:: Freaks Of Nature

Anastacia

She just looks the part – style, substance and flair. It’s her booming voice that eclipses many others. The style probably hasn’t changed a lot from her debut album, but there was no real need to change a successful pattern. It’s often hard to follow such a triumphant debut recording, but Anastacia gives plenty here. There are beautiful, R&B-inspired songs on this album that touch into areas of funk and jazz. Through an arduous promotional schedule for her first album, she came across different musical influences, which, in turn, play a part in her new songs. Check out a song titled “Overdue Goodbye” for its African drumbeats. Anastacia manages to achieve her mix of influences in a distinctive fashion. “Paid My Dues”, the current single, tells her story of the journey in becoming a recording artist. It’s typically uplifting and melodramatic, though predictable by her standards. There is a customary big power ballad “You’ll Never Be Alone”. Overall, her massive voice plunders excitedly throughout those various elements. The striking song for me, and hopefully will be a single, is “One Day In Your Life”. But the album is consistently good and definitely worth checking out. http://www.anastacia.com