After her last album, Because I Love It… back in 2007, which didn’t see a United States release, Amerie is back with her fourth studio album, In Love & War, which hits stores today (November 3), on Island Def Jam Records.
In Love & War finds itself mimicking those same hard blaring, live horn percussive sounds from her days with producer Rich Harrison. However, the album boasts no collaborations from him. Even with it’s over the top, Ray Kay-directed music video, the first single, “♫ Why R U,” co-produced by The Buchanans, didn’t seem to grab attention of the fans.
In contrast, “♫ Heard ‘Em All,” the next single to follow, got a little more love from radio and in the clubs. The online blitz began when they put out a teaser video, and fans became a little more excited to see promotion on the label’s end for Amerie. But soon after, a 106 & Park guest spot, there was little-to-no promotion coming from her or her camp.
Bryan Michael Cox laces Amerie with a soothing, sexy synth ballad on “Red Eye,” while the dynamic duo of Jim Jonsin and Rico Love help her out on “Swag Back,” which is a song about leaving a broken heart, with a clear head and a new-found sense of confidence.
In Love & War isn’t a bad album. Although it’s not the great material that Amerie was known for with Rich, she has some solid records and the album is pretty cohesive, considering the different producers that she paired with this time around. Truly, the only real gripe with the album is the lack of promotion behind it. Def Jam really dropped the ball in that aspect. But in recent interviews, Amerie says that she plans to reunite with Rich Harrison. I think that’s what she realizes her fans are really waiting for.
♫ OTHER TRACKS YOU’VE GOT TO HEAR: “Pretty Brown Eyes,” featuring Trey Songz, “Red Eye,” and “The Flowers.”
She is about to FLOP soooooooooooooooo hard…but she’s pretty.
Dont like any of the songs I’ve heard so far.
she’s a beautiful girl, but she never really seems to go anywhere or sell too much, but i don’t know why. other people seem to like her music so idk. maybe this album will do better.
so sick of hearing “she’s a beautiful girl”. beauty does not equal talent and that definitely goes HARD in this case. Sit ur ass down Amerie and use your college degree. This ain’t working for you boo.
She doesn’t have to sell records. Her loyalty to the baphomet will keep money in her pockets.
Def Jam fucked up. What’s the point in signing artists if you aren’t going to promote them?
Clearly they are only putting money behind a select few. That will cost them so dearly in the end.
I’m not a fan, but good luck to Amerie. I hope she gets what she needs.
DEF JAM IS SOO WRONG REALLY YOU DON’T HEAR NOTHING ABOUT HER THANKS TO THIS BLOG .
AND THEY JUST GAVE HER ANY SONG SMDH
DEF JAM SUCKS
SHE IS VERY BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
Amerie album is real nice just like all her albums she is very underrated but in the UK she top charted she got some hot remix tracks out wit rick ross nas and more,real R&B thank god she hasnt gon pop on us like all the others..
@ #3 SHAKING YOUR A@SS DOESN’T EQUAL TALENT EITHER AND NEITHER DOES SOUNDING LIKE EVERYONE ELSE ON THE RADIO! GET YOUR FACTS TOGETHER THIS GIRL IS BEAUTIFUL NOT CAKED UP WITH MAKE-UP LIKE MOST CELEBS, SHE WRITES HER OWN MUSIC AND ARRANGES THE VOCALS VS BUYING SOMEONE ELSES SONG AND LYING ABOUT WRITING IT, SHE IS A TRUE RNB HIP HOP HEAD AND DOESN’T NEED TO BE A PUNK ROCKER OR A SPLIT PERSONALITY OR WEAR BUTT PADS TO MAKE IT!!!!!
I LOVE AMERIE AND SO DO MANY OTHER PEOPLE. THIS CD IS BETTER THAN MOST FEMALES ALBUMS THAT CAME OUT THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR!
The album is great people need to give it a listen and support, if not you will keep hearing the same crap that radios force on you day in and day out.
Amerie (along with some other artists Im not going to name) needs to STOP depending on her label to promote her brand! If you plan on being successful you have to get out and get your hustle on!… HELLO? You are signed to Def Jam, & you are not their top priority.
Nowdays you gotta get connected to your fans on a personal level. She’s been too quiet. Youtube yourself, go on luch dates, be seen… something!
