Track Listing

1. It Feels So Good - Chris Allen, Graeme Pleeth, Simon Belofsky, Sonique
2. I Put A Spell On You - Graeme Pleeth, Sonique, Chris Allen, Simon Belofsky, Julian Elkan
3. Are You Ready (Or Not) - BT, Sonique
4. Cold N ' Lonely - Chris Allen, Simon Belofsky, Sonique
5. Drama - Calvin Richardson, Gerald Isaac, Gerald W. Isaac, Sonique
6. Move Closer - Ric Salmon, Robin Barter, Sonique
7. Can't Get Enough - Chris Allen, Graeme Pleeth, Graham Pleeth, Sonique
8. Hear My Cry - Robin Barter, Sonique
9. Empty (Hideaway) - Robin Barter, Sonique
10. Love Is On Our Side - Sonique, Thunderpuss 2000
11. Sky - Sonique, Thunderpuss 2000, Rick Nowles
12. Learn To Forget - Gerald Isaac, Gerald W. Isaac, Sonique
13. It Feels So Good - Graeme Pleeth, Guido Craveiro, Leven Canseven, Sonique, Sserious
14. Sky - Rick Nowells, Rick Nowles, Robin Barter, Sonique, Thunderpuss, Thunderpuss 2000

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24078 in Music
• Released on: 2001-12-24
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Dimensions: .23 pounds
• Running time: 66 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
A pair of up-tempo, minor-key tunes kicks off this home-grown diva's debut CD. The catchy opener, "It Feels So Good", recalls both 1980s freestyle and Cher's wildly successful hit single "Believe". The next track, "I Put a Spell on You", is "inspired by" (as the CD's sleeve puts it) Screamin' Jay Hawkins's classic R&B gem of the same name, though the new version has none of the 1956 original's over-the-top sense of absurdity and abandon. Sonique's "Spell" is a lean machine fuelled by a disco bass throb, festooned with strings, and graced by Sonique's stylish vocals. Hear My Cry covers a lot of dance territory, from the dressed-up funk of "Are You Ready?" to the techno-tinged house of "Love Is on Our Side". The album also includes an R&B slow jam ("Drama"), gloomy trip-hop ("Empty [Hideaway]"), and a piano ballad ("Learn to Forget"). A fair amount of the disc's tracks are pedestrian, but what makes just about any of them worth checking out is Sonique's distinctive voice, an instrument with an unusual grain to it. --Fred Cisterna

CD Description
In the inner flap of her debut LP, HEAR MY CRY, the imposing-looking Sonique strikes a ferocious pose. She also refers to herself with the oft-overused tag "diva" in the acknowledgments. This posturing could conjure up musical visions ranging anywhere from Mariah to Me'Shell N'Degeo'Cello. In reality, Sonique's music has more in common with sounds pumping from mid-'80s nightclubs of the Frankie Goes to Hollywood variety, while her voice is most reminiscent of that of Jimi Somerville of Bronski Beat fame.
The tinge of cold impersonality in the music is more than made up for by catchy grooves and Sonique's impassioned vocals. The opening track, "It Feels So Good", is marked by the type of hook that bears cross-genre appeal. While a cover of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' signature "I Put a Spell on You" could seem horrific in this forum, she rekindles the song's inherent sinister sensuality and lays it upon some sweet-spiraling electronic hypnotics. Even the familiar anthemic feel of "Are You Ready" and the straight-R&B battle of the sexes of "Drama" are imbued with herspecial spark, one that elevates them to a level far above that of standard fare.

Customer Reviews

Disapointing
'It Feels so Good', 'Sky' and 'I Put a Spell on You' were all excellent singles but they are also the only good tracks on this album. 'Empty (Hideaway)' is OK but the original version by Amanda Ghost (on the 'Ghost Stories' album) is far superior. The other songs are fillers and not good ones at that. I was expecting better, hopefully her second album will deliever the goods. If you already own her singles then save some money and avoid this album at all costs!

She Put A Spell On Me.
After buying the CD single for 'I Put A Spell On You,' like many of the other reviewers I bought this album thinking it would be awesome, when in actually it isn't. In fact, reading their reviews has given me some heart, as I thought it might have been down to my elder years, but apparently not.
Much like 'Louie, Louie,' 'I Put A Spell On You' has to be one of the most 'covered' songs of all time, but I must say, it was Sonique who brought it to everyone's attention with absolutely THE BEST cover of them all. If I was her and living the life of the one-hit-wonder, at least I would be thrilled that at least I had recorded THE BEST version of all time, and that alone is quite some achievement considering some of the others' pedigree. If the album or the CD single had included the then trendy 15 minute version and several mega-mixes, then I would have been well pleased, as it's one of those songs you wish would never come to the end. Maybe, with luck, I'll spend my days in purgatory having to listen to it on a tape-loop!

the number one dance diva proves her abilities.
the first lady of dance brings us her debut album, and it is well worth the wait, 'put a spell on you' was in the clubs 3 years ago, and the album shows that this wasn't just a one off! if you like pop/dance music buy this album, now!