Amerie - Touch
Track listing
1. 1 Thing
2. All I Need
3. Touch
4. Not the Only One
5. Like It Used to Be
6. Talkin' About
7. Come With Me
8. Rolling Down My Face
9. Can We Go
10. Just Like Me
11. Falling
12. 1 Thing
13. Why Don't We Fall in Love [Richcraft Remix]
In 2005, Will Smith appeared in Cinemas as a smooth matchmaker in the hit Romantic Comedy “Hitch”, and along with it, a wider recognition for the singer Amerie and her hit single “1 Thing”. Up until this point, she had largely gone unnoticed in the UK despite having received critical acclaim in the USA.
As an interesting note, I read that Amerie had tried to persuade her record company to release "1 Thing" as a single, but apparently they weren't having any of it. Discussions went backwards and forwards with the single eventually being "leaked" onto the music scene. The story goes on to say that Jennifer Lopez had hoped to record the song herself.
Amerie Rogers is one of the latest darlings of the R & B scene to be produced by Rich Harrison, the same person who produced Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love”. Whilst not being a huge fan of either R & B music or the scene itself, there is something about Amerie’s voice that somehow distinguishes itself from the main stream, it’s just a shame it isn’t allowed a bit more freedom to do so.
This second album starts on familiar ground with that instantly recognisable single, “1 Thing”, but where does it go from there? Largely speaking? Down. The album isn’t that bad, but the “peak” is actually that very first opening track which sets an almost impossibly high benchmark to live up to.
But don’t be disheartened, Washington DC born Rogers still weaves her voice well within an album that borrows from funk / Go-Go bands (not as obvious in the tracks, “All I Have” and “Need You Tonight) and with it brings a largely up tempo feel.
The album itself comprises 13 tracks, eight of which were produced by Rich Harrison (produced Beyonce's "Crazy in Love"), but the five tracks from other producers are virtually left to hang out to dry, as although (they’re by no means bad) there’s a general feeling that somehow, they don’t fit in.
