Amazing news: Ciara’s new album Fantasy Ride is fabulous.

I bought it today grudgingly.  Evolution is one of my all time favorite albums but everything I’d seen about Fantasy Ride made it seem like it would disappoint.

First of all, I hate hate HATE the first single, “Love Sex Magic.” Ugh. Horrid song plus ridiculous and offensive video.  Ciara, you are better than this. Don’t slink around that dweeb Justin Timberlake and DO NOT try to make it sexy for a black woman to be chained up by a white man.  So. Wrong.

Then there’s the whole album theme of Ciara as a superheroine.  It’s beyond lame, the album cover makes me cringe. I can’t believe someone who has always seemed so effortlessly cool would go for this. (Compare and contrast the songs and respective videos for Ciara’s “Like a Boy” and Beyonce’s “If I Were a Boy” for the master class on Ciara’s cool.)

But like Andy Williams holding back “Moon River” for the second encore, Ciara actually delivers the goods.  This album is going to be my summer jam.  I’m so excited she did another song with Ludacris (“High Price,” the audio to this post), and pleasantly surprised by her delivery.  Who knew Ciara could have so much personality? Wonders never cease.

Another fab track from Fantasy Ride. I may have to start hosting a dance party at my house to fully enjoy this album.