Today sees the release of Jordin Sparks' sophomore album Battlefield, the same title as her lead single. To be honest, the album is a bunch of radio-friendly pop/rock/R&B tracks thrown together on one CD (or digital download package, depending on how you take your music) that doesn't express any more music point of view that her first eponymous album. Still, there are some good, great, and pop smashes on this album, so they shouldn't be counted out. Here are songs that make the album worth the $9.99:
Walking on Snow - It's a good album starter; there's a Kelly-esque guitar intro, before some synthesized beats and hand claps come in to fill the song out (it won't be their last appearance). There are some cute lyrics about clipping wings and ricocheting words. It's a very good pop record.
S.O.S. (Let The Music Play) - Jordin ditches the cutesy defiance and throws on some of that armor she was talking about in first single "Battlefield". The song is based off the 80's dance hit "Let The Music Play" by Shannon, spicing it up with some sharper synths in the chorus and Beyonce-lite lyrics about holding on to a straying man. Jordin's voice gets a little edgier, especially when she sings "that crazy chick doesn't know who she's messing with". "S.O.S." is her most dance-ready track yet, and will probably be huge on the club scene.
No Parade - There are quite a few ballads on this album, but this one is the best, hands down. It's a lament about a relationship that inexplicably went wrong with no warning, with the title serving as the main metaphor. Frankly, its a good one. There are other good ones too, but the true standouts of this (hopefully) future single is the surprisingly rich production and Jordin's voice. The songs switches between elegant piano and a meaty guitar/synth combo, which is interesting, if not completely original. It probably ranks in the top 5 of her best songs.
Was I The Only One - Another ballad, a pretty one at that. In an album that is a bit overproduced, this has the simplest arrangement and the least vocal acrobatics, which does her more favors than she thinks. It's quite sad, and relatable, hearing Jordin's soft but assured voice convey words of doubt about a broken relationship. For the Disney kids who constantly write music about their relationships, this is how you do it without coming off annoying and whiny.
Battlefield - Of course, the lead single is one of the standouts. It is also the best record she has ever released. On this song, the AI princess comes out swinging, singing with such energy that it could literally knock you out. That's probably why she warns, in one of the best lyrics of the year, "you better go and get your armor". That hook is brilliant, and if she and her record label were smart, they would definitely take her in that direction. If she had done that here, I would've listed every track in this post.
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