The Main Idea:
In the summer of 2001, you couldn't go anywhere without hearing the catchy lead single off Blu Cantrell's debut album, So Blu. A creative and well-presented mix of R&B, hip-hop, pop, and jazz, So Blu really introduced Blu as an artist and welcomed us into her world. In my opinion, this is one of the best debut efforts to come out in a while, particularly in R&B music. Though I definitely see the Faith Evans comparisons, as their voices are almost identical, I think Blu Cantrell has a more classy feel to her music and overall sound. So Blu is a lot more than the one hit we've come to know Miss Cantrell for. It's a soulful testament to what all young R&B singer/songwriters should strive for. Forget Beyonce, Ashanti, and all of them - So Blu is where the real talent's at.

Song-By-Song Breakdown:
1. WASTE MY TIME - This plucky hip-hop tune is probably what draws the most Faith comparisons. It features a so-so rap from fellow RedZone artist L.O. and wouldn't be very remarkable if it was sung by anyone but Blu. She hits a particularly high note right before the rap section. The song is very catchy and radio-friendly and probably would have made a good follow-up single because it runs along the same lines as "Hit 'Em Up Style." One of my favorites; extremely addictive - 5/5

2. HIT 'EM UP STYLE (OOPS!) - I was never a very big fan of this song, and it sounds kind of out of place on this record, but Blu does what she can with it. With its infectious hook, call-outs, and slightly cartoon-ish production, it's easy to see why this track was so massively popular. You can get sick of it really easily, though, and the lyrical concept isn't very original. Not what I would have chosen for the first single, but Blu gives it some potential - 3/5

3. TILL I'M GONE - This is a sorrowful mid-tempo ballad that Blu sings with real emotion and remorse. It, too, has a surprisingly catchy chorus: "He won't love me/Till I'm gone gone/But I don't want him/'Cause he's wrong wrong/Now he loves me, 'cause I'm gone/But it's just too late/'Cause now I found someone." This cut starts out very slow, then picks up speed as it goes along. Vocally is where it truly shines, though; Blu really can sing when she wants to, as she knows how to use her voice to her advantage - 5/5

4. U MUST B CRAZY - This catchy mid-tempo tune features excellently arranged keyboards and electric guitar and is another one of my favorites. This is another song that wouldn't be very notable if it had been sung by anyone but Blu Cantrell, as her voice gives it some meaning and depth. Lyrically, it's nothing we haven't heard before, but the production is superb and everything about this track comes together. A very well thought-out and -arranged cut that has strong jazz influences - 5/5

5. THE ONE - Why does it seem like nearly every artist in the world has a song called "The One"??? Anywho, this one is very meaningful and heartfelt: "He will never leave me standing/In the pouring rain/He will never disrespect me/Call me out my name/He will never have me waiting/Till the morning comes/I will always be his baby/When it's said and done." I like the way the vocals are arranged on this one, and I also love the rainfall production affects added to the background music. A sweet keyboard-accompanied ballad - 5/5

6. I'LL FIND A WAY - This ballad has definite gospel leanings and actually sounds like something Mariah Carey would do. Blu sings it with real strength and emotion and explores different parts of her vocal range. When you factor in the guitar, piano, and drums, the overall sound of this track becomes quite dramatic, more dramatic than it needs to be. If some of the production and instrumentals had been stripped away, this song would have been a five. Blu's voice could have carried it more than well enough without all of the bells and whistles - 4/5

7. SWINGIN' - This obvious throwback to old-school swing music features some ad-libs from Dallas Austin and clever scatting from Blu herself. This is yet another one of my favorites, as it's highly infectious and the little "Be bop"'s are great. This is such a fun song and should have been a single, as you can clearly envision a genius video inspired by it. The production is great, and the background vocals are arranged in a way that also pays tribute to swing and jazz music - 5/5

8. 10,000 TIMES - This is another heartfelt mid-tempo ballad with an unusually catchy hook: "Been in love 10,000 times/And I've been hurt 10,000 times/Yet and still you want a try/But what would do if I gave my love to you/Would you hurt me too?" The background vocals on this tune sound different than those on the rest of the record; they sound higher and more nasally. The production is nice and elegant and suits the song well. Lyrically, it sounds like everything else on the album, though - 5/5

