Ciara's 'Promise' is probably going to be my no 1 single of the year

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

yet the ilx thread seems to consist of about three people and I want to rhapsodise about it without feeling like I'm just talking to myself!

I talked about it here, there is also a link to the video (a dancing video! for a ballad!). Stuff I didn't pick up on until I'd heard the full quality mp3: wonderfully tactile bass, awesome Daft Punk-esque vocodered backing vocals, light sensual breathing used as part of the percussion. This song is astonishing and I am completely obsessed with it.

Comments

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I love 'Long Way 2 Go' as well but I think Cassie totally nails the vocals - the spoken word bits are wonderfully glacial ("tryna take me out to dinner - I cancel it") and she walks the wistful/dismissive tightrope perfectly.

I really like the dreamy strings which come in at the end! Ryan Leslie's production over the whole Cassie album is really interesting.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

"Long Way To Go" is v good yes.

D'led "Promise" last night - impressed on first listen, let's see how it grows.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

the rest of the Cassie album is a bit of a curveball - 'Me & U' and 'Long Way 2 Go' both set her up as a minimal ice queen, but the rest is a lot warmer and poppier.

[thenipper.livejournal.com]

I love the singles, but my favourite thing on the album may be "Ditto"!

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

That's the next single! I love it too, it's so bubblegum-lite and I like that she's pursuing the classic fear-of-commitment tactic of accepting all the sweet romantic expressions he says to her without ever actually saying them back.

Some great crunk beats + deep chord changes on 'Call U Out' too, and harp action on 'Just One Nite', and 'What Do U Want' is tremendous disco fun.