First lady... By the quality of this album, she sure is
James Maguire | Newcastle, England | 07/25/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"A long time coming, the debut album from So Solid Crews (The British Wu Tang Clan) main female emmcee is finally here! I got this album ... and I sure ... wasn't dissapointed. Removed from the Garage style of So solid crew, Lisa Maffia's debut album is a 'Solid' (excuse the pun) R&B effort with suprisingly little to no filler and production that can easily compete with American contemporaries if given the chance. Sure Lisa isnt a Mary J or Aaliyah, but she is more than competant, with the production masking any weakness she has in her vocal range. I recommend this album to anyone in the USA who is looking for a more dancey, lively catchy feel to their R&B, think Ashanti without the boring ballads!1. Swiss Intro - Short rap intro from a member of So Solid Crew, he's basically wishin' her luck in her solo career. Good rap if ya like rap, if you dont, the beat might keep ya interested!
2. All over - Lead single and a big hit in the UK, one of the most American sounding R&B tunes to ever come from the UK. VERY catchy, sounds like a Jermaine Dupri type song. It'll get ya dancing
3. Women of the world - Lisa shines on this song, the production is superb, very original, but the main focus is on her lyrics, your typical 'women taking control' thing
4. Down - The first slow (compared to the others) song on the album, the production drowns out Lisa's voice on this one, Wrong sort of backing beat for this and it is a weak song anyway.
5. Wrong guys - Electronic sounding production and Lisa singing about picking the wrong types of guys. Again, good production but her voice is lost in the beats and sound effects. The hook is strong though, so the song isnt a total loss
6. So Solid party - Superb Garage tune, for anyone who hasn't heard of So Solid Crew, listen to this and you'll get the point. Very catchy, dancy hiphop and the hook will be ringin' in ya head for weeks.
7. JD interlude - Interlude from JD, So Solids up and coming producer who does most of this album. Its pretty pointless yet kinda cool. Sounds a bit like opera singers singing 'LISA' over and over with JD going 'arghhhh' in the background
8. In love - Second single and by far the best song on the album, jittery spanish guitars and breathless vocals in this uptempo ballad which shows Lisa can make a song sweet with her voice.
9. Life - Excellent sound effect in the background, hard to describe it but its cool. Excellent song all round, good hook, strong verses and Lisa's voice is allowed control of the song.A ballad but its still slightly uptempo which is good.
10. City life - Sounds like someone has fell asleep on a church organ, the lyrics are wasted because the song is poor, along with 'Down' the worst on the album. The chorus is haunting and nicely sung by Lisa, but its lost in the verses
11. Superfreak - Uptempo track where Lisa disses a guy who lives with his parents. This is the style Lisa sings in when she is part of So Solid, more hip hop than R&B, not bad but nothing special.
12. Always be your angel - I THINK the tune to this one is the song 'The cats in the cradle' Very simple uptempo ballad (again!LOL) but it works well and this is a strong cut, would make a good 3rd single.
13. Out of my life - Fast paced garage/R&B track, the beat makes ya wanna move, sounds like a Mis-Teeq song if you know who they are. One of the stronger tracks on the album but its more of a background music track rather than a sit and listen one.
14. Night crawler - This one sounds quite Industrial, Lisa is more talking/rapping in this one than actually singing, but thats not necessarily a bad thing. Theres nothing bad bout it, but equally, theres nothing particularily good bout it either
15. Outro (Slowdown zone) - Mock radio station request show where people are ringing in to request the last song on Lisa's album (Clever huh!)The only slow song on the album, not very good, but its short so who cares..."
A Strong Solo Effort by an Intriguing British Talent
S. Berkwitz | Springfield, MO United States | 01/19/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"For one reason or another, many talented R&B performers in the UK remain nearly unknown in the larger American market. Artists such as Big Brovaz, Mis-teeq, and Ms. Dynamite have achieved great popularity in Britain recently, but their success has yet to translate on this side of the pond. Lisa Maffia (her real name) is another artist who could strike it big in the states if given a chance. FIRST LADY, her first solo album, is an impressive debut with few flaws. Songs like "All Over," "In Love," and "Night Crawler" have Lisa's silky smooth vocals and stirring dance beats. Some of the other songs don't grab you right away, but the more you listen to the album, the more you catch yourself singing each song to yourself. American R&B fans should appreciate the album's house music influences and the Jamaican-style "toasting," features which serve to distinguish the artist's British background and make for a nice change from the formulaic American R&B and rap music dominating the video channels and air waves here. The lyrics are not all that thought-provoking, as Lisa prefers to sing about clubbing, the importance of women asserting themselves, and the love and responsibility she feels toward her daughter Chelsea. But there is much to enjoy listening and dancing to on this debut record. Lisa Maffia's fine voice, her street credibility as a member of London's "So Solid Crew," and her glamorous good looks that rival Beyoncé's make her an artist that American fans should look out for."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1