Fantasia, Sketchbook (Rock Soul/BMG).
If you haven't heard Fantasia's latest singles, there's an easy summary: one's spiritual, another's about sex, and both are worth a listen.
The singer draws from very different worlds on her latest album Sketchbook — crediting a higher power for her heavenly vocals on the upbeat Holy Ghost, then confessing the pleasure and peril of a good romp in the hay on the seductive T-Pain-assisted 'PTSD' (short for 'Post-Traumatic Sex Disorder'.)
Neither areas are foreign territory to Fantasia, whose powerhouse vocals earned her the title of American Idol back in 2004.
Since then, the R&B world has seen tons of shift, with newcomers who seem more focused on creating "a vibe" and less concerned with (or capable of) the dramatic belting out that Fantasia's known for.
And while Fantasia has injected some youthfulness into her production, the Grammy winner is staying true to her artistry on Sketchbook, her first independent release.
She delivers the fullness of her voice on the sexy, guitar-laced Believer and the easygoing Enough; pours her honeyed vocals over the island-influenced beat of Take Off and experiments with a rock feel on Warning.
Fantasia's gospel roots remain strong, of course, and fans will be delighted with Looking for You, which features the singer's mom, Mama Diane.
Sketchbook was originally supposed to include a collaboration with fellow R&B stars Brandy and Jazmine Sullivan, though Fantasia explained that it didn't happen because of "politics."
The song would have been welcomed, but thankfully Fantasia makes Sketchbook a work of art, all her own.
Music review: Ten by Stryper's Michael Sweet is easily one of 2019's best hard rock albums
Watch: Bengaluru-based Gauley Bhai’s first music video, Morau (Funeral)
Ozzy Osbourne says he's going off the rails; bedbound and 'bored stiff', cancels tour dates
Musicians headlining Madras Jazz Festival discuss this city’s obsession with the genre
Kadri Gopalnath, pioneer of the saxophone and fusion music, dies at 69 in Mangalore