By Jamil Oakford/managing editor
Four years after her last album, Jordin Sparks has graced the music world with a new album, Right Here Right Now, that’s definitely different in good and bad ways.
The first single, “Double Tap,” is both catchy and relevant, and it gives a very modern twist on flirting.
Comparing that first single to the first song on the album, it feels off. And perhaps, more harshly put, it’s misleading.
The album starts at a crawl. While the first track, “Work Hard,” features rapper B.o.B. and sounds relatively good, it’s a boring way to kick-start an album.
Then, songs become fun and playful.
This full-length album isn’t a bad way to come back. It’s somewhat different from her safe music from a few years back. There’s a hint of danger and probably way too many songs about being hopelessly devoted to a guy, but it’s a step in a good direction.
Some songs weren’t strong enough to stand up to some of the others, though.
For example, “Boyz in the Hood” follows “Double Tap” but goes in front of arguably one of the greatest songs on the album, “Silhouette.”
“Boyz in the Hood” is musically flat. It holds no competition to the catchiness of the previous track or the lightness and sensuality of the succeeding one.
But the album has some strong moments. “Unhappy” and “Tell Him that I Love Him” provide vocal highlights for the album. Sparks pulls out all the stops to remind listeners she won American Idol for a reason.
Probably the worst offense on this album was the placement of “It Ain’t You.” With catchy and commercial-quality sound, it made no sense to make it the parting song of a long-awaited album.
Sure, it deviates from her usual sound and lyrical formula, but this deserved to be higher.
While this was a great album for her to come back with, the order and even some of the song choices were mediocre compared to her level of talent.
