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| Artist: Jordin Sparks
Label: Jive
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $7.99
You Save: $10.99 (58%)
New (53) Used (19) from $5.94
Rating:  154 reviews
Sales Rank: 238
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 718752
UPC: 886971875225
EAN: 0886971875225
ASIN: B000WQ9U9Y
Release Date: November 20, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 154
 Jordin Sparks - The Latest American Idol Winner November 22, 2007
Josephll (CET)
10 out of 13 found this review helpful
Jordin Sparks climbed the ranks of Idols after she brilliantly performed Ben E King's "I (Who Have Nothing)", and eventually she went all the way winning the entire competition, the youngest of all winners at only 17. Jordin was a very likeable charachter, just like a little sister she was enthusiastic and always eager to learn and improve. And for each week she just got better. But apart from previous winners like Carrie Underwood (county) Taylor Hicks (Rock) and Kely Clarkson (first winner) she doesn't have the obvious style or image to make an album that truly feels like her own. And like most of us already knew, Producers always have a huge impact on the debut albums of an American Idol winner. Jordin is still very young but it feels like this is the case with her debut album, even more then by previous winners. With 13 songs, her debut album can be divided into 2 parts, ballads and pop with a few rock exceptions. Most of the ballads come from Norwegians Stargate (Because of You, Irreplacable, Hate That I Love You) while Emanuel Kirakou and Underdogs also get production credits. The pop/uptempos mostly comes from Bloodshy & Avant that recently produced half of the songs from Britney's Blackout. Having said that The sound is rather fammiliar and feels like the works of producers not Jordin but unfortunatley the hit singles are rather few even if there are no bad songs on this album.
The first song is her first single "Tattoo" a ballad from Stargate that is currently climbing the charts and it's really good. The album continues with another strong number a midtempo called "One Step at The Time" that is an obvious single in my opinion and perhaps the best song. The Underdogs stand for the most exciting moment with "No Air" a duet with fellow teenager Chris Brown. Like most Underdogs cuts, this is also a ballad and a highlight. Stargate continues with "Freeze" and later "Just for the Record", the latter sound like Stargate ballad with accoustic guitars and Rock/Pop sound. Swedish producers Bloodshy & Avant produce "Shy Boy", "Young And In Love" and "See My Side", the first two continue the trend of songs they did for Britney with exciting futuristic produtions but less memorable lyrics. "See My Side" is actually a ballad and was co-written by Swedish singer Robyn that also sang backround vocals on Britney's album. Some people will like this one, others find it boring. "Now You Tell Me" is a rocky power ballad and so is "Permanent Monday". "Next To You" another classic ballad while "God Loves Ugly" a serious ballad about god's love for everyone. Bonus song is the Idol song "This is Me Now".
Overall, Despite the fact that no song is bad and around 4 are hit warnings it end up feeling like the work of producers and rather typical for a winner of an reality show where the producers and Ceo's have a major impact of the end product. It also kinda borrows the sound of Ne-Yo and Britney and doesn't feel too personal either. However, Jordin is still young and she's a skilled singer and likeable person. I'm sure that her next album will be a major improvement with more personal impact. Should you buy it or not? I say yes. It's a decent album and the hit singles are really good and there are plenty of growers aswell. The album is also very safe with nothing controvercial or unexpected, so it should apply alot to a younger audience and perhaps as good xmas gift.
 Bland. Bland. Bland December 4, 2007
Kurt Barger (St. Louis, MO)
10 out of 13 found this review helpful
Her talent is wasted by such bland songs. It seems the Idol franchise is intent on making very bland cd's. All personality is lost. Not much here but very generic, bland, pop.
 Sparks smolders March 20, 2008
Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
... and by "smolders" I mean that she glows and is smokin' hot, but thanks to some damp material she falls just short of igniting the fiery album I was expecting.
Pretty, bubbly, young, a great performer and with an amazing voice, Jordin Sparks nails some winners in this album, which already has three hits under its belt:
1. This is My Now - the song she sang to take the American Idol title from Blake Lewis (Granted, he was at a disadvantage due to not being able to change up the song to better suit his style)
2. Tattoo - Definitely mainstream pop, a catchy song geared towards radio and television saturation. (I still like it) Co-written by Sparks.
3. No Air - Hot, hot song with hottie Chris Brown (need I say more?)
Other songs to look out for:
One Step at a Time - An upbeat, funky song, well suited to her voice
Now You Tell Me - An ideal pop song for an Idol graduate
Next to You - Mid tempo song carried by the chorus
Just For the Record - Another mainstream pop song
Not that hot:
"Freeze" - Self-explanatory. She sings well, but it's not a really good song. Co-written by Sparks
"Shy Boy", "See My Side", "God Loves Ugly" - Monotonous
"Permanent Monday", "Young and In Love" -Unmemorable
This debut album proves that Sparks has the voice to soar to greater heights, but she needs some edgier material to push her above the rest of the mainstream crowd.
