Album Review: LaKisha Jones "So Glad I'm Me"

It’s been a little over a couple years since LaKisha Jones finished fourth on the sixth season of American Idol, but for her to only now be releasing her debut album So Glad I’m Me, in Idol terms, isn’t ideal. Nonetheless, despite her album being released through an independent label, the material on So Glad I’m Me is of surprisingly good quality. There is no doubt that LaKisha can sing her booty off &, luckily for us, her voice translates well in the studio, so that makes the treat of her debut album all the more delightful.

LaKisha expresses her gratitude in the spiritual-leaning “Grateful” & continues to do so in the title track “So Glad I’m Me,” a pair of uptempos that open the album well. The singer, who is currently pregnant, sings of the love she has for her first daughter in “Beautiful Girl,” a fittingly beautiful jam. “Same Song” slows things down nicely, as it is the power ballads that show off her voice the best.

The album’s so-called first single “Let’s Go Celebrate” could have made a pretty cool video, as it is fairly current, if not groundbreaking. That, though, could be said for the entire disc (see: the slow jam “Ain’t Worth It.”) Another, somewhat more enjoyable slow jam “Nothing” follows, but the song displays something a little strange to me. Why is it that the background singers that sing the entire chorus don’t sound anything like LaKisha? This trend, which is common on indie releases, of other people practically singing lead irks me a bit. I really like the vibe of the intro to “Be Alright,” an R&B midtempo right up my alley, though it also features a case of the spotlight-stealing backups.

The Whitney Houston cover “You Give Good Love” sees LaKisha steal that spotlight right back. A one Mike Winans gets a featured credit on “Free,” a serene track that reminds me of (the sound, not song titles, of) Destiny’s Child’s excellent last album Destiny Fulfilled. LaKisha & her nameless counterparts reminisce on the decent, yet catchy “Memories (Fade Away).” The closer “Just As I Am” comes full circle & thankfully shows off that powerhouse voice one more time.

I’ve never been one to discredit someone who can really sing, so I gotta give LaKisha Jones her due props for that on So Glad I’m Me. Some of the credit can, however, go to the album’s actual content, which has its highlights. So Glad I’m Me may not be innovative, but it’s a strong R&B release nonetheless & deserves its chance to shine (& I don’t just say that because my name is in the booklet!) Of course, the same can be said for its creator, LaKisha Jones.

Rating: 4/5 Stars