Track Listing

1. Ciara To The Stage
2. Love Sex Magic featuring Justin Timberlake
3. High Price featuring Ludacris
4. Turntables featuring Chris Brown
5. Like A Surgeon
6. Never Ever featuring Young Jeezy
7. Lover's Thing featuring The-Dream
8. Work featuring Missy Elliott
9. Pucker Up
10. G Is For Girl (A-Z)
11. Keep Dancin' On Me
12. Tell Me What Your Name Is
13. I Don't Remember

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29116 in Music
• Brand: Ciara
• Released on: 2009-05-05
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Album Description
Multi-platinum star Ciara returns to the scene with her high energy third album, Fantasy Ride. Having sold over seven million albums with her debut, Goodies, and follow-up, The Evolution, Ciara raises the stakes with Fantasy Ride. Packed with energetic beats, dynamic production, and provocative lyrics, Fantasy Ride secures Ciara the top spot as a superstar performer. Features production by Justin Timberlake (who also appears on the single "Love Sex Magic"), Rodney Jerkins, Tricky, Polow Da Don, and Danja. Also features appearances by Missy, The-Dream, Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Chris Brown, and T-Pain.

Customer Reviews

She Lost Focus :-(
I feared the worst for this album when it kept getting pushed back, for one. Then when 'Go Girl' failed to make noise, and the follow-up 'Never Ever' as well, I was just done. 'Love Sex Magic' was a decent rebound, but it was more than clear that it was a possible left over from his FutureSex/LoveSounds album and a desperate attempt to draw people in last minute. And it still hasn't generated anything compared to the singles on her last two albums. When I saw the cover I was even more mortified. And from my years of listening to music, you know you're in for a crap of an album when there are tons of guest appearances noted (with the exception of a few). The original concept of a 3-CD set crossing different genres of music and her alter ego 'Super C' was a bit exciting for a young lady who is clearly the heir to Janet Jackson and Aaliyah's throne, but looks like someone by the name of Beyonce beat her to the punch.

All jokes aside, this CD is disappointing and really all over the place. I expected so much more. It seems that she tried too hard and just lost focus and sight of what she wanted in the end, which could be at the fault of the label. Up-tempo cuts like 'G is For Girl (A to Z),' 'Turntables' f/ Chris Brown, and 'Work' f/ Missy Elliot are not the cream of the crop and all over the place musically. Ciara overdoes it on 'Ciara to the Stage' and 'Keep Dancing On Me,' and 'I Don't Remember' is a horrible attempt to recreate a theme perfectly created by Britney Spears's 'Blur.'

'Tell Me What Your Name Is' and 'Pucker Up' are tossups, but there are some high points. Two of the singles that have already been released make the final cut ('Go Girl' isn't featured for some strange reason but included on the Limited Edition CD/DVD as a video only) and are to Ciara's standards vocally and musically. The-Dream puts her in her comfort zone with the opera-like 'High Price' f/ Ludacris and the duet with himself on 'Lover's Thing.' 'Like a Surgeon' has a Prince-esque type of vibe similar to how she won people over on her sophomore album with 'Promise.' The two bonus tracks on the Limited Edition CD/DVD, 'Echo' and 'I'm On' are phenomenal and should've replaced the weakest tracks on the main album. With these songs it puts in prospective how the vibe of the album would've been had she stuck it through because they are classic Ciara R&B/Pop bangers.

This album is definitely the worst of the three. I expected her to progress even more with the positive response from her sophomore release, but this is below the bar she set by far. I guess every artist has that one album that just wasn't on point for whatever reason and this is Ciara's unfortunately. Thank goodness she's in her early 20s and still has a long career ahead of her.

I expect to see her revamped and in normal form whenever the next album drops, but this simply is not her best work. Could've been a lot better.

