Review:

In her third offering, Ciara takes her fans on a "fantasy ride" that hits many highs and lows. The overly hyped and continuously delayed album boosts many radio friendly songs and potential hits. One of the album's downfalls is the lack of cohesiveness. This might be attributed to the album's original formatting of having three different discs representing various musical styles, which later became scraped. The album's formatting change resulted in all concepts being placed on one disc.

Aside from the lack of fluidity, this 13-track album offers a little something for everyone. Listeners' ears will be subjected to Ciara's alter ego, "Super C" softly crooning over seductive mid-tempo ballads and heads will bob along to the album's contagious club bangers with the catchy hooks.

If listeners are looking for the growth and "evolution" with Fantasy Ride, they will be slightly disappointed.

Strongest points:

The album's aggressive and dance driven beats allow this album to standout. The album enlists production from many of the industry's "it" producers. This includes: Justin Timberlake, Tricky Stewart, The Dream, Rodney Jerkins, and Missy Elliot. In addition, the many collaborations found on the album helps to give the "swagger" Super C was aspiring for. Cameos include: Justin Timberlake (Love Sex & Magic), Chris Brown (Turntables), Ludacris (High Price), Missy Elliott (Work), Young Jeezy (Never Ever), and The-Dream (Lover's Thing).

Weak Points:

Ciara, aka Super C's vocal delivery is at most sub par. Vocally Ciara seems to exhibit a lack of growth. There is no differentiation between Ciara and Super C. Ciara's voice remains monotonous and at times is almost inaudible over the infectious production. In actuality, Ciara and Super C both become lost in the production and merely sit in the background. For the longest Ciara has been fighting for her own identity. Throughout her career she has been compared to the likes of Janet Jackson and even the late Aaliyah. Many songs throughout the album actually are very reminiscent of Janet's Discipline era. For instance, I Don't Remember is very similar to Janet's Rock With U. The lyrics at times are very superficial and lack depth and intensity--G is for Girl, Like a Surgeon, and High Price.

Highlights:

Ciara to the Stage, Love Sex & Magic, High Price (the operatic vocals gives the track an unique flair), Never Ever (possibly Ciara at her best), Work, When I (Bonus Track), and Keep Dancin' On Me.

Rating: 2.5/5

I feared the worst for this album when it kept getting pushed back, for one. Then when 'Go Girl' failed to make noise, and the follow-up 'Never Ever' as well, I was just done. 'Love Sex Magic' was a decent rebound, but it was more than clear that it was a possible left over from Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds album and a desperate attempt to draw people in last minute. And it still hasn't generated anything compared to the singles on her last two albums. When I saw the cover I was even more mortified. And from my years of listening to music, you know you're in for a crap of an album when there are tons of guest appearances noted (with the exception of a few). The original concept of a 3-CD set crossing different genres of music and her alter ego 'Super C' was a bit exciting for a young lady who is clearly the heir to Janet Jackson and Aaliyah's throne, but looks like someone by the name of Beyonce beat her to the punch.

All jokes aside, this CD is disappointing and really all over the place. I expected so much more. It seems that she tried too hard and just lost focus and sight of what she wanted in the end, which could be at the fault of the label. Up-tempo cuts like 'G is For Girl (A to Z),' 'Turntables' f/ Chris Brown, and 'Work' f/ Missy Elliot are not the cream of the crop and all over the place musically. Ciara overdoes it on 'Ciara to the Stage' and 'Keep Dancing On Me,' and 'I Don't Remember' is a horrible attempt to recreate a theme perfectly created by Britney Spears's 'Blur.'

'Tell Me What Your Name Is' and 'Pucker Up' are tossups, but there are some high points. Two of the singles that have already been released make the final cut ('Go Girl' isn't featured for some strange reason but included on the Limited Edition CD/DVD as a video only) and are to Ciara's standards vocally and musically. The-Dream puts her in her comfort zone with the opera-like 'High Price' f/ Ludacris and the duet with himself on 'Lover's Thing.' 'Like a Surgeon' has a Prince-esque type of vibe similar to how she won people over on her sophomore album with 'Promise.' The two bonus tracks on the Limited Edition CD/DVD, 'Echo' and 'I'm On' are phenomenal and should've replaced the weakest tracks on the main album. Even 'Click Flash' from the Sex and the City The Movie Soundtrack is worthy. With these songs it puts in prospective how the vibe of the album would've been had she stuck it through because they are classic Ciara R&B/Pop bangers.

This album is definitely the worst of the three. I expected her to progress even more with the positive response from her sophomore release, but this is below the bar she set by far. I guess every artist has that one album that just wasn't on point for whatever reason and this is Ciara's unfortunately. Thank goodness she's in her early 20s and still has a long career ahead of her.

I expect to see her revamped and in normal form whenever the next album drops, but this simply is not her best work. Could've been a lot better.

I find it funny how anyone can comment on production, songwriting, lyrics etc. Especially if that isn't your profession?! Artists, producers, songwriters and record labels work very hard to give the audience something that they can enjoy. Ciara happens to be one of those artists of many in the industry who isn't going to please every single one of her listeners. It is true that after hearing a song over and over again, you just might like it! Or maybe not!

At first when I listened to some of the songs that leaked, I was a bit puzzled to say the least. But after hearing the album in it's entirety, I get where Ciara went with creating "Fantasy Ride." Either you get it or you don't! I commend her on taking a huge risk with Fantasy Ride and there are millions of people around the world who will dance and support Ciara no matter what the reviews say. Sometimes, you have to get into it for yourself before making a decision off someone else's opinion. Even mine and I love the album!

Ciara's third album Fantasy Ride was originally supposed to be some sort of concept album with three different "sections". That idea was scrapped, however, and after months of delays, the album came out earlier this year, and since I already heard her first two albums, I decided I might as well listen to this one.

Truth be told, there are only a few songs on this album that really stand out, two of which are "Love Sex Magic" and "Lover's Thing". The latter features The-Dream singing in an unconventional way: NORMALLY -- and I wonder why he doesn't sing this way on his albums. Speaking of Dream, it should be no surprise that there are a couple of selections on here written by him and his partner Tricky Stewart, but the only really decent one is "Keep Dancin' on Me". "Like a Surgeon" didn't do anything for me, and the Ludacris-assisted "High Price" is skippable (especially when C does that "you know me" part).

"Never Ever", the first U.S. single as well as one of the only ballads on here, does a nice job of interpolating Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' "If You Don't Know Me by Now" (Jeezy's appearance really isn't needed though). That's about it, though. Most of the rest of the songs are mindless club tracks, like "Pucker Up", "Turntables" and the ridiculous "Work" (the latter two songs feature Chris Brown and Missy Elliott, respectively). "Ciara to the Stage" is one of those cases where the chorus sounds like it's chopped-and-screwed but it isn't, and "G is for Girl (A-Z)" tries to cleverly interpolate the alphabet but fails (for a successful take on that idea, check out Nikka Costa's "Till I Get to You"). And the limited edition version of the album features two additional tracks: "Echo" and "I'm On", which are both okay (in fact, the beat to the latter sounds almost identical to the beat to "Love Sex Magic").

In short, Fantasy Ride isn't a terrible album but it would only sound good in the club, so if you don't feel like steppin' out, you can do without it.

Anthony Rupert

Shes getting better with each new CD and has alot of great singers on this one with her.