There's more to life than sex-pop. Instead, let Stacie get stuck on you
Written: Oct 11 '03
Product Rating:
Pros: I Promise, Instead, Strong Enough; good beats; amazing voice
Cons: That's What Love's About; some lyrics can be portrayed as preachy
The Bottom Line: There's no hesitation. We need to bounce back from sex pop and prove there's more to life than getting "dirrty." Pick Stacie Orrico instead.
itztru's Full Review: Stacie Orrico by Stacie Orrico
A new pop chick is on the scene, but you won't see too much T&A here. Stacie Orrico, Christian pop star turned top 40's good girl. And it works.
The safety-net-first-single, Stuck, is a bouncy, disgustingly catchy pop track featuring Stacie's surprisingly sassy and soulful voice. The majority of the song has an underlying, but extremely impactful electric guitar (along the lines of Christina's Fighter, only different). If released by any other artist, like Britney, this song would have gone nowhere due to its pure bubblegum-pop nature. God must truly favor Miss Orrico.
(There's Gotta Be) More To Life, a lyrical step up from the first single, is just Avril enough to be considered "cool." The old-record effect over the instruments gives it an authentic feel, while Stacie's voice is crystal clear and gorgeous against the music. The lyrical content is clever and true of how many teenagers feel. There's gotta be more to life/Than chasing down every temporary high.
With a sudden twist towards R&B, Bounce Back has one of the most interesting beats on the entire album. It's crazy because she goes from sounding like Christina, Mandy, to early Destiny's Child. The precision and control she has over her voice is wonderful, and the track is very nicely produced. Vocally, musically, she does all the right things on this upbeat tune.
I would say that I adore 99% of Diane Warren-penned songs. I Promise is no exception. The gorgeous midtempo/ballad is sweet and utter ear candy. The lyrics are typical of Warren, but who said that's a bad thing? Stacie's voice is silky smooth, soft, and beautiful. It is probably my favorite ballad on the album because, well, it's how I feel about my boyfriend.
Will I take tender care of you?
Take your darkest night and make it bright for you?
Will I be there to make you strong and to lean on?
When this world has turned so cold, will I be the one that's there to hold?
Will I be there when you call me in the middle of the night?
Will I keep the rain from falling down into your life?
I promise, I promise
I promise I will
Will I be there when you call me in the middle of the night?
Will I keep the rain from falling down into your life?
I promise, I promise
I promise I will
And I love you more everyday
And nothing will take that love away
When you need someone, I promise I'll be there for you
Turning the tempo up a bit, Security is a decent song with another really catchy beat. It's easy to see she's talking about God in the song, even though one could very well assume she's talking about a guy. The track is okay but forgettable and not up to par with the quality of the rest of the album.
The lyrical content throughout the entire album is simply impressive. Instead is without a doubt a true gem - lyrically, vocally, and musically. At first listen you might think it's a tad overproduced, but Stacie's voice is dominant with its strong message. I adore the vocal arrangement and the music matches the theme of the song almost too perfectly.
It was 90 degrees in the summer heat
She was veiled in black all the way down to her feet
This is America, doesn't she know?
Somebody take her shopping, buy her some clothes
She came up to me, I didn't understand a word
I was about to leave, then another thought occurred
She might be really lost, scared and frustrated
I should try again to see what she's saying
How'd you get here?
How'd you get so far from home?
What was it that made you leave?
I wonder what I'd do if it were me!
A new point of view, a walk in your shoes
I wish I could get inside your head
To see what you see, when you look at me
'Cause I could've lived your life instead
Hesitation is another excellent song (musically), with a Craig David-esque 2-step influence. Being someone who isn't religious, I feel the lyrics can be taken as a bit preachy. Regardless, the song is enjoyable and so smooth. I Could Be the One follows along similar lines as Hesitation. It is enjoyable but doesn't stand out as one of the better tracks on the album.
If you had any doubt of Stacie's vocal ability, the striking beauty that is Strong Enough is the best showcase of her talent. The personal and reflective nature of the ballad lends to its gorgeous sound, as Stacie pours her heart out to a dramatic piano/orchestral melody. It is truly one of the best on the album (perhaps one of the best ballads I've ever heard).
The catchy R&B midtempo, Maybe I Won't Look Back, has another great message. The song is slightly busy, but at the same time very simple. Stacie sounds strong and concise (as usual). I feel like I've heard Tight's hip-hop/R&B-ish beat before. The lyrics are laced with subtle religious influences, a recurring pattern you find in many of the tracks on the album. I love the chorus, and the way the song ends abruptly with a short rap verse. Danceable track.
Surely Stacie had better material to stick on the tail end of the album than That's What Love's About. The echo-effect and instruments used give it an 80's-ballad feel that just doesn't work. The songs on the rest of the album are strong enough that if anything, they could've simply cut this song from the end of it and left 11 tracks. I'm not impressed by this.
Overall, Stacie Orrico's self-titled pop-debut is a true standout amongst the handful of her contenders. I love that she stands up to represent the "good girls," proving pop can be intelligent and clean. While I don't appreciate how her album ended, there's no denying the fact that the rest of the album more than makes up for it. If you haven't checked out this girl yet, you really need to.
And if you really wanna go the extra mile, download the Ruff Ryder remix of More To Life featuring Jin. It's quite impressive.
After touring with Plus One and Destinys Child, Stacie turns up the intensity on her sophomore release, adding her distinctive urban flare to a new se...More at Christianbook.com
With the release of the lively, polished Stacie Orrico, this vital new voice introduces her vibrant musicianship and sophisticated performance chops t...More at Buy.com
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