Amanda Richards, March 20, 2008
Great Talent, Wrong Hands = Generic Sound November 21, 2007
A. Williams
9 out of 13 found this review helpful
I loved Jordin on American Idol - she has a beautiful voice that strength, lie in the fact that it was mature beyond its years. However, it seems as if her producers have put her on some "Pop Rock" level thinking it would = a hit record. Jordan has enought talent to be more than just an American Idol - if groomed properly with a staff which creates the type of music she sings best that really shows off her best qualities- she can make it into the ranks of the Mariah and Whitney. "Pop", almost Britney Spearish type music is an insult to her voice since its quite obvious that you can take any random girl off the street and put a machine to her voice and shes a "singer." I am really disappointed - not in Jordin because I know shes capable- but whatever incompetent management team which is robbing her of the opportunity to really begin a true, respected career with this "pop rock in a can" nonsense.
 Jordin Sparkles on her debut November 24, 2007
A Person (I dont know)
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
For many "Idol" alumni, the debut album is a hit-or-miss situation; Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry have scored platinum, multi-million selling debuts, while Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee disappointed in sales. Jordin Sparks falls in the middle of the spectrum, with catchy, poppy modern R&B flavored songs and boasting beautiful ballads. The style on her album does not stray far from Beyonce or Mariah Carey, and yet Jordin manages to make each song her own. The catchy songs combined with her AMAZING voice turn this into an album that's sure to please.
1. Tattoo - The first single is slowly but surely climbing the charts. Cheesy yet catchy, about moving on from a past love who is "on my heart just like a tattoo." Great choice for a first single, but bland compared to other songs. 3/5
2. One Step At A Time - Destined to be a hit, from the catchy beat to the inspirational lyrics. This song is about acheiving your dreams, one step at a time; "There's no need to rush/It's like learning to fly/or falling in love." Should be a single. Mid-tempo. 4/5
3. No Air - If THIS isn't a single, I don't know what's wrong with the world. Anything Chris Brown touches turns to gold including this song, about two people unsure of how they can live without each other. "How do you expect me/to live alone with just me/'cause my world revolves around you/it's so hard for me to breathe." Jordin and Chris both showcase their vocals, resulting in a beautiful song destined for radio. I could do without some of the wailing though. 5/5
4. Freeze - Ew. Although Jordin did co-write this song, and the lyrics are great (about freezing a moment in time), I can't bring myself to like this song at all. The "Freeze" part in the backround sounds like a dying chicken, and the beats are recycled Nelly Furtado confections. 2/5
5. Shy Boy - VERY different from what I'm used to hearing from Jordin. Almost Britney-esque, from its juvenile lyrics to the beats. But...it's so addicting! Could be a club hit. "I've got my eye on this other guy/Back in a booth with his boys, he's all mellowed out/and tonight I don't mind me a shy boy/So I gotta know..." The synthesized vocals kind of work. 3/5
6. Now You Tell Me - My absolute favorite song. Very mature compared to "Shy Boy". The verses build up to a dramatic chorus, and Jordin really makes this tune her own. "You're in love/but that's not what it was/All those times that passed by/with no sign/And now you're telling me..." You'll be singing along in no time. 5/5!
7. Next To You - Feels like a recycled track from Christina Aguilera's first album. Also feels like filler, but good filler. Everyone will be able to relate to this pretty ballad. "Maybe we're friends, maybe we're more.maybe it's just my imagination/But I see you stare just a little too long/And it makes me start to wonder." Pretty good, but forgettable. 3.5/5
8. Just For The Record - Talk about filler! This track is incredibly bland and forgetable. Her voice sounds pleasant, but it's really quite boring. I can't even remember the lyrics. 2/5
9. Permanent Monday - WOW. Amazing, amazing, amazing. The lyrics are top-notch, but the music and Jordin's voice really help to sell this song! Yo can really feel her emotion. "Everytime you go away/The sunshine starts to fade/Frozen by the hands of time into a permanent Monday." My favorite ballad. Brilliant. 5/5
10. Young And In Love - WTF? Coming after Permanent Monday, this song sounds like a cheap Britney knock-off--and not even half as addicting as "Shy Boy". Jordin doesn't even sound like Jordin, her voice sounding much too high-pitched. However, the chorus will be stuck in your head for days. 2.5/5
11. See My Side - This song is slowly but surely growing on me. At first, it was extremely boring and I was tempted to skip it, but it sounds more and more beautiful as it goes on. The echoing effects in the chorus sound great. "See (see) my (my) side (side)/And I'll see (see) your's (your's) better." 3.5/5
12. God Loves Ugly - Beautiful song with a beautiful mssage. About how despite the fact that we all have imprefections, God looks past them. I don't believe in God in the slightest, but I love this song. It's gorgeous. "But God loves ugly/he doesn't see the way I see/God takes ugly and turns it into something that is/beautiful/Apparently I'm beautiful/because you love me." 5/5
13. This Is My Now - The corny song that HAD to be tacked on at the end. I hate this song, it's cheesy to the max and ruins the flow of the CD. Jordin sings it great, but the production and lyrics suck. 1/5
Definitely buy this album! Or, if you can only get a few, buy No Air, Now You Tell Me, Permanent Monday and God Loves Ugly. I can only imagine Jordin's sophomore effort will be even better.
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