist in the spotlight, and Tash has proved she can do that.
Next up is "Backyard", a song about the simplicity of childhood and wanting to hark back to those times of "cowboy hats and tutus". The track "Tricky Angel", one of my favorites, is next. This is a soulful pop song with a bit of an edge, and Natasha serves it up fresh on this one as well. On the subject of soulful, next is "When You Know You Know", a pure soulful upbeat ballad about love today. Following that amazing song is the interlude "I Think They're Thinking". "(No More) What Ifs" has haunting strings and pianos, making the song something different in a good way. Rapper Eve is featured on the track, and her verse is amazing. "Not Givin' Up" is a dance-style track that is easily one of my favorites from it. The song mixes pop and rock into dance production, making it a great listen. "Still Here" and "Smell the Roses", both ballads (the former more than the latter), close the album greatly and leave the album in a way that makes you wonder what will come out of Natasha's creative (albeit quirky) mind.
This album is great and I highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Even better than "Pocketful of Sunshine", January 12, 2009
This may be stated elsewhere here, but this is Natasha Bedingfield's *real* second album, which never received a U.S. release. Instead, it was held back when the first single, "I Want to Have Your Babies" was so completely misunderstood here. (Don't people actually listen to songs anymore?) Some of the songs from "N.B." were rescued and then combined with new songs for the U.S. release "Pocketful of Sunshine." (The songs that ended up on both releases are identical, not different edits or mixes.)
Okay: I've listened to both versions a lot -- I'm a fan -- and, in my opinion, "N.B." is the more solid release. Not to disparage "PoS" in any way; I just think "N.B." holds together better from a stylistic standpoint and that, perhaps, it may have a stronger mix of songs overall. (I like "Put Your Arms Around Me" o.k., but I think "How Do You Do?" is a much stronger opener.) The songs that only appear on "PoS" tend to have a much more hip-hop/R&B vibe (to varying degress) than the "N.B." tracks, which, in my opinion, makes the new "PoS" songs feel like they don't quite fit the album.
I guess, in the end, "N.B." feels like Natasha Bedingfield's cohesive vision for what her second album should be, and I really like what she came up with. There is a lot of great material here. By contrast, "Pocketful of Sunshine" feels a bit like a compromise: some of her "N.B." faves, along with songs that will, supposedly, appeal better to distracted American listeners.
"Sunshine" is, of course, still Bedingfield. After all, even the phrase "pocketful of sunshine" seems to sum up her uniquely inspiring outlook. But "N.B." sounds a bit braver and more personal. And I prefer that.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
In a world filled with pretty girls........., July 30, 2008
....who try to sing, whose words you either can't understand, or wish you couldn't, Natasha is a breath of fresh air. A total joy. Sexy does NOT mean trashy; Natasha is sexy, clean, and a treasure. She comes from a background in Christian music, and the lessons have stuck....
This is [sort of] the Brit version of "Pocketful of Sunshine"...each album has songs the other doesn't. My own favorites are "I Wanna Have Your Babies" [yes, it's perfectly clean], "Soulmate" and the reprise of "Unwritten". Most of the songs are about relationships, but none of the problems are TOO bad. "Tricky Angel" is really novel, "Backyard" is catchy, and "Smell the Roses" is special, with a great message....
This is a wonderful record...pleasant, clear, voice...lyrics that never offend...rock, but not hard. If you don't know Natasha, you're missing out.....
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