//Neon Reviews: Jordin Sparks – Battlefield//
For American Idol winners, their first albums are normally viewed more as a test product than their “babies.” Sure, it’s a dream for them to release an album, and no doubt they’re excited about it, but the album is essentially the vision of herds of songwriters, producers, and Idol execs. When (if) they’re lucky enough to get a second album, that’s when listeners can measure exactly what kind of artist they’ll be.
Jordin Sparks, the bubbly winner of season 6, just released her sophomore album, Battlefield, and, for the most part, she’s in the same lane as she was on her 2007 self-titled debut — not a good thing.
Sparks still seems to be little more than the mouth-piece for the talented crop of songwriters and producers who worked on the album, which include T-Pain, Stargate, The Underdogs, and Ryan Tedder. With so many cooks in the kitchen it’s hard for her to establish a defining sound or direction; the 19-year-old isn’t sure if she’s making music for her peers or her mom.
Songs like the electro-pop “SOS (Let The Music Play)” and “Emergency (911)” are clearly meant for her age set with their mentions of ringtones, texting, and club hopping, but they feel uncomfortable. Sparks is more at home with the Adult Contemporary crowd, like on the moody lead single and title track from the set, where Jordin compares love’s ups and downs to a war. “You better go and get your armor,” she sings on the sweeping hook.
Dramatic, atmospheric production and immaculately soaring vocals make “Let It Rain” and “Faith” the album’s saviors, proving that Jordin can eventually grow into an artist with the right stuff. Maybe if the Idol gods smile again for a third album, Sparks will ditch the gaggle of producers, sit down with one, maybe two and craft a more cohesive offering that tells the world why she won Idol in the first place.
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well well hmm..but at least she can sing.
Jordin moja to som ja tvôj frajer jack a mám ta velmi rád no lubim ta nemám slou mojko
As much as I hate to admit it because I love Jordin, I have to agree with you. The album is uneven, and I’m not seeing the growth from her that I had wished for. She had more time on this album, so it should have been more cohesive, and it should have pointed us into a direction that said, “this is who Jordin Sparks is as an artist.” Some of the songs are great – the ballads work better. But some of the others, notably Emergency (911) and S.O.S. are just the type of Top 40 dreck that convinced me to stop listening to Top 40. I’m convinced she has more in her than this, so I hope the album does decently in the end so she can try again.
I truly do not understant what people are looking for. Battlefield I happen to love the CD. I think it’s hard for anyone to give some Idols any credit. Take a second or maybe third listen. This is a great CD. What does cohesive have to do with a good sounding song??? Or someone with a great voice. The one thing about most of these reviews they never say anything about her singing ability. Her CD seens to be doing great in the UK?? It’s no wonder the music industry is what it is. Put out trash and the reviews are all positive