Amerie - Touch

GREAT

At first I was a little skeptical because her first album was so good I didnt think she could do it twice but I was pleasently surprised... September 26, 2006

Retro Vibes......

Not being in touch with the R&B scene as I once was, Amerie only came to my notice upon seeing 'Hitch', which featured her massive single `1 Thing'. From there I borrowed a copy of this CD to see if the rest of the songs came up to scratch. For me the best moments on this CD, are when the producers get that `Retro Vibe' going on. 1 Thing is the classic example. By using a portion of a Meteor sample, they have built a new song around it, that upon first hearing, I thought could have been from the seventies. `Rollin Down my Face', by using a Roy Ayers sample (Searching), also falls into this category. Sampling old tunes in this way, meets my approval, as it is cleverly done, and doesn't song as if the singer/rapper are performing over an instrumental version of the original (a la P Diddy, or whatever he is calling himself nowadays). All I Need. With it's speeded up vocals sound goods, and I loved the collaboration with Nas, on the UK Album version, of 'Man up', with it's 80's feeling vibe.The remainder of the CD is really no different to what's out there at this moment in time, but the retro vibe mentioned is enough reason for me to consider buying this CD.
December 30, 2005

Needs a touch more creativity

Amerie seemed like she was doing fine a while back when she scored with songs like "Why Don't We Fall In Love" and "Talkin' to Me". But then, almost two years ago, she came back with the song "All I Need". It didn't receive much of a response, which is probably why her second album got pushed back (although that song IS on here). But Touch was finally released this year.

I agree with reviewer Paul Clarke when he said that Amerie has a limited vocal range. Honestly, she never really was a spectacular singer (and I'm not exactly sure where the reviewer that said "watch out, Beyoncé" is coming from). But what brings things down even more on here is the average songwriting. The only real standout I can see is the lone ballad, "Just Like Me", which was co-written by Sunshine Anderson (yo, Sunshine, any chance on a second album???).

The made-for-the-club songs are the biggest mistakes, like the lazy "Talkin' About" and the irritating "1 Thing" (sorry, I never liked that song). And the Eve-assisted remix of that song doesn't help or hurt the album, nor does the new version of "Why Don't We Fall In Love". Even Carl Thomas' appearance on "Can We Go" can't save the album.

The rest of the songs pretty much go by without being too memorable. In fact, the only thing I think most people WILL remember about this album is how virus-inducing the copy-protection is. Anyway, borrow this album from a friend if you must, because I really don't think Touch will touch you.

Anthony Rupert December 19, 2005

Amerie does it her way

I hadn't really known too much about Amerie. She emerged in a post-Aaliyah era along with Ashanti, though Ashanti proved to be a more commercial viablity than Amerie. I do know that a producer named Rich Harrison first emerged producing her first album "All I Have" & her first single "Why Don't We Fall In Love?". The single & album from what I understood showed promise for both of them in 2002.

Rich of course would go on to produce for Beyonce' & Jennifer Lopez amongst others. The question remained though, where was Amerie?

Then in the early spring of this year "1 Thing" Amerie's newest single from the then forthcoming album "Touch", catapulted her into the collective minds of both mainstream R&B and pop audiences. That single, helmed by Harrison, showed that despite the previous big guns he'd worked with his D.C. "Go-Go" sound worked best with Amerie's sweet stylist voice. The song featured a feverish sample from The Meters' "Oh, Calcutta!" which had an undeniable pop hook & an amazing R&B dance edge. The video was great because it recalled Jody Watley's runway piece from 1989 "Real Love", it was good to Amerie stepping up her game. This all of course made me take notice & made me purchase "Touch".

Overall, Amerie is a standard commodity as a writer & singer. She has an eye on the pulse of how she delivers what would be mediocre in the hands of others, & makes it stylish & accesible for her. The "go-go" sound is pretty much laced through the record, & only maybe three tracks fall flat; the garishly produced Lil' Jon crunk/go-go-lite affair of the title track comes to mind.

Otherwise, this is a pleasant mainstream black pop record. Hooky, stylish, & sexy without being trashy. Another thing I liked about this record (barring a pointless remix redux with Eve of "1 Thing") is that the basic album is an Amerie record. She didn't hide behind any big name MC's, Amerie did her thing.

Highlights for me would include an amazingly emotive duet between Amerie & Carl Thomas on "Can We?", the hip-swaying "Talkin''Bout" (great horn sample), & effortlessly pretty "Rolling Down My Face". Ballads & uptempo jams are a plenty here. Though this record would be lost in a chart dominated by Mariah's "comeback" success, Amerie still made an impressive sophmore record.

Her next record should be interesting.

On a sidenote, I own the original release which featured the Sony "spyware" mess that has caused quite a stir. I reviewed the Dualdisc version so the reviewe could be read, I don't own this version. December 15, 2005

I Wish There Was an 4.5

Def an Awesome album, one of the best for 2005!! I Really wish that Man Up would had beem released on the regular CD, so that more people could hear it. Man Up is the best track on the dual disc and one of the best on the "regular" cd, whatever you want to call the part of the disc that only plays in CD players. My favorite tracks are 1 Thing, All I Need, Touch, Talkin' About, Rolling Down My Face, Can We Go, 1 Thing (Remix), Why Don't We Fall In Love (Remix), and Man Up (Feat. Nas). September 1, 2005

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