Basic Instinct

The 11-track album "Basic Instinct" is bass heavy and has a nice set of artwork to go along with it as well. Ciara struts her stuff in a basement and also outside of the basement. The repetitive album, is the fourth album from Grammy-Award, multi-platinum selling artist Ciara that re-unites her returning to her R&B/Urban roots from past lackluster album. Ciara gives great music/beats on this album but still lacks in vocals about half the album. Beats and synthesizers cover her voice making it hard to understand the tracks. Otherwise, the album is an indeed banger showing why Ciara holds the title "Princess of Crunk&B" with a few slow-jams as well. "Basic Instinct (U Got Me)": (4/5) Over a hard-hitting sample of "Eye of the Tiger", the sexy sultress raps to her haters inclining an aggressive tone, then later starts to sing about returning to her roots. Re-announcing "I been in the game since '03, you can try but you still can't do it like me." The song completes a great album openor, although limited vocal abilities occur over the powerful track production, which would have made it a perfect five. "Ride": (5/5) Features ATL-based rapper Ludacris. The two collaborate once more on their third song together, making it their 2nd Top 10 R&B Hit in the U.S. The singer softly sings over the track with memorable melodies that can easily be remembered. Bass heavy, mid-tempo. Great track for the 1st single to re-assure the roots of R&B/Urban music where she first began. "Gimmie Dat": (4/5) The Soundz-produced track has a bassline that will have the fans on the dance floor. The up-tempo 4-minute long song shows the reason why Ciara was dubbed "Princess of Crunk & B." Mimicking her first three singles which made her famous, this was supposed to be the song to put her "back on the map." "Heavy Rotation": (5/5) Album-filler, Soundz-produced track happens to be one of the album's best tracks. Ciara constantly reminds her lover to "turn it up" on this track and keep their love on "heavy rotation all night long." "Girls Get Your Money": (3/5) The repetitive-kiddy song where Ciara tells girls to get their money can get a little annoying. Filled with claps and synthesizers, this song may perhaps be the album's worst track. After the first two minutes of the song, you are sure to get annoyed and skip the track. She repeats, "They always wanna holla, but they ain't got no dollas" more than 16 times in this song, making it indeed an album filler. Not even returning back to her basics, sounding a little Dance/Fuse related. "Yeah I Know": (5/5) The mainstream potential single "Yeah I Know" is the album's best track. Although, lacking power vocal abilities everything else in the track is almost perfect. The lyrics are somewhat mediocre, but well enough for the plot. The Infinity-produced track is the best work on the album and it is very memorable. "Speechless": (5/5) Being Ciara's best vocal ability since 2006's "Promise" made this Ciara's best slow-jam on the album. The singer belts out how her leave is "so good." The harmonies and trumpets over the Dream-written track are amazing and is definitly the highlight of the album. "You Can Get It": 3/5 Simple and plain track let's that one male know he can get it. The track has nothing to remember except the once again, repetitive chorus, "you can get it, you can get it, you can get it, you can get it." Nothing impressive, just a regular track. "Turn it Up": 2/5 Featuring ATL-based R&B King, Usher. The two collaborate for the first time on the album's worst track. They talk about weird things such as "raising the dead" "making it rumble" and "turning the club into a jungle." Sure to be only pleasing to Pop fans, this doesn't return Ciara to her basics and probably wouldn't be a pleasing track to her R&B fans. "Wants For Dinner": 4/5 Reggae, clapped and synthesized, Tricky Stewart pinned track is perhaps the album's overall best track. It is the highlight of the album and Ciara even gives off a little vocal working with her limitations. She declares, "You can entertain him all day long, but I know what he wants for dinner." It is a rememberable track and something very different for Ciara. "I Run It": 5/5 The 5-minute track happens to be Ciara's best vocal ability effort along with "Speechless." The slow-jam shows off the sexy side of Ciara. Although, not a perfect way to end an album, especially for the Princess of Crunk. Overall, the track was the most "quality" given effort on the album along with "Yeah I Know". Overall: (45/55) B-