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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ultra's the Only Drug for me!, June 6, 2007
Yes, and like a drug, I'm addicted to her music, especially this latest release! Truthfully I was worried that this project was going to be shelved- because it's been delayed for the last three years and no signs of progress, until late 2006 when we started seeing Love's the Only Drug and Automatic come out. And of course that's when she started a MySpace and we've been getting regular updates from that.
About the album, this is her most club ready album she's had in years. The former two albums were more eclectic and had tracks outside the dance genre. Grime Silk and Thunder is all dance music, but encompasses different subgenres within- house, soul, pop, electro, slow beats, fast beats, etc.
Starts off with 'Loosely Based On' which is more of a long intro track in my opinion with few vocals, but then follows with the good stuff. Chock-full of superb songwriting, addicting instrumentals/production, and a ravishing set of photos/artwork are what this album is all about.
Fave tracks are Automatic, Freak On, Love's the Only Drug and all tracks 10 thru 14- these are the first I usually play. The rest are great, too.
Dance music lovers, 2007 is your year. Buy this today and support this artist. She's MY American Idol and has proven it by staying authentic and revolutionary! She's been in the game more than 17 years, and is still on top of it!! Looking great as ever too.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Tonight I may condone it", July 2, 2007
Only her fifth album in a 17-year career, Baltimore's Ultra Naté has never been in a hurry to put out material, and especially not clichéd R&B or by-the-numbers dance music (even if her upcoming high-octane cover of the Pointer Sisters' Automatic may have the whiff of an album-promoting sop to the mainstream about it, it's still a lot of fun - especially its campy, soft-porn video. But then I live in Europe, where censorship tends to concentrate more on violence).
I'm a bit biased, as Ultra has, for me, the most pleasing vocal on earth and I'd probably have snapped up each new release if they'd featured her singing the phonebook, or even Rod Stewart-style sell-out schmaltzfests, but I'd say Grime, Silk, Thunder is a welcome addition to her solid, high-quality output to date.
One thing you can say about this smokily-voiced chanteuse is that she's never been afraid to plow her own furrow, tackling a variety of musical styles, and maybe this is why so many impressively talented musicians have queued up to work with her over the years (D-Influence, Stonebridge, Nellee Hooper, Blaze, Dajae, Full Intention, Eric Kupper, Mood II Swing, N'Dea Davenport, etc etc).
I'd heard this was to be Ultra's "dancefloor album" (in the same way Madonna's last effort was hers), but, in common with each release from One Woman's Insanity onwards, she wraps her ever-maturing voice around a number of different moods - from the Philly-sounding Getaway (soaring guest vocals from Dajae) to Giorgio Moroder-style retro-disco in Love's the Only Drug. But her always compelling phrasing makes the slower, jazzy Feel Love the stand-out track for me, and its cleverly simple, positive existential lyric hooks you in. If you've heard club remixes by the likes of Liquid People, they don't really compare to the much deeper original featured here - it hits the kind of heights I'd hoped for from MAW's Nuyorican Soul project, but - like I said - DEEPER. Not so sure about the Sly and Robbie-style toasting on Slow Grind, but at least she tries it out. Star (It's Showtime) and Lethal Shot aren't really working for me so far, either, but maybe they'll grow on me, as it sometimes takes me a while to "get" Ultra's songs. But with the right remixes, Star could be massive, alright.
So, Ultra's not resting on her laurels (and I can't wait to hear her perfrom live again, next time she's in London), but she does tip a nod to her initial club hits, with a terrific re-working of early single Scandal, which stays true to the spirit of the Basement Boys-produced original, as well as a souped-up, extended cover of her underground deep house smash It's Over Now.
In fact, the inclusion of these, along with Automatic, last year's club hit Love's The Only Drug and dancefloor anthem Freak On may make some fans feel over-familiar with it already, but hopefully it'll help her notch up some well-deserved sales.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"STAR" It's Showtime, June 9, 2007
Ultra Nate is one of the best dance artist around....Who stays true to her dance roots. Grime, Silk & Thunder will not disapoint true dance fans. Also, Ms. Nate can carry a tune. I'm hoping more dance artist will follow her lead. We need more diversity in music. Support Ultra Nate and dance music and Feel Love. This cd rates more than 5 stars.
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is Ultra Naté's 
