Mixed reviews on new Ciara album
Published Dec. 8, 2006
On R&B star Ciara's second album, The Evolution, the singer focuses on self-discovery. We decided to "discover" the album by playing selections for audiences in different settings and chronicling their responses.
Location: 10:34 p.m., Tuesday, Stafford Hall, First Floor Lounge
Track Played: "That's Right," the album's opening track, featuring Lil Jon.
Observations: The tiny lounge was packed with a dozen students. Once the simple, but resounding, beat was met with Lil Jon's chant of "I bet you gon' get CRUNK!" an impromptu dance party took place. Shoulders shook and heads swiveled while subjects both popped and locked.
But for all its momentum, "That's Right" becomes repetitive and succumbs to an obnoxious synth riff a little less than halfway through. Subjects quickly returned to their prior activities.
Location: 1:42 p.m., Wednesday, Maude Vintage
Track Played: "C.R.U.S.H."
Observations: Since it was a slow business day, the store was sparsely populated with a few younger members of Columbia's hipster-elite perusing the racks. When the track's combination of futuristic and mildly Latin-inspired percussion and Ciara's smooth R&B voiceover began to resonate, it was first met with scornful headshakes. But the catchy track began to grow on the subjects, leading to some head-bopping and side-to-side stepping. Fuller harmonies and a more mature vocal sound could lead one to argue that an "evolution" had taken place.
Location: 1:53 p.m., Wednesday, outside Quinton's Bar & Deli, downtown Columbia
Track Played: "Can't Leave 'Em Alone," featuring 50 Cent
Observations: Despite the recent bad weather, downtown Columbia still saw traffic from shuffling businesspeople and students. This location is the domain of an elderly gentleman who calls himself the "Music Man" and plays his stereo for passersby to hear. The Music Man seemed to enjoy the track the most, dancing to its '80s-evoking beat and keyboard riff. Younger subjects smiled and began to dance a little upon hearing the chorus. But subjects lost interest once 50 Cent's uninspired rap interlude took over.
Location: 2 p.m., Wednesday, outside Starbucks Coffee, downtown Columbia
Track Played: "Get in, Fit In"
Observations: The crowded coffee shop was packed with students and businesspeople on break. Upon hearing the track's driving beat, the graduate students outside even danced a little in their chairs. One girl began singing joyfully to the "da, da, da-da" refrain. One burly-looking man started strutting to the beat. This song, which had appeared to be a "throwaway track," was actually one of the best received.
Location: 2:15 p.m., Wednesday, Speaker's Circle
Track Played: "Promise" (the album's first single)
Observations: A crowd of bundled-up students and faculty rushing to and from classes passed through Speaker's Circle. Upon hearing the song, a few subjects began walking in the other direction. Subjects often picked up their pace, even breaking into a run. The overproduction and cookie-cutter R&B vocals — "I'm looking for somebody I can call boo/ Looking for the only one I can give my all to" — lead to an overall messy song from an epic slow jam.
Ciara's new album is hardly an "evolution." It's repetitious and generic, but it does have a few great moments. Ironically, Ciara shines most on the album's "throwaway" tracks, which aren't evolutionary, but are good enough for a dance party.