Nelly Furtado, known for her hits "I'm Like a Bird", "Turn Off The Light", and "Try," is riding high on the success of her first release "Promiscuous" off her latest album Loose. "Promiscuous" is a clear sign that Furtado has departed from her past musical masterpieces to create something a bit more commercial (with the help of Timbaland of course).
After listening to this new album, two words come to mind: Sell Out. This album is such a drastic change from her usual emotionally powered songs that I cannot think of any better description. Do I love to dance to "Promiscuous"? Yes. Do I appreciate the lack of passion in this album due to the want to sell, sell, sell? The answer is a big fat no. The last thing I want to be feeling after listening to music is uninspired, which is just what this album is - uninspiring.
Her music used to be about empowering young women, hope for lovers, and advice for young adults. It would appear that after giving birth, the only advice she has to give listeners is one of promiscuity. Gee, thanks. But hey, sex sells and music is a big business these days. We must not make the beast that is the record label upset.
The songs are much more upbeat and not recognizable as the Nelly Furtado that has come to make our ears flutter with her beautiful eclectic sounds that infused so many different instruments that somehow, magically, came out great. Take for example the song "Do It". What a blast from '80s past! Here we have a song that would be a huge hit in the '80s thrown in on an album that so desperately wants to score a club hit so that teenagers will download the song as a ringtone. It's a mess. Should we blame Timbaland for the need to clean up aisle 3?
There are a few songs that I enjoyed, however. "All Good Things (Come to an End)", "Say It Right", and "Maneater", which has a very different sound but has a wildly enjoyable chorus. These songs are all distant echoes of what Nelly Furtado's music used to be and sound like.
Music is supposed to be from the heart. It should have a point and if that point is to exist solely for the purpose of making money, you've truly lost touch with your art form. It's a shame this album is so confused as to what gender it's supposed to be. I know people will agree that they would have expected much more from a talented storyteller and musician like Nelly Furtado.
Article comments
1 - passerby
Being that Nelly Furtado is still hotter and more talented on her worst day than most of today's plastic songbirds are on their best, I hope she'll have some success with this album.
2 - James
passerby, she's definately talented which is so upsetting with the release of this album. she's already already scored huge sales with her single "Promiscuous", so don't worry. i appreciate the comment. thank you.
3 - Connie Phillips
This article has been placed at the Advance.net websites, a site affiliated with about 12 newspapers.
One such site is here.
4 - James Robert
Thanks Connie! This is pretty exciting.
5 - SFC SKI
I'll grant you that I wouldn't recognize "Promiscuous" as a Nelly Furtado song if I hadn't seen the video first. It is a perfect example of a summer tune, more power to her. I'll probably still buy the whole damn CD because she's the kind of artist that bears repeated listenings until you really just how much talent (and weirdness) she's packed into each track.
The fact that she is absolutley smokin' doesn't hurt at all. Thanks for the review.
6 - Fan
Nelly Furtado is a great singer, she's got amazing voice. I think it's good that she made this album in different style becouse she shows something new than songs in folklore style. But on the other hand we're accustomed her former image while Nelly made her album "Loose" with new r'n'b and hip hop sounds.
7 - Jack
Nelly Furtado is one of the best artists I’ve ever listened to. I am blessed by her album folklore which I bought without knowing it was even out.
But nobody on earth wouldn't know loose was out!
SELL OUT! It's true Nelly has done what every artist has to do in the business, remove more clothing and go R&B.
I like 'Maneater' and 'Come to an end'. But apart from them the rest are either ok or horrid. It's just the same as Gwen Stefani who after not getting the attention she needed with No Doubt went solo. Her singles I loved, but album I hated because the tracks are there just to fill space.
I just hope this is over and done with fast so that she gets some attention and hopefully can return to her folk/rock style which has made me love her so.
8 - Jack
Nelly Furtado is one of the best artists I’ve ever listened to. I am blessed by her album folklore which I bought without knowing it was even out.
But nobody on earth wouldn't know loose was out!
SELL OUT! It's true Nelly has done what every artist has to do in the business, remove more clothing and go R&B.
I like 'Maneater' and 'Come to an end'. But apart from them the rest are either ok or horrid. It's just the same as Gwen Stefani who after not getting the attention she needed with No Doubt went solo. Her singles I loved, but album I hated because the tracks are there just to fill space.
I just hope this is over and done with fast so that she gets some attention and hopefully can return to her folk/rock style which has made me love her so.
9 - Ales
After almost a year, I would say the critic was a bit harsh. Loose is diverse album with many good songs.
10 - A.J
The reviewer clearly knows nothing about Nelly Furtados music. I actually wonder if he listened the whole Whoa Nelly! album before writing this review. Did the reviewer know about the remixes of Turn off the lights with Missi Elliot and the one made by timbaland? Loose is just that, a let loose fun album, but dont take it just like it, gems like ALL GOOD THINGS, IN GODS HANDS and SAY IT RIGHT are one of a kind songs, deep and with haunting lyrics and music.
Make your homework before judging a album, now THATS your job.
11 - Cass
You didn't know that Nelly Didn't change her style?? She does Rap, Hio-Hop and R'n'b since she began so don't talk about something that you don't know.
Her album is just amazing and she explain why she did it more sensual in many interview so listen it before saying anything else!
12 - Kat
@Jack - c'mon mate, nobodys gonna take that comment you made seriously when you dont even know the names of the songs you're trying to critisize, 'Come to an end' doesnt exist, the song i think you are referring to is actually called 'all good things'
pfft do your homework first
as to this review, i disagree, i think that loose is a great album, i dont like it as much as Whoa, Nelly! and Folklore, but i love the range of styles it shows, you dont get that with just any artist, nelly's one of a kind
13 - Jack
Ouch a lot of pain for me. Ok so I’m here to put things right, and admit I was wrong. I bought Nelly's album because I was having trouble getting 'All good things (Come to an end)' out of my head. I found it surprisingly good and I guess I shouldn't have judged what I hadn't listened to. It still has nothing on 'Folklore' but is probably better than 'Whoa Nelly!' which gets boring after a while.
I still say that she has sold out a little though. I was aware of the Missy Elliott and timberland earlier songs.
I've heard she's doing a Spanish album next (according to wikipedia, which we can all trust), so perhaps less mainstream.
Thanks for all the abuse. x
14 - Kat
just so you know, its Timbaland not Timberland, for future reference
yes there have been a lot of sources saying that nelly will be releasing a spanish album, which is great(even though i wont be able to understand a word of it lol) although i know that her spanish isnt actually that good. did anyone hear her sing in hindi at her concert in Nottingham? i saw a video of it on youtube and it sounded quite good, maybe she should explore that route a bit more
btw Nelly fans, id suggest a visit to if you want news about nelly, thats the place to go, in the 'Anything Nelstar' section, and the information is a lot more accurate than Wikipedia whch has been known to show false info. [Personal contact info deleted]
and i wasnt meaing to have a go at you really Jack, im just fed up of reading comments and reviews that dont actually know what they're talking about, it wasnt meant to offend you
xxxx
15 - maddie
okay she is amazing
im in 6th grade and doin a project on famous canadians and i picked her so shes awesome
wish me luke ~maddie
16 - Ramon Medina
Nelly Furtado is one of the best artis that i have learned to love. even though she has different beats. slow, fast whatever the case may be i love all her music and will continue to buy her albums. I am waiting for her spanish album. Cant wait