♫ ALBUM REVIEW: CIARA - FANTASY RIDE ♫
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
After a couple of failed singles, it took a little while for Ciara to really get the ball rolling on her third studio album, Fantasy Ride. But she’s past all the push backs the album is finally in stores this week.
When Ciara first started to talk about the new album, Fantasy Ride was set to be a 3-disc set, conceptualized around three very different cities: “Crunktown,” “Groove City” and “Kingdom of Dance.” The three discs would contain 5-6 songs, with each city reflecting a different facet of Ciara’s music. The first bit of material to leak from the album was a snippet of the Tricky & Dream-assisted “High Price.” Mixed reviews began to flurry around the blogosphere, and it seemed as though the conceptual album that Ciara had once announced had been scrapped. Then came and went the “buzz” single, which introduced Ciara’s superhero alter ego, Super C. “♫ Go Girl,” featuring T-Pain, was a critical flop. Even with it’s sexy, high-profile video, “Go Girl” could not give Fantasy Ride the push Ciara wanted to get a solid release date. And with all the leaked material, it seemed that Ciara’s project was to get an ill fate: shelved.
But things started to look up after Ciara went back to the drawing board with Polow Da Don for the new single, “Never Ever.” With a solid feature from Young Jeezy, the song started to pick up radio play after the release of it’s video, which found Ciara doing what we loved: dancing. And soon after, she followed up with the Justin Timberlake penned track, “Love Sex Magic,” which sounded like leftovers from his FutureSex/LoveSounds album, but shot up the charts and had blogs buzzing over it’s uber-sexuality and all most not-safe-for-work-ness. Fantasy Ride was a go.
When the full album leaked last week, some were a little disappointed that the majority of the album could already be found online some time before the album’s actual release date, but for the most part, fans seem to think that the album was well worth the wait. The album is a flurry of mid and uptempo tracks that don’t necessarily flex Ciara’s vocal muscle, but definitely throw her moreso into the pop arena without alienating the fans she gained with her R&B sound.
Fantasy Ride contains productions from some of the games biggest hitmakers, including Nate “Danjahandz” Hill, Tricky Stewart and The Dream, as well as Polow Da Don, Ne-Yo and Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins. It also has a host of features, with cameos from Chris Brown, Missy Elliott, Young Jeezy and Ludacris. The production and some of the writing are the brightest points of the album. The material that was chosen suits her.
Ciara shines brightest on the album’s opening track, “Ciara to the Stage” (which leaked last year as “Explode”), “Like A Surgeon,” the mid-tempo synth ballad, “Tell Me What Your Name Is,” the eerie and daring “I Don’t Remember,” and the pulsating “I’m On.”
118 Comments
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76.
richie
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
the evolution come on the only hot song on there was like a boy the rest was about break up and relationship!! promise and thats right but thats it.
77.
Khalil
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
I had the CD since last week (yes its the real copy from a real music store). GREAT ALBUM. Its different and I like the mix of Pop and R&B! She has done well and it was well worth the wait. My favorites right now is “Like A Surgeon”, “Ciara to the Stage”, “Love Sex and Magic”, “Turntables”. “Echo”, “Tell Me What Your Name Is” and “Work”. Yo I love the whole album 10 stars for Ciara! The hood got you ma!
78.
young a
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
my hopes to see videos for are “Work”, “Like A Surgeon”, “Pucker Up”, “High Price”. Any of these would take my mind on a further fantasy ride, what wudd u guys like to see?
79.
POBOI
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
This will flop…she’s taken too long and made too many folk in the industry angry with her blatant “jacks” of Beyonce’. It was clearly a response to “Boy”. Now, there’s a song “Tell Me What Your Name Is”? These lyrics are in “Video Phone” by Beyonce (”Shawy, what your name is?”).
It’s become ugly and slutty (Love, Sex, & Magic). I guess whatever it takes to try to make a dollar. Holla!
80.
lisa
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
THIS ALBUM IS BANGING, EVERY SONG ON THERE IS GOOD, YOU WILL BE ENTERTAIN, I RATHER BE ENTERTAINED THEN TO HAVE SOMEBODY JUST STAND AND SING AND BE BORING, SO KEEP ON GETTING CIARA, CAUSE KNOW BODY CAN DO IT BETTER THAN YOU IN THIS BIZ, PLEASE BELEIVE IT, THE ALBUM IN STORES TODAY MAY 5, 2009!
81.
