Our review:Album Description:In preparation for her new album, Loose, NELLY FURTADO tried out collaborations with a who's who of producers, and she tried to create a music more of the body than the mind. A prime example of the latter is first single 'PROMISCUOUS,' a duet with Loose producer TIMBALAND, known far and wide for his groundbreaking work with, among others, MISSY ELLIOTT, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and AALIYAH.
It stands to reason that gold and multiplatinum certifications (for 2003's Folklore and 2000's Whoa, Nelly!, respectively), a pair of Top 10 singles ('I'm Like a Bird' and 'Turn Off the Light'), and a Grammy Award (for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance), to name just a few accomplishments, would afford a certain level of confidence. But nothing has inspired Furtado to throw caution to the wind more than motherhood. 'Motherhood makes you fearless,' she says. 'The album is very youthful-sounding,' Furtado continues, 'and I think that's partly due to the presence of this two-year-old in my life. I was with her all day every day and then I'd go to the studio at night, and I think that translated into a playful energy I feel onstage but that hasn't really been heard on my records.'
Starting with her longtime production team of Track & Field, she also knew she wanted to check out a variety of producers. 'Working with new producers,' she hazards, 'is like trying on new clothes - you never know what you look good in until you try it on. And sometimes they will see something in you that neither you nor anyone else could see.' So she traveled with her daughter from Toronto to London to work with NELLEE HOOPER; to Los Angeles to work with LESTER MENDEZ (who produced, 'Te Busque,' her moving duet with JUANES) and RICK NOWELS (co-writer and producer of the gorgeous ballad 'In God's Hands'); and to Miami to work with PHARRELL WILLIAMS and SCOTT STORCH and finally, TIMBALAND.
Indeed, the raw, lighting-in-a-bottle spontaneity of the collaborative process is at the heart of Loose. 'This record shows who I am in a jam-type environment, where I really feel the excitement of the creativity flowing,' Furtado reveals. 'It's who I am at my most artistic. I live for that, and I'm very grateful to be able to share it.'
Amazon.com: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
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Disc 1:- Afraid
- Maneater
- Promiscuous
- Glow
- Showtime
- No Hay Igual
- Te Busque
- Say It Right
- Do It
- In God's Hands
- Wait For You
- All Good Things (Come To An End)
- Te Busque (Spanish Version)
Buyer Testimonials
Average Buyer's Review:
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I Love this CD!
Must buy this cd. Nelly Furtado is awesome. All the songs have a really good beat to them. Timbaland hooked her up.
Buyer's review: 
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Really Sad!
I remember the first time I heard Nelly, it was back in 1999/2000. I am sad to see great musicians fold under the weight of the music industry. She sold-out big time and will never be the same. The album title is very appropriate as she is nothing more than American sex appeal and MTV. I miss the music...
Buyer's review: -
Still playing it
This album is one of the best pop albums to come out over the last few years - I still play it all the time, and I've had it for a few years. My favorite songs are All Good Things and Afraid, beautiful and haunting.
Buyer's review: -
Much better than other "pop stars"
Nelly Furtado is one of my favorite artists. Hip hop is my favorite genre of music. Timbaland is one of the best producers in music. So when I heard of this collaboration, I thought this had a chance to be an amazing CD. However, I was also a bit concerned because I knew Nelly would be breaking away from the styles she used in her first two albums. And even though her second album, "Folklore," was not a big success, I loved it.
So with all these mixed emotions, I listened to "Loose" and I liked it from the first time I heard it. "Maneater" is one of my favorite songs in recent years by anyone. It's got a great beat and a great chorus, an it's just fun to listen to. "Promiscuous" is obviously a mega hit, but there are others. "Afraid" is a very real song with a message, unlike what the typical big-selling pop albums produce. But that's because Nelly is not the typical pop star. "Wait For You" is one of my favorite songs, and "Say It Right" is a perfect blend of Nelly's songwriting and Timbaland's ability to spice up a song. "All Good Things" probably would have been a bigger hit if it weren't so melancholy; it's got a great melody, even if it's hardly uplifting.
All in all, I am a big fan of this CD and I can't wait to hear what she has in store for us next.
Buyer's review: -
Nelly Furtado is really Loose with this album
I Love This CD. I am glad I purchased it. This album shows that she has tried writing rhymes and rapping, she tried out collaborations with a who's who of producers. The album is very youthful-sounding. This album is called a hip-hop workshiop. She wanted to have a sound of hip-hop and R&B. On This album she cites Blondie, Madonna, Talking Heads, The Police and Prince as influences. The raw, lighting-in-a-bottle spontaneity of the collaborative process is at the heart of this album. This album has been certified PLATINUM