declaration

The Declaration
$13.98
This is a very mellow R&B album with mid-tempo tracks that stray away from fast up-tempo club jams or party vibes. For the club junkie or dance fanatic, this is not quite that type of bouncy R&B funk. It's a very different sound as compared to her other albums so it was quite a surprise when I first listened to it. This 14-track Japan Import includes the bonus track "Hey Baby (After The Club)", lyrical booklet with words, and obi-strip - a definite bonus!

Featured artists are Nelly, Akon, and Robin Thicke. "Things You Make Me Do" 3:22 featuring Robin Thicke has a nice soothing laid back sensual style to kick back with your lover, or alone. If you enjoy candles, this is a great song to set the mood right. Ashanti's vocals seem improved and very soft on the ears as compared to other songs.

My favorite track is "Body On Me" featuring Nelly & Akon for it's electronica, rap, and hip-hop mesh. The single is availabe here: Body on Me. The beats are catchy, funky, and phenomenal. For me, it feels it's a "most definite" booster to feel uplifted or in the mood to dance. It's positive vibes, hip-hop undertones, and production are very appealing!

Another great song for those who like to snuggle with a lover or fantasize would be "Girlfriend" as it has references to how "I'd give all of me to you... I'd let you touch everything...". "The Way I Love You" has a more soulful rich sound --it's a "you and her" type song. Songs like "So Over You" were a much better style to show--giving better attitude, bouncy beats, and faster tempos.

A nice jam,"You're Gonna Miss" has references to the heart aching, feeling weak, and wanting her lover back but knowing in the end a departure can be and will cause a loss for him. The vocals have some electronic effects that I thought were excellent and would have loved to hear more. Some lyrics, "But I ain't gonna stress about it anymore/And I ain't gonna cry another night alone/Your gonna miss this chick right here/Your gonna miss this chick I swear."

Overall, the cover has a dance look so I was expecting dance tracks. Instead this is a nice mellow R&B album for the fans who already enjoy her style. Having all of her albums I don't know if I'd call this her best from my personal tastes. The bounce, hip-hop, and darker edge are not as prevalent. Featured artists are dropped to a minimum, and the mood is so so mellow. It's hard to feel funky as it may not boost moods to feel in the mood to dance or get down to party. Either way, her declaration is quite evident: to express herself, to be upfront, and more personal through her music.

To mention more positives, "In These Streets" has a much soulful sound, very rich, alive, and great. The song, "Good Good" has a nice hip-hop element as other rap stars are heard in the background. The lyrical booklet has all the words to the song. Apparently, her writing has improved with beautiful songs dedicated to her mother-very touching, and a nice track titled, "Shine" very inspiring and positive--both very nicely done!

The bonus track is "Hey Baby (After The Club)" featuring some guys in the background. This is not the fast high energy paced dance tracks with electronica, bass or bounce. This is not quite that style. It's just a repetitive type sound with references to the club of wanting to leave with that special someone. It's a much better track than many of the others for it's theme. The beats are mid to up-tempo. Ratings: 4 stars.

I recommend the Japan Import for the bonus track, words to the songs, and overall quality. If you remove that song, then it becomes a totally mellow slow mid-tempo album.

*The album titled, Vault by Ashanti is unbelievably 5 stars, check it out. The other Amazon Websites have it available in stock.

Declaration
$16.98
Donny McCaslin's last CD, "Recommended Tools", was a brawny saxophone trio disc. The follow-up adds a pianist, Edward Simon, a guitarist, Ben Monder, Scott Colley on bass, Antonio Sanchez on drums, and some songs have some combination of Alex Sipiagin, Marcus Rojas, Chris Komer, Marshall Gilkes, and Tatum Greenblatt on their horns. The larger band dulls the impact of McCaslin's playing, but that's fine since McCaslin's writing and the band's performing are very good. The title track is an excellent ballad, and the faster-paced songs are all good. "Late Night Gospel" ends the disc as its title would suggest - with a slower bluesier song.

This is recommended to fans of modern straightahead jazz.

Declaration of Independence
$2.49
I ordered the document to display in my home next to the picture of Prayer at Valley Forge it looks great framed next to it.

Declaration
$17.98
This album would be in my Top Five greatest albums of all time! It is absolutely fantastic! There are five standout tracks: Live Out Loud, Jesus Is Life, See The Glory, Bring It On, and Declaration Of Dependence. Live Out Loud is just an all-around good song about sharing your faith with others, not keeping it to yourself. This Day is about each day being new and to be content with what life throw at you. Jesus Is Life is pretty self-explanatory. No Greater Love is about God's great love for us. God Is God is about worshipping God, not ourselves or other material things. See The Glory is about waking up to the realization that there are huge things around us to be discovered if we just look up and pay attention to the beauty around us. Bring It On is about not running from trouble, and realizing that trouble makes us stronger and brings us to realize that we need to depend on God. When Love Takes You In is basically the same message as No Greater Love. Magnificent Obsession is about being awed by God's glory. Declaration Of Dependence is about being fully dependent on Christ. God Follower is about wanting to be just that-a God follower. Carry You to Jesus is about leading a friend to Christ. Savior is an all-around praise song. If you are first-time listener of Steven Curtis Chapman, this would be a good introductory album worth listening to. Highly reccomended