Not a Fan of Her Music
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
You know what being an artist is about getting new fans with each cd and i must say never liked a ciara joint love sex magic never ever caught my attention and i must say i am previewing album now…lets see i get it 4.2/5 album is solid.. she has a lot of singles on this cd and trust me it has longevity you guys may not buy it now but trust me when she releases these cds will fly off singles.. besides that girl can perform and cant nobody take that from her… so i think she will do fine.. album def is not a flop if she does over 100k with all leaks and pushback girl is a star… she may pull a keri… and that girl is still pushing units.. so people who dont have open point of view should shut it.. i just dont understand bloggers ciara never tries to sing big ballads so why does her voice matters.. she has the voice she needs for her music.. lets face it she only 23 she aint going no where.. either love her or hate it… either way she is bound to blow up once or twice…
i will be purchasing her album.. first i ever purchased..this coming from a guy who bought janelle monae solange brandy raphael saadiq ryan leslie….(REAL MUSIC)
go buy chrisette TOO!!
82.
carl
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
I liked it. Not just cos I’m a fan but it was good, not better than Goodies though.
83.
peacekeeper
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
@78, please…just stop. Get Beyonce out your mouth. She is not the inventor of life.
My favorites are those listed above, including “I Remember” and “High Price”.
Like A Surgeons needs to be a single…like Now!
84.
S. Dot ANN
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
I know concreteloop is a Ciara supporter, so an album review is only proper. BUT, Chrisette Michele’s album also came out. So can yah’ll show a TALENTED vocalist some love too!?
85.
H-Town
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
“Like A Surgeon” is the only track I’m feeling.
86.
MUSiC LOVER
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
Her album is really good from my perspective,i think that the direction that she’s taking to making music is really good. i really disagree with some of the tracks like the one with missy and pucker up are not really songs that i think is her style but all in all i give it a 3.5/5
87.
Queen_Bee
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
GO AND COP THAT ALBUM 4REAL. ITS NOT WHAT PPL REALLY THINK IT IS. I BOUGHT 2…!!! ONE FOR MY NEW CAR..:) ~17 YEARS OLD~YAYYYY ME LOL AND ONE FOR MY ROOM
GO GET IT 5/5/09
IF YA DISAPPOINTED I WILL BY IT FROM YA.!!
88.
MikeyMikey312
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
What exactly is a Ciara vocal muscle?….Since when has whispering become considered as strength training?
89.
D_DUB
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
IF YALL ARE TRYING TO SAY CIARA IS TRYNA BE SASHA FIERCE @ 42 NIESHA..THEN IN THAT CASE THE WHOLE “SASHA FIRCE” THING IS A RIP_OFF OF CIARAS CAREER..HOW U SAY?..BECAUSE EVERY ALBUM NEYONCE HAS A CONCEPT OF SOME SORT..B4 HER CURRENT ALBUM DROPPED MISS BEYAKI WAS SAYING SHE WANTED TO COME THIS TIME WITH AN MORE HIP-HOP/URBAN ALBUM & WANTED TO DANCE AND PERFORM A BIT MORE..SHE KNEW CIARA WAS THE ONLY CHICK IN THE GAME LAYING IT DOWN WITH HARD ASS BEATS AND THE BEST DANCE MOVES(CIARA IS DEF BETER THAN JANET&BRITNEY&MADONNA HANDZ DOWN) SO WHAT DOES SHE DO..CREATE A DRAG QUEEN NAMED SASHA FIERCE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN BECMES ORIGINAL?..CMON SHE JUST DIDNT WANT PPL TO CALL HER A CIARA BITER BUT SHE IS..LOOK @ DIVA….. SINCE WHEN WAS BEYAKI HOOD?..SHE BASICALLY GREW UP IN THE INDUSTRY.. ATLEAST I CAN SAY CICI DIDG ROW UP IN THE STREETS OF ATLANTA
90.
D_DUB
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
IF YALL ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IM SAYING….BEYAKI CREATED SASHA FIRCRE CAUSE SHE WANTED TO BE A SINGER/DANCER THIS GO !…CIARA VIDEOS MUST HAD REALLY INSPIRED HER WHEN SHE WAS GOING AROUND STEALING CONCEPTS FROM HER LATEST ALBUM
I..
AM…
MARRIED TO A CAMEL FACE
91.
