Anastacia Album: “Not That Kind (Gold Award Edition) (+1 Bonus Track”

For years I've been waiting for a US singer like Anastacia! Forget Mariah and Whitney, Britney and Christina, and all the other little pop femmes that somehow seem tragic on today's music scene. What is there that sets her apart? Take one listen to that voice...and you're sunk. Call it what you will, but Anastacia has the voice, experience, smoothness and brassy edge of a true woman, not the little gimmicky whiner brats that seem to dominate popular music these days due to clever, but all too annoying, packaging and marketing.

So what if her influence by singers like Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin are "too obvious"? Please. At least it demonstrates that she has some class to start with. And say what you will about it, but if Elton John sees enough talent in you for him to ask you to perform with him, then it's for real. "Not That Kind" has its departures from these artists as well. Quit comparing and start contrasting, for crying out loud!

I've listened to this album countless times and can't wait to buy her second album when it's released in the US. Ditto for the "I'm Outta Love" CD single. Flat out, Anastacia has a voice to rave about, the attitude that dance and pop music *truly* thrives on, and real feeling behind it all.

I, too, first heard the title song for this CD while visiting Germany over the summer. Both my 16 year old daughter and I fell in love with the song. I bought us each the single and later found this CD prior to coming home. I bought one for each of us and my daughter listens to hers daily. I play mine in my car all of the time I am out and about. My daughter tells all of her friends "Listen closely, you're hearing the next great diva!" I couldn't agree more. She has a tremendous voice and the songs are great. Even I, a child of the 70's, can enjoy this music.

Anastacia is a woman with an incredible voice, she's a mix between Tina Turner and Taylor Dayne, but she has her own style.

"Not that kind" it's her first album which was released in 2000.

This album wasn't promoted in the US, only the cut "I'm otta love" was able to chart on Billboard's Dance Club House (I don't remember the peek but was high). The song used to be played on pubs and some station but Sony decided just to promote her in Europe.

In Europe Anastacia is considerate one of the most important singers, selling millions of copies (this album sold 5 million throughout Europe)her singles top the charts and her concerts are crowded.

Anastacia's songs are great, her love songs have great lyrics and her feeling is deep. When she rocks, she rocks an example of some great dance songs are: "I'm otta love", "Not that kind", "You're tripping", "I was made for loving you". Some of her love songs on this album are: "Black roses", "One more change" and "Cawboys and kisses".

Anastacia seems to have it all, support from big stars such as: Michael Jackson, Destiny's child, Madonna between others, a great voice, the looks and a unique talent.

I'm sure that if you buy this album, you're gonna buy also her second and latest, "Freak of nature" which has the 2002 smashing international hit "One day in your life" and a duet with Faith Evans.

2002 was a very good year for her, "Freak of nature" sold also 5 million in europe and its total selling amount it's around the 7 million, she happened to be the singer of the 2002 official song of the Fifa football world competition.

But 2003 started not so good because Anastacia discovered that she had breast cancer, but thanks God her doctors detected this on time and now she's recovering to bring us her third album.

It is reassuring to note that even in these days of mass-produced, repetitive, simplistic pop tunes that are projected to the top of the charts by clever marketing rather than musical worth, a small number of musicians continue to roll out great songs.

Anastacia, with her immediately distinctive vocal style and fantastic range comes straight out of the mould of the great soul singers of the 60s and 70s from which she clearly gets a great deal of inspiration.

Her singing is real seat-of-your-pants stuff - with a cutting edge not dissimilar to the great Aretha Franklin. Indeed, if there can be one criticism of this excellent debut album, it would be that at times, the influence of artists such as Aretha and Stevie Wonder is perhaps a little transparent. That aside, if a pop artist is going to emulate anyone, these two role-models can't be a bad place to start.

From the grooving, soulful 'Not That Kind', she goes straight into her other big hit single 'I'm Outta Love', both of which showcase her distinctive tone brilliantly. It's not all funky toe-tapping stuff, though - 'Cowboys and Kisses' is a lyrical ballad also worth hearing, and the single 'Made for Loving You' which features on a UK Honda advert is a terrific track.

There are few albums these days that can be listened to again and again, every time hearing something new to appreciate and admire. This is a real feel-good album, it's great just to have on as background music, it's great to work out to, it's great to have on in the car. It's great, full stop.

When I first heard Anastacia, I thought it was Taylor Dayne, & with a smimilar voice which could knock a bull over, this debut album packs a real punch & covers a plethora of musical styles. The neo-funk of the album's title-track opener is a catchy affair & is built upon by the world-wide smash of the first single, I'm Outta Love, which is a rollercoaster ride of a song which makes you wanna move. The remainder of the album however is not an entirely uptempo affair, but what it dies reveal is the textured richness of Anastacia's voice and captivating balladry. With all songs co-written by the gal herself ( and a notable collaboration with Sturken & Rogers), Anastacia has proven herself to be a woman with a sense of orientation as well as talent, which will help her & Sony bring her to the top of her game. Watche this space.