Amerie - Gotta Work

"Gotta Work" is a song that I wrote at the very last minute (while I was baking chicken of all things). I've gotten really good at writing/remembering songs in my head ever since I misplaced my dictophone. I know it's around here somewhere… Anyway, I recorded it right away and added it to the bunch right before we went in to mixing.

Yeah, I think Rihanna officially turned in her R&B card when she got an Aeon Flux haircut and recorded the Republica b-side that is "Shut Up And Drive."

Album of the year.

I love "Crush" and "Take Control" but I just can't get into the "1 More Thing"s, at least when she's chirping those high notes. Not sure why I find it so grating when it defines the pleasure principle for some many others.

Tim F OTM re: "Some Like It"

"Shut Up & Drive" is great, either in spite or because of it's Republica b-side sounding-ness. Rihanna's album is exactly halfway decent, although I'm not sure exactly what would improve it. I think it's perhaps a bit less than the sum of its parts.

xp: If anything on the album is "1 More Thing", it's "Take Control". As far as the chirpy high notes go, Amerie doesn't have the greatest chops, per se, but she knows how and when to force beyond her comfort zone for maximum impact. It's very thrilling, as Lex put it, when she goes all out. These moments never seem forced, though. They seem to happen as she gets caught up in the moment. This isn't to say that there isn't any artifice behind that phenomenon, but just to say that she's very good at hiding/selling it.

Also, OMG the harmonies & vocal production on this record. I love cool vocal production.

You all love "Some Like It".

More seriously, does it really matter whether "Some Like It" is "pj-approved Adventurous Pop"? Does that have any bearing whatsoever on how good or bad the song is? Worrying about something like that seems pointlessly self-conscious to me.

If anything on the album is "1 More Thing", it's "Take Control".

Are you actually saying "Take Control" sounds more like "1 Thing" than "Gotta Work"?

I went to pick up some new releases yesterday (at a store that puts out the Tuesday releases on the shelves on Monday) and it was nowhere to be found.

OK, I really wanted to buy this album, but this is ridiculous. Someone Sendspace it to me already.

At least as much so. When I first heard "Take Control", my first thought was that she was trying to remake "1 Thing". By the time I heard "Gotta Work", I just kinda expected it. (xp)

At any rate, I like "Take Control" (the idiosyncrasies of which eventually made themselves clear) more than "Gotta Work". On second thought, you're probably correct (assuming your thesis is that "Gotta Work" sounds more like "1 Thing" than "Take Control" does; you haven't explicitly stated that).

It's implied by my disbelief in your rather adamant "if <i>anything</i> on the album...," (italics mine) though. You seemed to be ignoring the drums, horns and vocals on "Gotta Work."

haha but then I forgot there weren't horns on "1 Thing," so I'll shut up now.

My problem with Some Like It is it's a bit disjointed and therefore doesn't quite take off.

Yeah, the drums and vocals are similar (horns? um... {xp nm}). The guitar hook on "Take Control" is a big part of what made me think of it as a retread.

The disjointed feel of "Some Like It" is a large part of its appeal for me. I love how it just shoots off on random tangents, barely bothering to patch them together.

"1 Thing" is so shrill and splashy that I think I just assumed there was a brass section blowing out my eardrum as well.

I was disappointed by how soon I lost interest in "Gotta Work" – it's too damn relentless, like Sparkle Motion or something.

I didn't put that very well, but I don't know how to state it better at the moment. (xxp)

"1 Thing" is so shrill and splashy that I think I just assumed there was a brass section blowing out my eardrum as well.

Completely understandable.

I dunno. The whole first half is pretty damn relentless, but that's a positive in my book.

Actually, "Gotta Work" is probably my least favorite song of the first half.

"Crush" & "Crazy Wonderful" prove that Cassie album tracks are much better with someone capable of displaying emotion.

OMG the remix of "Take Control". Mr. K-Pop singer is way ott.

The album comes out here in November, with a *new and improved* tracklist. "That's What U R RMX" with Fabolous and Slim Thug is the firts single, new version of "Crush" that samples the Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love will be single after that I think...

Is "here" Amurrica? If so, I'm glad I got my import copy before they fucked up a good thing.

Yeah, America.

Holy shit -- the first half is unstoppable.

TS: Amerie's "Crush" vs Ciara's "C.R.U.S.H."

Um, Ciara no contest. This album is really OVERRATED by you folks...

Anyway, UPDATE: The US has been scrapped and she's recording a brand new album...

rong, and rong ;_;

I can send this to you, Jordan. I got impatient and downloaded it from Limewire. It's pretty great, or at least the first 9 or 10 tracks are. Probably in my top 10 this year.

I've cooled on it, but still mighty fine.

um, it isn't. the song is 'hold on i'm coming', for sure, but its some other version, not the sam'n'dave version.

this song FUCKING SHREDS tho.

-- stevie, Monday, 16 April 2007 10:07 (7 months ago) Link

It's Erma Franklin's version FYI.

jenny hooked me up awhile back, jaymc, but thx. i've just been listening to it a lot (the 1st half anyway!).

The hate for "Some Like It" on this thread is RONG.

4-4-2

whatever i've moaned, it is sad to see her having to play the game and sing hooks for chingy and stuff now.

probably time to give this album another go. don't think my opinions will change (certainly not about ugh 'some like it'), but in the context of other rubbish albums that've been out it'll probly get a bump up. c'est la grim vie.

ciara's 'crush' was great and underrated.

crush vs crush, take control vs lose control

all four are great

why have they completely fucked up the US release of this? And why was "Losing U" relegated to bonus track status?

Because it would have stuck out like a sore thumb on the album.

i like 'some like it' even if it is horribly predictable coming from me. I love the tinny piano with its classy jazziness, matt bianco meets some passionate house diva who cant dance, i mean she sounds like cathy dennis. it just conjures all the right hair salon blow dried mousse french restaurant gold bauble feeling, it's so amerie,i walk with good posture, way more than that awful 'don't be afraid to touch' song, because amerie is jazzy. i agree the sam and dave song is boring though.

You know, she's really not a good singer for slow jams. I listened to an acapella last night and now her vibrato kind of gets on my nerves, it's like she can only do it one way and doesn't have a lot of control?I think that's why the uptempo rhythmic stuff works so much better for her.

Btw Make Me Believe, Crush, and Gotta Work are all A+ (Some Like it is A-)!

For some reason this just doesn't work as an album even though there are 5-6 tracks I absolutely love.

Best track = All Roads and its unashamed soft rockness.

Any other singer would have made "All Roads" into sub-"American Idol." I love how her voice starts to crack in the last third.

"All Roads" is kind of painful to listen to. :/

can someone link to the rolling r'n'b thread?
i cant find it

here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX87SBDDCFY

^knew about the curtis og, but never knew about this version

have been obsessed with Because I Love It all year