Give it up girl!
Like I told Angel you don’t need a record company to sell records. Amerie just has to hustle. There are plenty of people who have sold records without even being on a major label. So I don’t feel sorry for her.
I love amerie….I think the issue with her is she needs to go back to Rich Harrison!
This situation with her album promotion has nothing to do with Amerie as an artist its the wack ass promotion coming from Def Jam. I swear that record label is only good for artists that are already establish very well like a Jay Z, Kanye ect. Also up and coming artists…Def Jam will ruin their careers.
Amerie will sale-in Europe and beyond.The US is not really open to her sound.She’s not pop enough.I don’t know how well she did with her last album, but I know they love her in UK/Japan.I can’t really say if Rich Harrison made her sound because she hasn’t really done anything outside the box.
I LOVE THIS DAMN ALBUM!!!! it’s a banger from beginning to end. forreal y’all. go to best buy and pick it up! “more than love” is my shit!
@ 8…..it’s clear who you are tryin to compare her to, but the difference is when BEYONCE sings live, she can actually sing. Can’t say the same for Amerie. And she is jus as pop, made-up, and sex driven as every other artist.
Solange had all the promotion in the world and only sold 40K her first week out so sometimes it’s not all about promotion.
And yall keep sayin she is sellin good in the UK…WTF?? Why are yall getting these fact.
That’s always the first thing that is said when an artist can’t sell in the us..
Its such ashamed how little backing Amerie’s project has gotten compared to that other piece of trash on her label. And as a result of that, her album sales will fail miserably. The bar has been set by mainstream American media, and brainwashed Rihorrid & Beyonce fans on what a singer should look, act and perform like and now all these other talented female artist are falling short; ultimately their careers are suffering. I wish her the best; Def Jam will be releasing her from her contract following this album.
*Where
Its a shame she got her own sound ..luv the live percussion… but her fans will buy it and like it the way things goes these days we will soon be getting music via the artist personal website. Folks are selling pretty low numbers across the board. IDK how Jay-Z is still in the top 10 his joint was ight… Its a sad time for music but thank-god for I-tunes i get to explore new artists and revist others. Good luck Amerie
@Dude-N-Htown Ooooooh you are so wrong for thinking that Amerie can’t sing live… Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUO8_UnM-Pw
And watch it til the end!
I simply LOVE this album! Higher, Swag Back, More Than Love, The Flowers, Different People…. awesome songs!!
@19 Check YOUR facts, it’s true.She did well in the UK.
Overseas money is better money than domestic $$$.
@ #17 back in reference to #3 SHE IS AN ARTIST the other is just an ENTERTAINER what is your point? AN ALBUM IS AN ALBUM, YOU BUY THE ALBUM BECAUSE THE MUSIC IS GOOD. I DONT BUY ALBUMS BECAUSE SOMEONE CAN PERFORM GOOD ON STAGE. ITS ABOUT ——–CREATING MUSIC——- PERFORMING ON STAGE DOES NOT EQUAL ——CREATING MUSIC OR CREATIVITY, PLUS WE ALL KNOW SEVERAL ARTIST JACKED AMERIE’s DELIVERY/SOUND AND STILL JACK OTHER ARTISTS SO PLS
From what I listened too I didn’t like it.. Sorry maybe she does need to work again with Rich cause all I hear is a bunch of scream or singing at the top of her voice.. Good Luck Amerie..
BEYONCE BEYONCE BEYONCE. I AM…YOURS …. “VideoPhone” premieres Thursday!
Anyways. Yes Im a Beyonce Stan. but I will admit after downloading the album weeks ago and listening to it, I do love it. Good job Amerie. “TheFlowers” and “RedEye” are my jams.
wow you guys are so right about the promotion
Have you guys noticed her music it STILL great with out Rich. This is not album of the year, but damn near in the top 5 R&B albums of this year!
MY HEADD IS CLEARR I’M SOUL SURVIVING!
CAUSE YOU NOT HEARRRR, BUT I’M NOT CRYINGGG NO….
I FINALLY GOT MY SWAG BACK
DON’T NEED THAT BROKEN HEART NO MO U CAN HAVE THAT!
CAUSE BABY I GOT MY SWAG BACK
yall n!ggas don kno
epic
^^^^^Wow! Are you serious with both of those screamers and whiners in your avatar?
