Jesse is an artist with way more talent than he's given credit for. The most common comparison is to Aaron Carter. But This album more than proves that he is just about the farthest thing from the Aaron Carter-type popstars he's compared to. Jesse has a great voice that shines through on every track- especially ballads like Take Your Sweet Time and Because You Live. He can shine just as well on fast tracks, and that proves just how much this kid has got. So I urge you to give him a chance and buy this cd. It's full of "soul-infused pop", as it has been called, and now people are starting to compare him to artists like Craig David. So buy 'Beautiful Soul.' I promise you, you will not regret it.
First off, I just wanted to say that Jesse McCartney is NOTHING like Aaron Carter. Nada. Just because they both have shaggy blonde hair, are around the same age, and sing doesn't mean they're the same. And just because you heard of Aaron before you heard of Jesse, DOESN'T mean that Jesse's an Aaron poser.
Yes, Jesse writes songs. He co-wrote 4 or 5 tracks on the album, (even though he didn't write Beautiful Soul) one of which is She's No You and personally, I think it's a great song.
This is the ONLY album I own that I can play all the way through, which is saying something. Especially since I'm really picky with music :) Jesse's got a great voice and he's learning how to use it to his advantage. I listen to it at least partially every day. It's addictive! Hehe.
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She's No You - Upbeat and fun, has a lot of meaning to it. Great song.
Beautiful Soul - I love the tune of this song. The opening guitar riffs are simple but effective. The lyrics are cute (but I didn't like the video too much!) I love the guitar.
Get Your Shine One - I didn't like this one too much. The tune is good for dancing, though.
Take Your Sweet Time - My favourite ballad. It's slow and it's a nice slow-dance track. It's really meaningful and deep.
Without U - Hmm, this track is ok, I personally don't think the tune really flows together much and the chorus is a bit weird.
Why Don't You Kiss Her - Another slow ballad. The lyrics are really sweet.
That Was Then - I liked all of this song. It's funky and upbeat, but I don't think the tune really goes with the lyrics.
Come To Me - A good remake of "Let Me Be The One" (Can't remember who sang it) I love the chorus. The intro is a bit funny, Jesse should tone down on the headvoice. My friend's little sister thought it was a girl.
What's Your Name - Fastpaced and upbeat. A great song to scream along to in the car. Especially when your tongue gets tied, hehe. The lyrics are cute. It's about this guy who sees this girl everywhere he goes and he wants to get to know her, but she keeps on disappearing.
Because You Live - My second favourite after Beautiful Soul. Ha, I'm soooo predictable. I love the tune of the chorus. This is one of the few songs that opens with piano chords, while most of the others open with the guitar. It's a pity though, the piano is overriden by the drums and guitar until the end. It could have been a bit louder. Nevertheless, a great song. It flows together nicely.
Why Is Love So Hard To Find - The lyrics in this one are sweet and it also has a really fun tune.
The Stupid Things - A song that's a bit more broody. "Just charge it to my account, I hope I haven't gone over my limit..." I dunno why, that cracks me up every time I hear it. I always think of Jesse is a dark suite, swinging drunkenly on a bar stool when I hear this song. It's a slower song but it's really good.
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A great debut album - Jesse's got a lot of potential and is doing very well for someone of age. It's also great that he sees himself as a rolemodel and he makes sure he always carries himself well.
A fantastic addition to any CD collection. Great job Jess!
I have to say I was impressed. Unlike most teeny-bopper type singers, Jesse has a very, very good voice and doesn't rely on over-done ornamentation to impress people. This CD was also very well produced. Didn't love all the songs (Get Your Shine On being the worst) but Jesse sang them all very well. I especially loved Beautiful Soul. Most people seem to be comparing him to Usher, and I can see why. He has the voice to match the presence. He has a bright future ahead of him.
I was just reading some of the reviews, and I noticed that the majority of the reviewers have pretty strong reviews. They either love it, or they hate it. My advice to people thinking about buying this album would be to try listening to the sample clips they offer here at Amazon.com. This will give you an idea of what the music is like. If you are still unsure, I myself would highly recommend buying it. If taking my recommendation still leaves you less than sure of whether you should buy this album or not, you might consider some of the following; what kind of music is this? I would say this is like a R&B/Pop mix with a pinch of Jesse's own style (it is his first solo album- you have to consider that too) If this is just not your kind of music at all, than this isn't the album for you. If this sounds like your kind of music, then I encourage you to try it!
Even if this doesn't sound like your kind of music- I encourage you to try it out anyway!
Thank you so much for reading...
She's No You - 10/10
Beautiful Soul - 8/10
Get Your shine On - 9/10
Take Your Sweet Time - 10/10 - Best Song
Without U - 10/10
Why Don't You Kiss Her - 4/10
That WAs Then - 10/10
Come to Me - 7/10
What's Your Name - 7/10
Because You Live - 9/10
Why Is Love So Hard To Find - 7/10
The Stupid Things - 10/10
Good Life - 10/10