KNUCK
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
What yall fail to realize is that ciara hasn’t done a “crunk” album since “Goodies”… and even that was more R&B.. seems like she only had two crunk songs..
and This new album has the same balance of R&B, dance, and crunk that her last album had. Y’all need to just stfu and wait for Beyonce and Rihanna to come back with more boring gimmicks.
92.
Beyonce Fan!!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
@D_DUB
CICI WILL NEVER BE ON BEYONCE’S LVL NEVER THE ALBUM SUCKS AND THATS THATS… CICI HAS BEEN I THE GAME FOR FIVE YEARS NOW AND SHE IS STILL AN OPENING ACT LOL… ALL OF THE NEW GIRLS ARE RIDING OFF OF BEYONCE….
WHEN CICI FIRST CAME OUT SHE WAS NOT TRYING TO BE SEXY IN HER VIDEOS SAME GOES FOR RIHANNA
BEYONCE WAS ALWAYS SEXY IN HER VIDEOS WITH THE HEELS AND THE GLAM
CICI OR RIHANNA WAS NOT GLAM WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT NOW LOOK AT THEM TRYIN TO BEE SEXY IN HEELS
LETS SEE IF CICI HAS EVERYONE IN THE WORLD DOING ONE OF HER VIDEOS
BEYONCE DID A VIDEO WITH JUST TO OTHER GIRLS IN BLACK AND WHITE AND THE VIDEO IS HUGE WORLDWIDE AND ALL IN ONE TAKE
OH YEA WHAT HAPPEN TO “LOVE. SEX AND MAGIC” IT HIT NO.10 AND WENT SORRY…
93.
Beyonce Fan!!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
@D_DUB
SORRY SASHA WAS NAMED IN 2003 ON BEYONCE’S FIRST SOLO ALBUM U KNOW THE ONE THAT TOOK HOME 5 GRAMMYS IN ONE NITE CANT SAY THE SAME FOR CICI CAN WE LOL
94.
oh no
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
was a big ciara fan but she has gone down hill its too bad cause she use to be good, love sex magic only took off because of justin timberlake. the new cd is filled with songs that leaked over a year ago who wants to hear that shit. the evolution was better then this garbage.
95.
RicKcHulo
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
Ciara has proven herself to be a great performer and overall entertainer! Stop hating peeps!! If you don’t like it, don’t follow, but don’t talk your smack! She’s doing her thing and its her turn to shine brighter than ever! She delivered us her Fantasy Ride , jump on if your down to be risky , or stay off if you’re too scared. The album is complete from begining to end. It has a hot vibe from ballads, to dance, and up beat!
96.
Cest La Vie
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
Great album. It’s more pop and dance with a bit of R&B but def something you can move to.
Love it!
97.
Kaley
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
Ciara’s Fantasy Ride is crazy!! really dope tracks on there for everyone. and the album artwork is really nice and creative. the deluxe edition comes with behind the scenes stuff and 3 videos!! all the dancers out there….this is a must have!!!
98.
semeek
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
waste of my $9.99…NEXT.. about Maxwell’s album!!!!
99.
Ca08
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
IT’S FUNNY HOW MOST OF YALL DON’T LIKE IT OR THINK SHE CAN’T SING BUT YOU ARE COMMENTING ABOUT THE ALBUM. IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING THE ALBUM DON’T LISTEN TO IT. BEYONCE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS HER LAST ALBUM DIDN’T EVEN GET GOOD REVIEWS, SO PLEASE DON’T THROW HER IN THIS. I FIND IT INTERESTING THOUGH THAT MOST DON’T LIKE IT BUT KEEP COMING BACK COMMENTING. CICI DID A GOOD JOB WITH THIS ALBUM, THIS ALBUM HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. AND FOR THE LAST TIME SHE SAID SHE WASN’T NO CRUNK SINGER.
100.
Jazz
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
THE COVER LOOKS MAD WACK.
101.
Glamstar
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
Not buyin it! She lost me. Going to buy some REAL music!
102.
richie
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
how can u say ciara isnt real music but the stanky leg is!! thats y theses dollar signs follow her everywhere that she go.
103.
Sean
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
Fantasy Ride is a great album, start to finish. I’m glad she decided to compress it to just one disc because it has a better flow than if she broke it up into specific genres. This cover is a lot like Janet’s Discipline. You’re either going to hate it or love it. I happen to love it, though I’m iffy with the super hero theme.
Ignoring the theme entirely, the album is slick, fun and sexy. She really brings the fire on these songs. My favorites are:
Like A Surgeon
Tell Me What Your Name Is
High Price
Ciara To The Stage
Turntables
Keep Dancin On Me
LAS, TMWYNI, High Price & Turntables have to be singles! Good Luck C!
