|  | | | Customer Reviews: | | | Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Positive, Party, Pulsating Pounds Plus Power! Sep 26, 2009
Kelly Rowland has released a Deluxe Version of Ms. Kelly with new tracks, omissions of some, and a new front cover, and style. There are up-tempo songs, mid-tempo's, Remixes/Mixes, and ballads. As many interviews have revealed, Kelly Rowland BET Official Presents Ms. Kelly was a party, fun album. This Deluxe Version accomplished that much better! Although, this revised version has omissions of featured artists like Tank, Nelly, Snoop Dogg and"Gotsta Go (Part 1)" Featuring Da Brat. it add featured artist Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes and puts more dance mixes with positive styles. The booklet includes the lyrics and the Japanese booklet has the words to "Comeback" not on the booklet. This is a brand new sound geared to a more "party" dance club vibe along positive reflections definitely an added compliment to have as a second version for the die-hard fan or a top selection for the club junkie or party animal!
This Japan Edition has the bonus tracks, "Work" (Steve Pitron & Max Sanna Radio Edit)" and "Daylight (Karmatronic Remix)". The listening experience is unlike the Regular Version as the changes transform the themes thus highlighting to some degree: positive vibes, empowering song-writing, and a look into the future. "Still In Love With My Ex" and "Flashback" are replaced with "No Man No Cry" which is quite good -yet on the mid to low tempos.
"Daylight (Joey Negro Club Mix)" has an excellent club sound definitely to feel the party feeling on high and strong! From vibrating thighs, non-stop shaking hips, and booty bounce. This has a great up-tempo sound with the vocals conserved and thumping synthesizers added to make it a great club banger!
"Comeback (Karmatronic Remix)" is another fast infused, dance sensation with elevating swirls, techno trance effects, and pulsating, thumping bass-lines with sirens, and more. This has an uplifting funky style to get your juices funky ready to feel renewed. The singing is quite different as Kelly's voice has a more "filled with attitude" sound. The tigress has come out of the bag and has gotten in the mood to party, get some, and shake some! The echoing swirls that pulse fast down create an addictive, infectious groove-very much phenomenal.
"Work (Steve Pitron & Max Sanna Radio Edit)" has the fast non-stop singing by Kelly reminiscent of the Destiny's Child days and very much strong! The beats are super accelerated like a full of fire type madness as the thumping dance beats just go full force thus reinforcing the entire mood to be like having a few cups of coffee and feeling totally wired. It's uplifting, funky, sassy, and fun!
"Daylight (Karmatronic Remix)" has a different effect as the background includes other vocals by guys and much "club element" effects. It's that song to hit the dance-floor when that guy you've been eyeing is coming your way. There's some disco ambiance meshed with echoing vocals quite captivating as the guy in the background steps in quite vaguely but seductively. The beats slow down, pick up, blink, and a rap artist goes wild on the rap as the swirls kick in and escalate the explosive dance effects!
While her first version has much excellent catchy songs, this new premium version has what the other leaves out-more party, more dance, and more positive styles. Both becoming like a perfect package to enjoy together as each has something diverse to offer. My musical tastes shift non-stop so on my "I'm so down" moods, this Premium Edition will lift me considerable notches. The former version is on the nights that I'm on hip-hop mode for Snoop, Nelly, Tank, or just reminiscing. Not a huge fan of thinking back, or negative type sad songs I found this Premium edition to jet my juices flowing and my party moods on full force! Perhaps, omitting some of her slow songs and adding a few more featured artists would have been nice. The featured artist added, Travis, [Daylight Track 2] did an excellent job in enhancing the listening experience. This was extremely enjoyable to the point of not skipping any tracks. It's a full of funk, sassy, positive, fun, album!
2 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 The Bonuses Doesn't Make The Music Any Better Sep 05, 2007
I really hate to be the bearer of bad news, especially when it involves wholesome people who have a good optimistic personality, spirit, and try hard. With that said I was dissapointed utterly with the release of this album. Destiny's Child, with their various group members and changes over the years have always provided fans, radio, and clubs with nothing but hits and club-bangers. I like the trio incarnation of Destiny's Child best. Now Kelly is trying to step out of the shadow of Beyonce and of being a backup (Who wouldn't?).
Whose to say if this album was possibly rushed? I don't know, I wasn't there during the production of it but it certainly feels that way to me. The total track time comes in at a weak 42 and a half minutes, with a large sum of the tracks lacking true quality of any kind. It is so typical and repetitve sounding just like most of the contemporary pop and r&b of today. I look at the cover of the album and it has a retro feel to it. The cover looks like the female version of Michael Jackson's "Bad". But I respect the pop artist of generations past such as the untouchable MJ and his producer Quincy Jones more.
