Fantasia (CD - 2006)

Personnel: Missy Elliott (vocals); Taurian "TJ" Osborne (strings); Louis Biancaniello (keyboards, programming); Peter Rogers (keyboards); Corte Ellis (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Vincent Dilorenzo; Marcella "Ms. Lago" Araica; Manny Marroquin; Dave Russell ; Paul J. Falcone; Jimmy Douglass; Jon Gass; Rich Keller.

Recording information: Brandon's Way Recording, Los Angeles, CA; Chalice Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Goldmind Studios, Quad Recording Studios, New York, NY; KI Studios, West Orange, NJ; PJFmusic.com; Silent Sound Studios, Atlanta, GA; Sony Music Studios, New York, NY; Stankonia Studios, Atlanta, GA; Studio 609, Philadelphia, PA; Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, CA.

Photographer: Randall Slavin.

AMERICAN IDOL winner Fantasia Barrino mixed hip-hop with classic soul on her 2004 debut, FREE YOURSELF. Yet the slick, urban contemporary sound of the album may have alienated some of Fantasia's fans, who were more accustomed to the old-school approach she'd displayed on AMERICAN IDOL. Consequently, Fantasia's follow-up sticks more closely to vintage R&B, resulting in a more confident and consistent album.

This is not to say that Fantasia doesn't still have her fingers in the hip-hop pie: there is a rap from Outkast's Big Boi on "Hood Boy," for example, and "Two Weeks Notice" was co-written by Missy Elliott. Yet FANTASIA is full of energetic R&B drivers and aching ballads that owe more to Motown and Stax/Volt than Def Jam. The production is superior, and the songs are strong, but the real selling point of the disc is still Fantasia's dazzling, powerhouse voice. With performances like these, FANTASIA is sure to please the diva's AMERICAN IDOL fans, and win her some new ones as well. minimize