Austin Music
No sophomore jinx for talented singer Derek Ali Cox News Blu Cantrell's second album, Bittersweet, makes a steady advancement and dodges the dreaded sophomore jinx. Her previous disc, 2001's So Blu, put the Rhode Island native on the map with the single Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!). Cantrell's voice easily commutes from songs spiced with pop to hip-hop to reggae to gritty R&B flavors. She doesn't miss a beat on the high-energy Make Me Wanna Scream (featuring Ian Lewis of Inner Circle) or when she's paired with reggae artist Sean Paul on the record's rap version of Breathe. Some of the songs are upbeat and midtempo tunes with excellent potential for heavy radio play; they include I Love You, Let Her Go and Risk It All. Impatient, featuring Lil' Kim and Fat Joe, is a hip-hop/R&B hybrid that should get its share of air time, as well. For ballad lovers, Cantrell has the heartwarming Unhappy, Sleep in the Middle and Don't Wanna Say Goodbye. The album may lack a megahit, but the cumulative quality makes up for that. | |||||
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