Running through the tracks on this album, they all have a couple of different producers who provide us with the same old, tired, and uninnovative music you were probably expecting to hear beforehand. Scott Storch's stuff is mediocre along with the other producers. Believe it or not, for those of you who may like or dislike Tank, he produced the two best songs on the album; The only two songs that I happen to give high marks to. These tracks include "Ghetto" featuring Snoop Dogg and "The Show" featuring Tank. Ghetto has a lot of flare to it with a rollin' beat, while The Show is soulful and showcases some great vocals by Kelly and Tank.
A majority of the rest of the songs on the album are disastrous. The other really listenable songs include "Comeback", "Every Thought Is You", and "This Is Love". I'm sorry, but honestly I can not recommend this to anyone who aren't die hard Destiny's Child or Kelly Rowland fans. Kelly Rowland's voice lacks a little bit of strength and is young. I am sure however young people are who this album will appeal to the most and I am certain they will buy it regardless of what I, or anyone else has to say. More power to you Kelly!
*Sony is also throwing at us a special premium edition version of Ms. Kelly as well as the standard, but all the listening material stays the same. The studio throws in a few small bonuses with a different label to try to market it for a higher price and cash in. Is it worth it? Not really.
For your cellphone you get a ringtone and mobile wallpaper, one free download "Like This Remix featuring Sean Paul", and an extended booklet with more photos and lyrics. If you ask me personally that's a very dirty thing to try to get somebody to pay for the lyrics and more photos inside the CD booklet. In my Michael Jackson albums from decades ago I can open up the booklet and find the lyrics right there in the standard edition, because it seems as though it is something that should come standard anyway with the album.
In Japan we have an international edition of this CD with one bonus song "Gotsta Go, Pt. 1 with Da Brat". For almost all r&b and hip-hop releases, Japan always includes 1 or sometimes 2 bonus tracks at the end of the album so that the distribution company can raise the retail price up $3-5 more. I think it's just ridiculous.
When I was in the states we never had the luxury of getting bonus tracks on every new CD that came out. However, it's really just a gimmick though anyways. The people who I am with in Japan (meaning the Japanese listening audience), are willing to pay the extra money for those single tracks. I think the reason they don't do it in the United States is because the labels know that it won't fly and no one is going to hand over that kind of money for something so petty. Most of the time the bonus songs are not that great anyways, so please don't think that you are missing out on anything. If you look at the retail price on the Japanese import version I think you will agree with me 100%.
*The following text refers to the special premiunm edition and the Japanese import version of this album.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
A great album but this premium edition is a bit disappointing Aug 04, 2007
Kelly Rowland has made a great sophmore album but I find this premium edition a bit disappointing. In my opinion, a better song for the digital download would have been nice. the bonus download is just "Like This" DJ Speedy Remix with Eve and YoungBloodZ's Sean Paul. I was hoping for "Gotsta Go" Featuring Da Brat, which appears on International editions of the album. Anyways, unless you want the lyrics, extra photos, cell phone ringtone and wall-paper and the "like this" remix download, I find this premium edition a waste of money. But this is still a great album in general.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 im in love with my... Jul 11, 2007
I got the album last week, and i have given it a week so that i could write an effective review, becuase i belive you have to give the album time in order to really know if you like it or not. Well i gave it time and this album is great. kelly really shows how great of a singer she is and how she can be an individual and not "beyonce's friend". She has great songs on this album like comeback which is like a nice club song, and work which is the song you hear and its like how did she manage that? It's a fast paced song and she did it so well. The good slow songs are The Show- feat. Tank, and im in love with my ex. She really show all her vocals in these two and they are brilliant. My only negative comment about this album, is that there are way more slow songs than club songs. This premium package also comes with a free ringtone, wallpaper, and download.Also the cd booklet is packed with all the lyrics, and lots of beautiful pictures of Kelly, that should have been plastered all over the world. This premium package is well worth your money.
It's that 'special premium edition' hubba bubba! Jul 03, 2007
*This "Special Premium Edition" has quite a few added treats that are not on the regular edition. First, the picture of Kelly on the front cover is more close up. I like it better. The booklet is 20 pages, as apposed to only 6 pages for the normal edition. It also has several additional photos and lyrics. The CD comes with a card with a code to redeem the bonus content, which is a ringtone, digital download and cell phone wallpaper. I'm not completely sure, but I think the content may be different for each store. (You have to verify which store you purchased it at.) I bought it at Wal Mart and it brought me to a page that said the store at the top. So, anyways... I can't speak for other stores, but what I got was an "Every Thought Is You" ringtone, a cell phone wallpaper of Kelly and a digital MP3 download for a remix of "Like This," which I already had from the maxi-single.
