Born to be free... of being noticed :'(
J. Yager | NY USA | 07/26/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album completely missed the UK album charts, which is unbelievable. Sonique is my favorite singer, and if you get this album, she'll become yours too! Maybe, because so many people were turned off after they bought her first album. I thought her first was good, but alot of people just hated the other album tracks besides the singles.
This album only spawned 2 singles, because Universal Records is stupid and dropped her before releasing a third single, because the sales weren't good. Gee, maybe they would have been if more time was spent on promoting the album?
Anyway, not only are the sinlges on the album great and underrated, but the whole album is! My rule of thumb is that an album shouldn't be released without 5 really good songs, so that at least some songs have single potential. This album definately passes that test. Anyway, here's each song, in detail:
Alive: The album's second single, which didn't do nearly as well as it should have. Arguably the best song on the album, one of my favorite songs of all time, a better question is who doesn't like this song. It starts off with a really cool intro, and the bridge and chorus will have you listening to the song a million times! Something great to dance to! 9/10
Hold Me Now: Sonique's reaction to September 11th, and she wasn't even in the States, which shows she cares about what's going on in the world. My favorite song on the album. One word to describe it is beautiful. The song has a dance beat and tempo, yet it's a really moving song. A song with both of those qualities is hard to find. And the string section in the song... it's just a great song, trust me. The only "flaw" if you call it, is that it's a sad song that, even though it is upbeat, it may make you depressed, and is not the perfect song to lift you up. Sometimes I even cry when I listen to this. None the less, 10/10
Can't Make Up My Mind: The first single released from the album, and a good one at that. I really like the lyrics, and it's another good song to dance to. A great mid-uptempo track! 8/10
Magic: This song is what the title says. Another mid-uptempo one, and it makes you feel good. I like the lyrics to this one, too. 8/10
Love Washes Away: This song sounds different than any of the other songs, or any song I've heard. There are some nice strings in this song too, and a cool intro. It sounds kinda weird though at first but I like it. There are choir voices in the background, which adds a nice touch. 7/10
Will You Want Me: Sonique's specialty, which is remix-like songs. This song samples the club track Amphetamine. It'd go down great at clubs, but if I'm just chilling, maybe not the song I'd sit and listen to. Great to dance to though. 6/10
Freefalling: Sonique's mom's favorite song on the album. Sort of like a mid-tempo ballad. Not something I listen to everyday, but still a good song. 6/10
Right Here You An' I: Another song similar to Will You Want Me, only I seem to like this one better. It's more fast-paced, but I seem to sing along with the lyrics. This is great for dancing and clbus too. 7/10
Seriously: The intro makes the song seem weird, but it turns out to be a more mellow RnB type song. The chorus is kinda catchy, and it's different enough. 6/10
You're The Reason: I do tend to skip some of the songs on the middle of the album, but now we get to the good stuff again. A nice dance track with a hint of reggae to it, Sonique's favorite on the album. I love the chorus, and this song makes me happy. 8/10
Born To Be Free: It starts off with an awesome keyboard intro, but gets faster. I think this should have been the next single. Really upbeat. Another great one for dancing. And the lyrics describe what the title says. 9/10
Please: Some people have said they don't like this one, but I, for some reason, do and must give it atleast a 7. Not exactly a ballad, but not fact paced or uptempo, I find it very catchy and I love listening to it, and singing to the chorus. 7/10
I'm Gonna Love You: A great upbeat dance track that really makes you hapy! 7/10
The album also includes a remix of Can't Make Up My Mind."
Sophomore Satisfaction
at0mic0734 | Calgary, AB Canada | 03/11/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In the year 2000 Sonique (an acclaimed DJ, athlete and singer) brought us "It Feels So Good," her breakout hit, which was one of the best singles of that year. It was one of several stellar tracks from her somewhat uneven debut album. Her long-awaited followup is a much more cohesive affair then her debut. "Born To Be Free" on the whole is a bit of a grower, and probably doesn't contain stellar singles of the same magnitude, but ultimately works better as an album. Some of the best songs include "Alive" the second single (which would have probably been better as the first), "Can't Make Up My Mind" (the actual first single), "You're The Reason," the title track and "Will You Want Me" (which should have been a single). The producers on the album include Graeme Pleeth and Robin Barter, who worked on her last album, along with Drum n' Bass producer Roni Size on "Right Here You An' I," recently defunct duo Thunderpuss on "Love Washes Away" (which was one of their last production jobs), and Chris Cox (one half of Thunderpuss) on "Magic," which was written by Sonique and Rob Davis of Mud (these days, a hired gun who also co-wrote Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head with Cathy Dennis), as well as FAF on the title track, Richie Jones and Eric Kupper on "I'm Gonna Love You" and the ubiquitous Rick Nowels co-producing with Thunderpuss. Unfortunately the album hasn't lived up to expectations, which is too bad since it's an excellent record. The material essentially proves that Sonique was no producers puppet, like many emerging pop and dance acts. She's managed to stay current, and still keep and develop her sound. Compared to her first; the songs are much more personal and introspective in nature, with Sonique given writing credit on all but one song. Tracks like "Can't Make Up My Mind," "Hold Me Now," "Will You Want Me," "Born To Be Free" and "Freefalling" showcase her development as a songwriter and as an artist. This time, it seems Sonique and her producers have managed to make a consistent album, while still being diverse - keeping in the framework of the album as a listening experience, rather than just a collection of songs. Hopefully this won't be the last we hear from Sonique. (4.5 Stars)"
FANTASTIC!
Veki | Bosnia and Herzegowina | 08/28/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sonique rulez!
new album is sooo good!
songs like-alive,you're the reason,i'm gonna love youor hold me now are songs for all times!this is great dance,electronic and r'n'b cd with 14 great songs for everyone who likes good music.
go on and buy it,all songs are perfect,like 1.album!"
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1
