The title implies a distinction, but the MF life isn’t much different than the life of most girls who happen to sing songs for a living. It’s almost all about having a romantic relationship, or being in “love”, with a guy, and that’s okay. Clichés aren’t necessarily a bad thing. But as gorgeous as Melanie Fiona’s voice may sound in a technical sense, it hardly latches onto a melody to match.
No ID and other producers, along with a handful of guest vocalists, try to make-up for that. Sometimes it works. The John Legend duet sounds like Motown, Nas provides a surprisingly impressive verse for Running and the ending of Break Down These Walls sounds nice. But the album is mostly kitchen cookie cutter cuts that could’ve come from any average female soul singer.
my rating : 3 of 5
2012