Album review: Ashanti - The declaration

Ashanti is back on the scene with her album The declaration. I have no clue what the chick is declaring with this new album because it sounds a lot like her old shit. But let's muck through it anyway.

As with Ashanti's previous albums, The declaration swings between sample heavy uptempos about a n***a who did her wrong, swoony bell laden mid-tempo's and a ballad or two. So it's very much business as usual. The album kicks off with the lead single "The way that I love you" which has the same dark vibe about it that Ashanti's smash "Only U" had. The song is hot, but suffers from production which is a little raggedy in places, something which is a theme throughout this album. The stop and start piano sample at the beginning of the song sounds off. The vocal production is weak. The drums don't knock how they should. A good track regardless, but tighter production would've made it far better. With the melancholy tale of a love gone wrong out the way, things get more light hearted as the album progresses. "You're gonna miss" is an album highlight with its old skool 80s R&B inspired sound. Ashanti's breathless backing vocals sound great over the beat and as with the likes of "Foolish" and "Rock wit U (Awww baby)" it's just straight up Summer vibes. This would make a great single. The female kiss off continues with another album highlight in the form of the Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins produced "So over you". As with "You're gonna miss", the song has a heavy 80s flair to it.  Aside from these songs there isn't really anything on the album that bangs or sticks out. "Good good" has a nice bounce about it courtesy of Jermaine Dupri, but after the likes of Usher's "Confessions" and Mariah's "Shake it off" being played beyond death, you can't help but roll your eyes at hearing yet another song that has those sharp, low key piano chords over a kick, hi hat, handclap drum pattern whilst Jermaine Dupri goes 'Ugh!' every 30 seconds. Album closer "The declaration" has a cool, dark, ominous beat, but there's too much going on with it and Ashanti's vocals sound thin and lost within it. And Ashanti should be ashamed for the blatant copy of Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" for the song "Shine".

The declaration isn't a bad album. In fact, there is no song on the album which I could say is terrible. It flows nicely from top to bottom and Ashanit sounds nice. But there's nothing remarkable about this album or any of its songs, which is how I feel about all of Ashanti's albums. And I can't help but think that Ashanti is not doing the songs as much justice as somebody else possibly could. The likes of Teedra Moses would've absolutely shut down every song on this album and said 'No' to that "Beautiful" rip off.

The declaration is a pretty boring album because very little if anything about it sticks out. You get a couple of solid songs at the start, a couple at the end and then this dead pan section in the middle. If you're an Ashanti fan then you'll like this album. But if not, then you'll probably find it cute, but that's about it. Ashanti needs to work with writers and producers who can really push her. At this point in her career she should be given us something above and beyond what she's done before, not just more of it.

This is not the kind of album an artist who has been off of the scene for 4 years should be coming back with. You could just as easily run back Chapter II or Concrete Rose.

RATING: 4.5 / 10

Album highlights:
■ The way that I love you
■ You're gonna miss ★ J's fave
■ So over you
■ Things you make me do
■ Good good
■ Mother