Nelly Furtado : Releases >>
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Loose >>
The buzz for Nelly Furtado's Loose began before the music was even recorded, with the announcement that legendary hip-hop knob-twirler Timbaland (Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake) would act as co-producer. The question on fans' minds: what would it sound like when a hip-hop kingpin collaborated with an artist who culls inspiration not just from pop music, but also her own Portuguese roots?
As it turns out, Loose incorporates a number of different styles along its journey, but is--surprisingly--primarily divided between '80s-influenced electronica and latin-infused pop. This disc is very different from Furtado's previous CDs, a fact immediately evident from track one, the new wave-affected "Afraid." A strong opener, the song is the beginning of a 1-2-3 punch of uptempo, infectious dance floor beats. The second cut, "Maneater," also proves to be incredibly catchy, but the verses and keyboard sound too much like they were plucked from electroclash artist Peaches' tree, and originality is lost. The perfect summer pop song follows, the massive hit "Promiscuous," which features clever interplay between Furtado and Timbaland on their sassy duet. From that point, Loose oscillates between the Miami-affected sounds of R&B, Latino pop, and reggaeton ("Showtime," "Te Busque," and "No Hay Igual" respectively) and the aforementioned '80s vibe ("Glow," "Do It"). Fans will hear Furtado at her vocal best on "Say It Right" and "In God's Hands"--two of the most lyrically compelling tracks on the disc. --Denise Sheppard
Whoa Nelly [UK Edition] >>
Blame it on the bossa nova, but this chick has got soul. By filtering her Portuguese roots through the trip-hop she was weaned on, Nelly Furtado creates a hypnotic form of R&B/alterna-pop that at times sounds like Fiona Apple, Macy Gray, and Gwen Stefani all rolled into a Portishead song. Cutting her teeth at four Lilith Fair dates before even having a record contract, Furtado seems far accelerated beyond her 21 years. Listen and you can hear the Portuguese fado tradition, Brazilian beats, flashy urban rhymes, enough snap-crackle-and-pop to fill your breakfast bowl. Put your ear closer to the speaker, though, and you can sense that this is the sound of a multicultural young woman finding her own identity through all the pop she's been fed. If you are one of those types who likes to sing along to soaring vocals--or one who likes to get hip to a new star before she goes supernova--this is an album to own. --Heidi Sherman
Folklore >>
On her second album, Folklore, Nelly Furtado takes a hard left turn. The colourful but incomplete fusion of her debut, Whoa, Nelly!, gives way on this tellingly titled record to an approach that lets in some acoustic sounds which take the music in an entirely different, richer direction. At times sounding like a dead ringer for singer-writer Sam Phillips (whose work colours each episode of the American television series Gilmore Girls), Furtado aims for more rock-oriented ground without losing the Brazilian influences that are so much a part of her identity. Her voice and tunes are strong, and both words and music paint a picture of a young woman still very much in movement, change, flux. It's an intriguing sound, and one that thoughtful listeners will cherish. --Rickey Wright
Nelly Furtado - Loose Live [2007] >>
Say It Right >>
All Good Things (Come to An End) >>
Loose >>
Whoa Nelly! >>
Blame it on the bossa nova, but this chick has got soul. By filtering her Portuguese roots through the trip-hop she was weaned on, Nelly Furtado creates a hypnotic form of R&B/alterna-pop that at times sounds like Fiona Apple, Macy Gray, and Gwen Stefani all rolled into a Portishead song. Cutting her teeth at four Lilith Fair dates before even having a record contract, Furtado seems far accelerated beyond her 21 years. Listen and you can hear the Portuguese fado tradition, Brazilian beats, flashy urban rhymes, enough snap-crackle-and-pop to fill your breakfast bowl. Put your ear closer to the speaker, though, and you can sense that this is the sound of a multicultural young woman finding her own identity through all the pop she's been fed. If you are one of those types who likes to sing along to soaring vocals--or one who likes to get hip to a new star before she goes supernova--this is an album to own. --Heidi Sherman
Maneater >>
Folklore >>
