Album Review: The Ride - Nelly Furtado

Nelly Furtado is a Portuguese-Canadian singer-songwriter who has been in the music industry since 1996 (the year I was born..). From an early age she began playing musical instruments and singing, and at the age of 12 she began writing songs. She gained fame with her debut album, 'Whoa Nelly', in 2000, which included the hit single, 'I'm Like A Bird', which won Nelly her first Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

She released her second album, 'Folklore', in 2003, which didn't do as well as the first due to being 'less poppy'. Her third, 'Loose', came in 2006, and very much centred around R&B, hip-hop and 1980's music. This album became her best selling album with 12 million copies being sold worldwide.

Nelly released her first ever Spanish language album, 'Mi Plan', in 2009. This won her a Latin Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Album. Around this time, she had formed her own record label, 'Nelstar', in conjunction with Last Gang Labels. In 2012, she released her fifth album, 'The Spirit Indestructible'. The influences for this ranged from Janelle Monae, The XX, to Florence + The Machine.

Track Listing:

1. Cold Hard Truth

2. Flatline

3. Carnival Games

4. Live

5. Paris Sun

6. Sticks And Stones

7. Magic

8. Pipe Dreams

9. Palaces

10. Tap Dancing

11. Right Road

12. Phoenix

So I am not a massive Nelly Furtado fan, other than her single 'I'm Like A Bird', but I thought it would be interesting to review her new album, especially as it has been 5 years since her last one.

The first song, 'Cold Hard Truth', was a great song to kick the album off with. It has a very distinctive sound, with a very 2000's vibe. However, it was quite annoying the more I listened to it, the verse is very repetitive, and I advise that if you have a headache, do not listen to it loudly!

'Flatline' was very true to it's title, and I especially liked the beeping in the beginning as I found it set the tone/vibe of the song. Again, a bit of criticism, I found she wasn't really singing, more talking fast (not rapping) and it didn't sound great, however, the chorus was a lot better.

The third song, 'Carnival Games', intrigued me because I love the title. I found this song a lot better to listen to compared to the other two, and found it complimented her voice but I feel that the last 30 seconds really aren't necessary.

'Live' really annoyed me. I have to say that this is the song that I dislike the most on this album. I hardly understood a word she was saying, I felt she was just mumbling and her pronunciation was awful.

The fifth song, 'Paris Sun', was when the album started to pick up, for me. It was really catchy and if I hadn't of known that it was Nelly Furtado, I would have thought it was someone like Britney Spears! 'Sticks And Stones' was very similar, it really complimented her voice and had a sort of Lorde vibe to it. It was quite upbeat as well, and I wouldn't say it was just one genre.

'Magic' was a weird one because in the beginning it makes you think it's going to be a slow song then BAM! the beat kicks in. This is more the type of song I would listen to on a regular basis. It is so different and unique, which I think is great!

The eighth song, 'Pipe Dreams', was a lot slower and had a gospel/church sense to it. Her voice starts out a bit weird but is very much the focal point on this track, until around half way through where the focus changes to the music. It did make me want to go to sleep a little bit.. but I don't whether that was because I was exhausted!

'Palaces' also sounds like a Lorde song and is more upbeat. It is a much better song and I found my self bopping my head along to it. I like her vocals on it and it had a noughties sense to it.

The tenth song, 'Tap Dancing', is probably my favourite song on this album. It is a much slower song and I feel her voice sounds amazing on it. When I first heard it I thought it was Carly Rae Jepsen (and I love her!).

'Right Road' was another more upbeat song. Straight away I felt like she was singing off key and just something about it wasn't making me like it at all. Again there was more of an instrumental at the end that wasn't overly necessary.

The last song, 'Phoenix', is a lovely slow song that really focuses on Nelly's vocals, and she really proves and shows off the power of her vocals. This has to be another one of my favourites and I know I will be listening to this over and over!

So after I listened to the whole album through I have come to the decision that most of it is very centred on electronic music, and that's not something I am overly thrilled about. However, some of the songs are incredible so hats off to Nelly because it's not a bad album!