The lead up to album releases varies in two ways. Either they’re complete with plenty of guest appearances and promotions to hype a album based solely on talent or their built on the route of being a tabloid stealing, gossip magazine and blog covering, near suicide having, possible sextape having artist  on the musical radar. Fantasia would possibly trade the build up for her third album <em>Back to Me</em> with that of any other R&B artist who just came off of Broadway but sadly, she can’t.

Her recent plunge into the territory usually covered by pop princesses gone bad mar the gem of an album she releases. Her troubles from infidelity to reality show will consume talk of whether or not her comeback album is any good. On a plane devoid of any thoughts of her personal life, it’s a triumph and real growth for the woman who made a song strictly for unmarried mothers in 2004.

The album centers itself around the ideals of love, from love gained, love lost and whether or not to return to a love uneasy. “Bittersweet”, the album’s lead single sees Fantasia switching from her wide ranging and emotional outpour of hurt to near spoken word to channel her pain and confusion about doing the right thing. The Chuck Harmony production is staple late seventies blues, complete with light piano strikes and holding drum pattern that evokes images of a club singer getting out her frustrations for an invisible audience.

Barrino continues her tribute to mid-seventies soul with “Collard Greens & Cornbread”. It’s not a remix of the Anthony Hamilton track from his debut album but rather a slow swaying tale of urgency of a man who has won her heart, even saying that she’s “better than [her] momma” and that she “doesn’t put up with b.s. but she’ll take it from [him]”. A lovely feeling to have with someone indeed, as kind of crazy as it sounds. “Teach Me” is reggae tinged with some choice lyrics that could make it seem like an island slow jam and the Cee-Lo Green featured “The Thrill Is Gone” is smokey old soul at its best, a woman vengeful and ready to move on.

Where she succeeds with travelling back in time to create a certified sound, her reaches into today’s idea of pop and R&B falters. The Jim Jonsin & Rico Love produced “Fallin In Love Tonight” sounds like so many other cuts made from many artists who use the club as a setting for possible chance encounters and “Even Angels” is a solid reach for sentiment and feel good, yet really isn’t necessary at all. Same goes for the album closer, “I’m Here” from Barrino’s stint on Broadway with The Color Purple. Barrino wants to remind us all that she’s been on the top stage for acting but the album already proved her chops and then some, its perpetual overkill.

When you strip Fantasia away from the current headlines and place this album in front of everything, your first reaction should be one of serious appreciation. The girl has come a long, long way from the simplicity and conformity of her first two albums and has crafted the best disc of her career. It’s sad that it’ll only be publicity fodder for her current myriad of problems. One, in an optimists world, will fade once people take a glance at <em>Back To Me</em>.

FINAL SCORE: 7.5

Brando

EIC of Day & A Dream, Brando has written for such publications as DJ Booth, Refined Hype & the Houston Press. Wrestling enthusiast, sneaker addict, sports junkie and certified cake eater. Follow him on Twitter: @_brandoc

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