I like the extensive booklet, but I would've preferred to have a DVD or extra songs rather than ringtones, etc. I'm not a big cell phone user. As a fan, this edition was worthy of my extra few bucks, but if you're a casual listener... just buy the regular edition.*
As many know, I love Destiny's Child and love each member equally, of course. Kelly has always gotten my respect; her voice is a deep, sultry alto and her clarity is unmatched. Unfortunately, I believe she was falsely made out to be the oddball or "alternative" member of the group, sporting short, color-highlighted hair. This cut-out personality carried out into her solo debut, `Simply Deep,' which was a so-so effort full of sappy pop/rock ballads, a few half-baked fast tracks and enough lyrical similes and metaphors to make your head spin! (By no means was it terrible, but I expected better.) Even Kelly herself has admitted in recent interviews that the album was "rushed" and she was "not ready." Well... now she is! Rowland has shed that image to reveal a sexy, distinguished and confident young woman; hence, the title, `Ms. Kelly.'
This album is a result of over two years of hard work. After the recording of the final Destiny's Child album, Kelly returned to the studio with a vision. About this time last year, she and Columbia Records invited some critics to come and listen to the result, tentatively titled, `My Story.' Sadly, they didn't have much good to say about the project. Determined to create a perfect and balanced album, she returned once again to the booth, agreeing that it was "too full of ballads." (She really has a thing for those love ballads, even still on the final product.) Time and time again, it was pushed back, from late 2006, to February 2007 to June 26. Thankfully (and finally), all the effort has paid off and the product is an excellent album.
The first single, "Like This," was a perfect choice to introduce the world to the new Kelly Rowland. She graces the Polow Da Don track with effortless swagger and confidence. Eve's verse adds a nice touch, too. (It's nice to see her back.) "Comeback" is a fierce, powerful and boisterous anthem. A club banger, for sure, Ms. Kelly brags and teases about her "hubba bubba" that will make you "run back and tell your motha." Hahahaha! "Ghetto" is the cool, laid-back cousin of DC's "Soldier." Snoop Dogg makes a great appearance, also. "Work (Put It In)" is another Scott Storch-produced club banger in which Kelly sings at lightning speed. Amazingly, she keeps her composure with perfect diction over the percolating beat, making every lyric understood and heard. It is definitely one of the album's highlights.
From this point on, the album slows down a bit. "Flashback" has been readily available on the net for quite a while now, but is it definitely worthy of inclusion. Kelly mutters out thoughts, regretting a past breakup. It is truly entrancing with layer upon of smooth vocals. On "Every Thought Is You (Addicted)," she reflects on her infatuation with that special someone. Very nice and sweet. "The Show" is a sleek and sexy track featuring Tank. It's very similar to Fantasia's "I Nominate U" in content. It is alright, but definitely not my favorite. It's kind of been-there-done-that material. During the "Interlude," Kelly delivers the first few lines of the following track, with only piano and vocals. It is emotionally moving and it shows off her vocal skill.
Immediately following is "Still In Love With My Ex," which is, in my opinion, the best track of the album. The version included is different from the synth-heavy, hip hop inspired version that leaked this February. The vocals are the same, but the production is now a syncopated guitar riff. The song flows, the lyrics are relatable and Kelly is at her best vocally. This would be the perfect choice for a second single and it has extreme crossover potential. "Love" is also an amazing song with lyrics that may just be autobiographical, looking at her serious relationship with that football player, Roy. She sings the bittersweet "you had me, lost me, now you want me back" lyrics with true artistry and emotion. Amazingly, the Solange Knowles-penned verses avoid those annoying clichés. Love it! "Better Without You" also put me in a trance. It's a great track where Rowland overcomes sorrow and moves on from a painful split. The final track, "This Is Love," is my least favorite of the bunch. It's a bit sappy at times. The lyrics are very `Simply Deep'-esque. Her voice is great, though. (Of course.) It's still a nice song, just not my cup of tea
Although `Ms. Kelly' has a few flaws, is in need of a few more up-tempos and the songs wouldn't suffer from a new sequencing... the album is still a great breakthrough album that truly distinguishes Kelly Rowland as a solo artist. I wish you all the luck in the world, Kelly!
|
| |
|
![Up (4 Disc Combo Pack with Digital Copy and DVD) [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51V%2Beipy8-L._SL75_.jpg "Up (4 Disc Combo Pack with Digital Copy and DVD) [Blu-ray]")
![Across the Universe [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51T24FuHPEL._SL75_.jpg "Across the Universe [Blu-ray]")
![Underworld Trilogy (Underworld / Underworld: Evolution / Underworld: Rise of the Lycans) [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51F27VzUl%2BL._SL75_.jpg "Underworld Trilogy (Underworld / Underworld: Evolution / Underworld: Rise of the Lycans) [Blu-ray]")
![Shakira: Oral Fixation Tour [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RQUEopdlL._SL75_.jpg "Shakira: Oral Fixation Tour [Blu-ray]")
