Thankfully, the bonus tracks enhance this release, making the deluxe edition worth purchasing. The metaphor about paper planes in the lyrics is a little distracting, partially because it sounds like Nicole is saying "paper plates." Also, Nicole already has quite a few tracks in her repertoire addressing outcasts, so this song feels like a sub-par retread next to past hits like "Headphones" or "Gold." The heavily 80's influenced "Fallin' In Love" also feels redundant as it's only a few tracks after the first love song, "All the Money." Another drawback is that "All Day," while it features beautiful lyrics, drags a little too long, clocking in at almost six minutes. Its stripped down approach sets it apart from the other tracks, but this is one song that could have used a little more production. "Better," while uplifting, is the weakest track on the album.
The standard version of the album closes with the worshipful "After You." Interestingly, Nicole bookends the album with two songs addressed to God-"Through Your Eyes" is about how He sees her, and "After You" is about how she sees Him.
Other standouts on the album include the quirky and motivational "Be the Change" and the fun, sing-along squad anthem "Girls Night Out," in which Nicole and her friends order seven double cheeseburgers and seven milkshakes to dip their fries in. Album highlight "No Filter" is a timely piano-based ballad about a couple who fakes a perfect relationship on social media but fails to address the real-life issues they have. In "All Day," she expresses her unconditional devotion to her children, even though she can't always be there for them when she's on tour. While Nicole does sing about romance on this album (4 times, if you include the bonus tracks), she also tackles a wide range of other topics. Nicole adds more variety to her vocal delivery here, singing (purposely) in monotone during the bridge, " I've been trying to find love for a long time.we make it last for life, you and me forever be like paradise." With a solid opener behind us, we then move on to the next track, the giddy and super catchy "All the Money," a song declaring that wealth is worthless next to true love. The intricate layers in the melody and the way each sample and instrument is carefully placed in the mix shows more attention to detail this time around. Already, it is clear that this album is a different bird from Nicole's past records. The album kicks off with the synth-laden, mid-tempo, finger-snapping single "Through Your Eyes," a song about changing our perception of ourselves to the way God sees us. Her new album, Britt Nicole, boasts bolder production, edgier beats, and songs that would appeal to both her faith-based and secular audiences, and it's almost perfect. Her signing led to the re-release of her last album, Gold, which was fairly solid, but a little too safe. Nicole signed to Capitol Records and became a mainstream crossover artist in late 2012. These songs, these melodies, this message of hope, for such a time as this. As she says in the trailer posted on her Facebook page, "Everyone has a voice everyone has a story. Such is the case with Britt Nicole, an artist who has previously released three albums before naming her latest effort after herself. There are many artists who make their debut release their self-titled, but then there are other artists who wait until they release an album that is meaningful to them and captures the essence of who they are.
(buy at ) Hanging On Headphones Walk On The Water The Lost Get Found From the Album The Lost Get Found (2009) (buy at ) Gold All This Time Look Like Love Who You Say You Are Ready Or Not Breakthrough Stand The Sun Is Rising Amazing Life Still That Girl Seeing For The First Time Amazing Life (Capital Kings Remix) (Digital Bonus Track) Straight For Your Heart (Digital Bonus Track) From the Album Acoustic (2010)
(buy at ) Through Your Eyes All The Money Better Work Of Art Fallin In Love Be The Change All Day Pave No Filter Girls Night Out After You Concrete Heart Of Stone Electric Love From the Album Gold (2012)