9. WHEN I NEEDED YOU - This smoky ballad once again has a jazzy feel to it and also sounds a lot like a Faith Evans song. Blu does her thing, though, and really makes the song her own. These repetitive lyrical concepts are starting to get annoying; this one draws on the well-worn Toni Braxton-style concept of my-man-left-me-now-I-need-someone-better. If anyone who didn't have as much talent as Blu had sung this song, I probably would have hated it - 4/5

10. ALL YOU HAD TO SAY - The addictive melody and bouncy production and keyboards of this tune really make it stand out. It's fun, upbeat, and features another one of Blu's signature catchy choruses: "All you had to say/Was that you want me/All you had to say/Was that you cared/All you had to say/Was that you love me/Instead you were/Never really there." The vocals are arranged excellently and really compliment the vibe of this track well. A vibrant song that will stand out in your mind - 5/5

11. I CAN'T BELIEVE - This keyboard-heavy cut is a definite tear-jerker, so be ready to break out the box of Kleenex as you listen to the way a heartbroken Blu pleads with her lover over your stereotypical ballad-like production. It's a fairly simple track that isn't anything remarkable, but Blu's delivery, which is probably the best of the entire album, is what sets it apart from the rest of the record. Another Mariah-ish cut that Blu put her own unique stamp on - 4/5

12. SO BLU - This is probably my favorite song on the album. I like the way the lyrics are delivered - "You see me at the bottom/Trying to get on top/You see me at the club/You know I used to rock/You see me crying tears/Lord make 'em stop/You see the sun shine/But never on my block" - and it has a strong bassline, excellent background vocals, and unique production. There's also some well-defined percussion and guitar that gives the song an almost Latin vibe. A very well-rounded tune - 5/5

13. BLU IS A MOOD - This one is my least favorite song. It's definitely different from the rest of the record, but sometimes different can be a bad thing. It's simple, jazzy, and sweet, but kind of spacey and too chill for the rest of the album. I don't like the hook, as it's too simple and not even the slightest bit catchy, but Blu's delivery once again saves it from obscurity. I could have lived without the spoken word parts at the beginning though: "I don't do much talking. I do a lot of singing." - 3/5

The Big Picture:
So Blu was definitely one of the top five albums of 2001. It's a classy contemporary R&B record that's unique because of its obvious jazz influences. I know you wanna compare her to Faith Evans and Mary J. Blige and whoever, but Blu really does have a sound that's all her own. On So Blu, she really uses her voice as her main instrument. Save for the first single and a few other moments, it's not very overproduced and allows Blu's undeniable vocal talent to really shine through. The instrumentals are also a main focus of So Blu. They're mostly keyboards and some occasional guitars, but they're really well-arranged and compliment Blu's vocals excellently in nearly every song. Overall, So Blu is a lot more classy than most R&B efforts out there which rely on raunch and, in female singers' cases, skimpy clothes to break into the mainstream.

It's a shame that Blu Cantrell has so quickly become a one-hit wonder because So Blu showed so much promise. I'm afraid I can't say the same about her disappointing follow-up record, but, if her record label had put more push into promoting her and perhaps released a first single that was more representative of the entire album, So Blu and Blu herself both would have been massive chart-topping successes. I believe she really does have more talent than Beyonce and Ashanti and even Faith Evans at times, so I'm a little sad that So Blu didn't take off as much as records by the three aforementioned singers. If you're looking for a classy alternative to today's mainstream R&B, So Blu is definitely the record for you. It doesn't try to be all hard and thug. It doesn't have guest spots from Sean Paul or Ja Rule or P. Diddy. It's not "Blu From The Block." It's just a pretty girl with an even prettier voice who sings straight from the heart.

Final Notes:
Average Song Rating: 4.462
Best Song(s): This was a tough one, but I'd have to say "The One," "Swingin'," and "So Blu," but they're all great
Worst Song(s): "Blu Is A Mood"

How Would I Rate This Record's...
Vocals? 4 stars
Lyrics? 3 stars
Production? 4 1/2 stars
Timelessness? 3 stars
Artistry? 3 stars

Also Recommended:
Mya - Fear Of Flying
Jennifer Lopez - This Is Me... Then
Amerie - All I Have

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Driving