104.
Sherelle From England
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
CIARA THOUGHT SHE HAD MADE IT BIG TIME.. BOUT SHE WANTS 2 DO A 3 DISC CD UNO 2 SCRAP. THT PPL DONT WANNA HEAR 3 DISCS OF CIARA LOL
SHE IS SO BORING AND THT LOCE SEX AND KMAGIC SONG IS CRAP IN MY OPINION IM BORED OF HER AND SHE THINKS SHE IS TOO SEXY….WITH THE POSTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT UP OF HER RECENTLY U WUD THINK SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS ALMIGHTY IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS SHE AINT GOT IT 4 ME AND SHE AINT THT SPECIAL LOOKING!
BYE =]
105.
Ca08
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
@SHERELLE
CIARA NOT THAT SPECIAL TO YOU BUT YOU TOOK TIME OUT YOUR DAY TO COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU COULD HAVE KEPT PASSING. PPL CRACK ME UP WHEN THEY SAY COMMENTS LIKE YOURS CAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT’S GIVEN YOUR OPINON IT’S LIKE IF YOU NOT FEELING HER ANYMORE THEN SKIP HER POST. I DON’T LIKE A LOT OF ARTIST ANYMORE AND GUESS WHAT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW CAUSE I DON’T READ UP ON THEM ANYMORE.
106.
slydel
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
this is honestly one of the worst albums ive heard in a while!!!! there r like 3 good songs on there.. i love cici and all but…HELL NO!!!!!!!!!
107.
» CL EXCLUSIVE: CIARA INTERVIEW THIS WEEK; SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS // 'CONCRETELOOP.COM' - QUALITY NOT QUANTITY
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
[...] new album Fantasy Ride is in stores now and make sure to check out Brian’s album review on [...]
108.
Robert loves Ciara
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
Wow, I didn’t realize how much haters Ciara has. it is really sad that people who are not fans have to comment and bash Ciara and include Beyonce’s name in everything. I think this is Ciara’s best album so far. Although I was a little disappointed that most of the songs had already been heard, the album is still great. I think her next single should be High Price. Ciara is so talented she is a great performer and I wish people could see that. The album art is amazing and unique. As far as I know, No other female artist has done their album art like that, I love it. The music is pure dance music. This is Ciara’s time to shine.
109.
FantasyBoy
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
Helo this is bj from richmond i just wanted to know what happend to the three disk Crunk Town Groove City and Kingdon of dance and is she saving the three disk cd for her next album
110.
Tammy
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
Not a ciara fan she can dance but not sing. Nisha #43 with you still laughing at your comment. Ha Ha
111.
Ashley
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 /
Go Cici Go Cici Go Cici why are people on here hating come on stop hating so much. It’s better than Keri Hilson album the only songs I like on Keri album is her two songs she had for singles and that’s it ya’ll know that Ciara songs are better than Keri Hilson songs Put Like A Surgeon and Turning me on in the same category turning me on can’t even compare to Like A Surgeon Ciara album is off the chain go get 2 copies of them I got mine. GO CICI GO CICI GO CICI
112.
Jeff
Wednesday, May 6, 2009 /
I love “tell me what your name is”..and the “surgeon” song isnt to bad..hope she has more slow songs on there, they are always my favorites by her
113.
AMBER
Wednesday, May 6, 2009 /
she has a really nice neck… lool
114.
Toraino
Wednesday, May 6, 2009 /
THE ALBUM IS GREAT
HATERS FLL BACH
“PUCKER UP” , “CIARA TO THE STAGE” & “TURNTABLES” MY FAVORITE
I HOPE “I’M ON” BE A SINGLE OR “ECHO”
115.
Toraino
Wednesday, May 6, 2009 /
STOP HATIN THIS ALBUM IS GREAT
116.
tony
Thursday, May 7, 2009 /
just bought from itunes
making it the 3rd CD I actually bought from Ciara
which means I bought all of Ciara’s albums
I am a true fan lol
117.
2bad2bme
Thursday, May 7, 2009 /
DIDNT REALLY LIKE CIARA BUT I LOOOOOOOOVE THIS Fn’ ALBUM SO MUCH. SHE GREW ON ME NOW.
118.
Humberto
Sunday, May 10, 2009 /
Ciara To The Sateg is magic *-*
Love the whole album \o\
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