Sketchbook

Sketchbook is a reset of sorts for Fantasia, newly independent after racking up a full careers worth of accomplishments -- a platinum debut, three additional Top Ten albums, and a Grammy among them -- with majors J and RCA. Shes backed by a licensing deal with BMG and now has her own label, Rock Soul, named after the self-termed sound she has been plugging for years. Fantasia co-wrote all the material and is also credited as co-producer with new associate Jevon Hill, a studio veteran who has worked with high-profile artists ranging from Tamar Braxton and Tank to James Fortune and Tye Tribbett. The core of additional writers is connected to gospel more than any other genre, yet the set mixes it up as much as any previous Fantasia album. Contrary to the title, nothing sounds incomplete or even off-the-cuff. Its more like a lookbook. Skittering percussion and other mechanical, trap-styled production touches are most common, utilized to best effect on the slick testimonial Holy Ghost and the gospel-blues finale on which Fantasia duets with her mother, Mama Diane (Diane Barrino). She switches to early-90s adult contemporary mode for the sparkling ballad Enough, one of her sturdiest love ballads. A couple other cuts resemble peer tributes. Tearful throwback belter Bad Girl is Jazmine Sullivan to the core. PTSD is artful pop-R&B, a slinking slow jam that, heard from a distance, could be mistaken for the work of Dawn Richard (at least until T-Pain provides the album with some impulsive humor, exclaiming Good god almighty, great googly moogly!). Theres also one rocker, the blaring intervention Warning. ~ Andy Kellman

クリスマス盤を最後にメジャーを離れ、約3年ぶりに発表したオリジナル新作。ジェヴォン・ヒルを中心に、彼が率いるコ・キャプテンズの面々とも組んだ楽曲は、90s風バラードの先行曲"Enough"やT・ペイン客演の悩ましい"PTSD"、トラップ調の"Holy Ghost"など多様だが、ゴスペルを下地にしたR&Bを溢れ出るエモーションのままに歌うスタイルは揺るぎない。最後は母ダイアンとのゴスペル曲でブルージーに締め括る。
bounce (C)林剛