Fergie - Dutchess (CD)

All Music Guide

Through all the twists and turns taken by Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson during her 20year career as an entertainer including a stint on Kids Incorporated, background vocals for Martika, two albums with adult contemporary/dancepop group Wild Orchid, and superstardom with Black Eyed Peas she has always sounded as if she is trying really, really hard. That has been the lone consistent characteristic of her output, and it remains in effect throughout The Dutchess. The album has all the characteristics of a release fronted by someone who has been itching to go solo and prove herself, once and for all, as a versatile force all her own. Fergie does cartwheels and handstands, juggles three objects at once, balances books on her head, hangs upside down, rides a unicycle with her hands in the air all these things while wearing different outfits. The whole process, produced mostly by fellow Pea will.i.am, is mildly entertaining. There's throwback hiphop ("Fergalicious," done to the tune of J.J. Fad'...s "Supersonic"), throwback soul ("Here I Come," done to the tune of the Temptations' "Get Ready"), reggae ("Mary Jane Shoes"), skapunk ("Mary Jane Shoes"), scat ("Mary Jane Shoes"), vaguely torchy midtempo fluff ("Velvet"), and a classy stringdrenched ballad (the appropriately titled "Finally"), among several other passable switchups, along with "London Bridge" which is terrific, provided you can block out the lyrics or prevent yourself from trying to decipher its meaning. One of the more convincing songs on the album, "Big Girls Don't Cry," sounds exactly like a 2006 version of Wild Orchid, with Fergie's Taylor Dayne kidsister act in full effect. - Andy Kellman, All Music Guide Read more Less