Fantasia, "Back to Me" (J Records)
On the eve of her third album release, Fantasia made headlines for overdosing on aspirin and other pills in a failed suicide bid, and was named the other woman in a messy divorce.
But "Back to Me" makes no hint at what turmoil might have led to recent predicament.
Fantasia, who's been known to take audiences to church with her from-the-gut singing, shows off her bellowing, raspy vocals on the latest album, but the singer reveals nothing of herself.
She wastes her golden vocals on tin-can pop songs, including the coquettish "Move On Me," the trite "Falling In Love Tonight" and the unexceptional "Who's Been Lovin' You."
The lead single, "Bittersweet," is a hit on the R&B charts, and there's no doubt that "Man of the House," co-produced by Ne-Yo, could make the cut as a radio favorite as well. Fantasia sounds lovely on the retro "Collard Greens and Cornbread," which samples "Precious Love," written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. And she's engaging on the doo-wop, piano-tinged "Trust Him."
Fantasia can out-sing any of her R&B peers. It's a shame she hasn't delivered a classic song that will outshine them.
CHECK OUT THIS TRACK: "Thrill Is Gone" brings the 1970s funk of the "Shaft" era, and includes the album's only guest appearance — a cameo by the "Soul Machine" himself, Cee-Lo Green.