Fantasy Ride hits many highs and lows
Review:
In her third offering, Ciara takes her fans on a "fantasy ride" that hits many highs and lows. The overly hyped and continuously delayed album boosts many radio friendly songs and potential hits. One of the album's downfalls is the lack of cohesiveness. This might be attributed to the album's original formatting of having three different discs representing various musical styles, which later became scraped. The album's formatting change resulted in all concepts being placed on one disc.
Aside from the lack of fluidity, this 13-track album offers a little something for everyone. Listeners' ears will be subjected to Ciara's alter ego, "Super C" softly crooning over seductive mid-tempo ballads and heads will bob along to the album's contagious club bangers with the catchy hooks.
If listeners are looking for the growth and "evolution" with Fantasy Ride, they will be slightly disappointed.

Strongest points:
The album's aggressive and dance driven beats allow this album to standout. The album enlists production from many of the industry's "it" producers. This includes: Justin Timberlake, Tricky Stewart, The Dream, Rodney Jerkins, and Missy Elliot. In addition, the many collaborations found on the album helps to give the "swagger" Super C was aspiring for. Cameos include: Justin Timberlake (Love Sex & Magic), Chris Brown (Turntables), Ludacris (High Price), Missy Elliott (Work), Young Jeezy (Never Ever), and The-Dream (Lover's Thing).


Weak Points:
Ciara, aka Super C's vocal delivery is at most sub par. Vocally Ciara seems to exhibit a lack of growth. There is no differentiation between Ciara and Super C. Ciara's voice remains monotonous and at times is almost inaudible over the infectious production. In actuality, Ciara and Super C both become lost in the production and merely sit in the background. For the longest Ciara has been fighting for her own identity. Throughout her career she has been compared to the likes of Janet Jackson and even the late Aaliyah. Many songs throughout the album actually are very reminiscent of Janet's Discipline era. For instance, I Don't Remember is very similar to Janet's Rock With U. The lyrics at times are very superficial and lack depth and intensity--G is for Girl, Like a Surgeon, and High Price.

Highlights:
Ciara to the Stage, Love Sex & Magic, High Price (the operatic vocals gives the track an unique flair), Never Ever (possibly Ciara at her best), Work, When I (Bonus Track), and Keep Dancin' On Me.

Rating: 2.5/5

There's Promise But No Follow Through
There are many things on Fantasay Ride that hit and miss. There are songs that push Ciara lyrically but then stiffel her growth wise. After her 2004 debut "Goodies", the R&B/Hip Hop performer had a strong buzz around her as the second coming of Aaliyah. With her 2006 follow up (IMO, her best effort to date, mainly because of the nearly perfect tune "Promise") "Ciara: Evolution", she seemed to be gaining on that previous momentum. I was expecting Fantasy Ride to add on to her growing catalog and craft out an actual sound for her. Like I said previously, there is material here that accomplishes that but also traps her in the status quo.

1.Ciara To The Stage 7/10- A nice mid tempo tune that vibes off of previous album tracks such as "Promise". As a matter of a fact this tune could have been titled Promise pt.II. Ciara speaks of how she is going to give her lover more and put on a show for him, thus the title being "Ciara To The Stage". This isn't the best track to start the album out on. It's a little to slow, and not the first song I wanted to hear from a performer like Ciara.



2.Love, Sex & Magic 3/10- One of the worst if not the worst track off of the album. Ciara and Justin Timberlake have absolutely no chemistry on this tune. They both might as well have been singing to walls. The tune is originally sung by Justin Timberlake for his smash hit 2006 "FutureSex/LoveSounds" album. This is the stifling step Ciara took for me. Recording someone elses B side for her album then releasing it as the first single for the album. The tune is heavy early 80's R&B disco influenced. A Klymaxx (The Men All Pause, Lock And Key) and Mary Jane Girls (Boys & Candy Man) influence can be heard on this tune. But sadly this tune doesn't live up to those R&B cornerstones.



3.High Price Feat Ludacris 5/10- Lyricaly shallow, vocally Ciara plays with her delivery in a way she hasn't done before. Featuring her collaborator for her 2005 smash hit "Oh", Laduacris. "High Price" sounds like it tried to build on that tune. Produced by The Dream, "High Price" is not the best Ciara/Dream collaboration. On the track Ciara boast about her many material belongings", proclaiming in the chorus "I got money, already holding". Ludacris doesn't add anything to this track that makes it better or worse, it's all pretty average.