Amerie’s first album was spotless…her second effort was right up there with her first LP. The third release was not that inviting and definetly needed some guidance (some Rich Harrison guidance).
I think Amerie suffers from the same syndrome Janet Jackson suffer’s from. They both left the producer’s that understand them vocally and artistically. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis understood Janet Jackson as an artist…simple things like knowing what key an artist sings in (best) can make a huge difference. I believe Rich Harrison pulled the best out of Amerie. He understood her voice and how to stretch her vocally without it sounding forced.
Amerie, please get back with your man hun’. Settle your differences and return to making music that fits you as an artist. Don’t follow all these other artist(s) that continue to name chase and make mediocre LP’s. Why would you wanna sound like everybody else?
Ciao!
This album should be called I am…….> I am…..Sasha Mess! or Good Girl Gone Made Some Good Music!!
OBJECTION at jaye berry
Amerie never sounds like everybody else. Even when she worked with Sean Garrett she still had her own sound. You like the old Amerie, while some of us like how she is expanding and doesn’t stick in one genere of music. In this album she gave us all sides of her last 3 albums so I think you would be satisfied, but o well if your not.
This album is a bore, she needs to go back to the first when it was good music and less about style. This s like the last two.
Its too bad Def Jam didn’t promote this album she has some hitters on here. IDK what their problem is but they need to get it together…real talk.
She went to Gerogetown and graduated with a degree in English and Fine Arts. Im sure she will be fine. Unlike most artists at least she has something to fall back on.
It’s because they over saturate us with Beyonce’s crappy music that nobody else can shine. I don’t think that is good because, there is other music out here that needs to be heard.
Facts. Amerie + Rich Harrison= winning formula. Amerie + overseas= EUROS. hallo? US fame does not equal dollars. Honestly, being a star in Europe is actually more beneficial financially. Amerie + Def Jam= terrible promotion. Why? Because Rihanna has an album coming out, and she’s way more newsworthy. She’s got a “story/scandal” to promote/capitalize on. Amerie is talented. She just needs to get her swag back!
Why does it seems like a sin to like or listen to more than 1 female artist? Come on black people, no wonder we crabs in a bucket and most of us are getting pink slips!
fuck the haters
FUCK
THE
HATERS
I love Amerie to death. The girl is beautiful, talented, the whole nine yards. Its really a shame that people would settle, and spend their money on gimmicky artist with no talent what so ever. Praising them because they where nice clothes, and make “catchy” music, not good music, but “catchy” music. I bought her album on my way to school and listened to it in my 5TH period computer class, and I loved it to death. Truly one of the top 5 RandB albums of the year. Even with the amazing music on her album, I’m prepared for her album to not do that good. But I wish her all the best, and hope she has success. She deserves it….And by the way, I’m new to CL, and let me just say, I love it. Espically the background work.
Amerie will be on the Wendy Williams show today.
@ #10, thats true but Amerie is not a new artist and Def Jam really did her wrong with the promotion. Her album should have been out way before they decided to push that other girl. They couldnt even promote Janet Jackson properly for that one album she did with them, and Mariah Carey’s album didnt even go #1 for a week. They should just have you know who on their label and thats it.
And then Rihanna video come out, same day.Oh well.
WASNT THERE ALREADY A POST ON HER AND HER CD………I GUESS SHE NEEDS SOME MORE PROMO I LIKE THAT “RED EYE” SONG…….HOWEVER I WONT BE BUYING HER CD I DONT HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST HER………..I JUST ONLY LISTEN TO THE MUSIC SHE PUTS OUT N IF I HERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT I LIKE I WILL DOWNLOAD IT.
Pretty brown eyes is my favorite song off that dc.
I love red eye, the flowers, prettybrown, more than love, dangerous, and different people
Def Jam definitely dropped the ball. BUT, honestly, this isnt the best material I have ever heard, either!
@19 are you stupid? do you even check your facts? Amerie does in fact sell well in the UK/Europe/Asia. That’s why Because I Love It was only released in those country.
I’m sick of hearing the comparisons between Amerie and Beyonce and Rihanna.
Personally, I am not impressed with Rihanna. She doesn’t have any hand in making her music; no writing, no productions, nothing.