4.Turntables Feat. Chris Brown 10/10-The album might as well have started with this track. This is the collaboration I wanted to hear from Ciara. Where "Love, Sex & Magic" lacked, this track more than makes up for. This is a very catchy up-tempo track from two of the best R&B performers today. On the tune Ciara speaks of a DJ(Chris Brown) that she wants to turn the tables on her to keep her dancing all night. Yeah, lyrically the song isn't superb but it's still a nice dance track that we have come to expect from Ciara. This should have been the first single and song for Fantasy Ride.



5.Like A Surgeon 10/10- Ciara keeps the momentum from "Turntables" going on this hot and very catchy mid-tempo tune. Upon the arrival of the beat, you can feel the evident Aaliyah "One in A Million" album influence, recalling such tracks as "One In A Million", "4 Page Letter" and "Are You That Somebody"(Doctor Dolittle Soundtrack). On this track Ciara plays the part of a surgeon while she is examining her lover hence the title. The lyrics are more suggestive here, and you see Ciara play the dominant role but in a more femmine manner, which works well for her here. This the Dream collaboration that works wonders for Ciara.



6.Never Ever feat.Young Jeezy 8/10- A nice mid-tempo tune that would have been better had it not featured rapper Young Jeezy who adds nothing credible to this song. The track samples the 70's hit "If You Don't Know Me by Now" by Melvin & the Blue Notes. This is one of Ciara's best slow tunes on the album. Ciara speaks of being in a relationship and a love that is one sided. When someone puts their all into making a relationship work but gets nothing back in return from their partner. Produced by Polow Da Don, this is another Fantasy Ride highlight.



7.Lovers Thing Feat. The Dream- 10/10- This is the collaboration is another that works between The Dream/Ciara.Like "Ciara To The Stage" this tune is in the vein of "Promise" but it works better here. Has a heavy 80's vibe. Lyrically this tune is one of the most superior tunes on the album. We see them play out a relationship near it's breaking point. ("My favorite line from the song, "today I may have lost my friend." simple but true.)


8.Work feat.Missy Elliot 7/10- A nice up-tempo track from the "1,2 Step" duo. It's in the vein of Madonna's classic "Vogue". In which Ciara and Missy declare that "a dance trend is coming back again". Then command you to "Work". The beat doesn't have a strong base line but the energy throughout the song makes up for that.


9.Pucker Up 6/10- I like Ciara's attitude on this track, but had it been moved to the begining of the album it might have felt more like an actual single contender rather than album filler. On the track Ciara speaks to her critics and "haters" cooing that they "can kiss her swag". Its' one of the better songs in which we can see Ciara alone and hold a song on her own, ala "Like A Surgeon". An average up-tempo track.


10. G is For Girl (A-Z) 5/10- Another Justin Timberlake collaboration, this works better than "Love, Sex & Magic". It has a heavy Timbaland influence. It's a pretty average tune.


11.Keeping Dancin On Me 4 1/2 /10- A mid-tempo track, a very forgettable tune.


12.Tell Me What Your Name Is 6 1/2 /10- A nice mid-tempo track, it's pretty much in the same vein as "Keep Dancing On Me". But this songs actually has a legs and gets somewhere. The song shows Ciara approaching a guy in the club.The production carries the song mostly.


13. I Don't Remember 10/10 - The best and most mature tune on this album. It's a mid-tempo track that sounds nothing like a typical Ciara song. In it Ciara tries to recall the night before in which she knows that she has aleniated her lover by getting drunk and acting out. This is the type of material Ciara needs to tackle.

It's not really that there are tracks on this album that don't work, it's that Ciara doesn't evolve on those tracks the way that someone 3 albums deep in their career should. It seems like she keeps taking steps back. I hope in the future we get to see Ciara tackle more heavy material and subject matters the way she does on "I Don't Remember" & "Lovers Thing" but stay faithful to her dance routes like on "Turntables" & "Work". This isn't her best album and I woudn't recommend this album for any new Ciara listeners. If you want to get a better idea of who she is as an artist get her second album Ciara: Evolution. But if you are a regular Ciara consumer, you probably already have this album.