Beyonce is good. I’m not going to deny that. I’m pretty much over her though. She’s just too typical I guess, I don’t know.
Now Amerie, I love her. Give me an artist who writes her own songs, has a hand in productions, and can actually make good songs without working with the biggest producers right now (yes, that’s a diss to beyonce and rihanna, and I love the-dream) any day.
I LOVE In Love & War. It is probably one of the best packaged albums I’ve heard all year. The album has a real theme, an understandable theme and not just some songs thrown onto an album. That’s why I love Amerie; she’s original, she doesn’t do what everyone else is doing. I don’t care if she sells as long as she keeps making great music. Definitely check out her new album if you haven’t heard it.
@ 25…so in your eyes Beyonce isn’t an artist…really??? So what makes Amerie and artist?? What has she done different from Beyonce besides flop 3 time…oh now 4 times in a row.
And I dont like bringing Beyonce names into other post, but hate when ppl discredit Bee to try and make an artist look better.
And Amerie is NOT a hit overseas…..and if she is, WHAT THE HELL IS BEYONCE?? She sells better than her in US and overseas.
I
Don’t blame the label. I just think listeners are not feeling her anymore. Competition is steep these days, and if you aren’t getting beat up, in a sex tape, or nude on-line, you can’t be on top unless you’re the absolute total package.
Examples
Ciara = Flop
Rihanna = Success
Mya = Flop
Beyonce = On top
Either Def Jam have played it too safe or she’s just not made for this industry.
She writes her own song…(is this the not the same girl who said “Gobble gobble gobble” on “One Thing”..)…And Beyonce does write some of music.
Now, dont get me wrong, I’m not hating on her, but the singles suck, her video sucks, and her album will indeed flop.
And again, I dont like bringing Bee names up, but I jus hate that some mentioned her in the post as to compare her to Amerie…GTFOH. They’re on 2 different levels. Im sorry
i had to give this shit a second listen, b/c i initially didn’t like it.. but it’s an OKAY album, if she’s fortunate to release another one..i hope it’s better
good luck with the album sales..
WOW I HEARD NOTHING ABOUT THIS ALBUM ! DAMN NO PROMO NO NOTHING BUT HERE IS RIHANNA EVERYWHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN AND HER ALBUM ISN’T DROPPING TIL’ LATE THIS MONTH SAD MOVE FOR HER AND DEF JAM I LOVE ME SOME AMERIE HOPEFULLY SHE’LL DO GOOD IN OTHER COUNTRIES ! WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THEM SIGNING HER IF THEY WEREN’T GOING TO SUPPORT HER? LAME
All I gotta say is f*ck Def Jam. There’s no reason why this talent it being slept on while big forehead goats are getting praised for their gimmick image and mediocre songs. Amerie deserves better. Despite the album might not score to the top doesn’t mean it’s a bad album. People tend to confuse quantity with quality. She has quality. I’ll be getting your album Amerie. At the end of the day, you’re the real artist with the real talent, alot of artists can’t say that.
Amerie is a really good singer, it’s a shame she doesn’t get as much attention compared to other artists. She has class, dignity and a personality. I wish her the best with this album! Love the cover art and promo pictures.
I actually enjoyed her new album she did a good job but she really gets no promotion
am diggin More Than Love and Higher!
Brian ITA, read that interview in the Wash Post this Sunday and I am glad she realizes Rich and her created the magic, the winning formula with go go influenced beats and beautiful yet urgent ballads, their chemistry is sorely missed…..I did cop this effort to support as I have been a fan since All I have…. tracks like More than Love, Flowers, Swag back stand out here
AMEN…PLEASE GO BACK TO RICH!!!! EVERYTHING HAS BEEN LACKLUSTER SINCE….
IF TREY SONGZ CAN PROMOTE HIS CD WITHOUT ANY BACK UP FROM HIS LABEL…AMERIE HAS NO EXCUSE!!! PROMOTE YOUR DAMN SELF…I THINK SOMEONE IS GAS HER HEAD…
GET OUT THEIR AND PROMOTE YOUR DAMN SELF…TV, INTERNET, RADIO…WHAT THE HELL IS SHE WAITING ON!!! DON’T PUT ALL THE BLAME ON DEF JAM!
I think this album was well put! I brought it today from BestBuy good luck Amerie you deserve it