Amerie Music:

		List Price: $19.98		Label: Sony Salesrank: 212491 Released: July 19, 2005
		Our Price: $4.99
		Used Price: $3.78
		Media: Audio CD

Touch Reviews:
Dual Disc Enhances & Brings Amerie Up Close!
2009-09-26 - This DualDisc is a much improved version of Amerie's album titled, "Touch". It includes a menu with album song select, bonus audio ["Man Up" Featuring NAS + "Touch" Featuring T.I.], an entire segment with Amerie explaining the album [including live performances at Virgin Megastore], and the exclusive remix videos "1 Thing" Remix Featuring Eve, and "Touch" Remix Featuring T.I. While the lyrics are not included as in the Japan release and "I'm Coming Out" is not on it, the added bonus visuals along a Super Audio Sound make this a much worthwhile and extraordinary purchase. Amerie's concept behind this album is a bit more personal as compared to the last giving a more "up close" vibe of what she's about and how she does have bad days [not as prevalant on her last album All I Have. Enjoy the visuals, music, and get to know more about Amerie! While her first album has a slower R&B edge, and her other "Because I Love It" is mostly up-tempo, the tracks here range from up-tempo, and mid-tempo to slow jams.

Stand-out tracks and favorites range from the hit songs "1 Thing" plus "1 Thing Featuring Eve", "Touch", "All I Need", "Talkin' About", and "Can We Go" Featuring Carl Thomas. Favorites from my listening experience would be many but to name a few: "Falling" for it's references to slowly falling in love with that special someone, "Just Like Me" for actually finding a person who will love back after a hard search and wanting to give up, "Rolling Down My Face" for it's tender emotions of love that takes a hold, and "Talkin' About" for its references on a great love match that brings joy, and "finally" finding your soul mate.

Aside, those true favorites classic hits and my personal ones, the true enjoyment is the DVD disc portion. In the program section Amerie explains her growth as an artist, how this album reflects everything she was going through at the time, and how it incorporates a different vibe than her last one. There are clips of her singing in the Virgin Megastore some songs like, "Why Don't We Fall In Love" and "Talkin' To Me". This album is a more grown up Amerie who has been and done more to share experiences for her fans and give positive messages. She states in my interpretation and some of her words, "Besides getting an education, it's important to 'know your worth'. It enables you to make decisions that are right for you, so you aren't easily pressured by your peers."

Amerie signs autographs, poses with fans on photographs, and explains the importance of her fans, their gifts, and how they make her happy. It is mentioned that her improvement of performing live came after her tour with NAS and many other on stage moments. At first, it was not easy but later she realized it was not as scary as it seemed.

The Bonus Audio is phenomenal and I would love for the 2 Audio Tracks to be released as a single or added to a bonus album. The first Audio Track is "Man Up" Featuring NAS and is about a girl telling her man to leave her alone as he is not apt to be the part. It references that he needs to grow up, stand on his own, and have responsibility. NAS does such a phenomenal rap it blew me away. The theme is that the guy messed up. The second Audio Track is "Touch" Featuring T.I. and is exactly like the video version style. The rap portions are exact and in the beginning both T.I. and Amerie talk.

Although, my personal tastes are fast up-tempo party tracks or happy positive moods, the entire package of the videos, documentary, and extras make it a much better listening experience geared to my musical preferences. As it may also appeal to many listeners who are not quite familiar with Amerie's reasons for her changes in sound, and more!

*For those who want the song "I'm Coming Out" I recommend her new albums, Best 15 Things and Playlist:The Very Best of Amerie (Eco-Friendly Packaging). The first one is a Japanese Import and includes the lyrics and the second is also excellent.

GREAT
2006-09-25 - At first I was a little skeptical because her first album was so good I didnt think she could do it twice but I was pleasently surprised...

Retro Vibes......
2005-12-30 - Not being in touch with the R&B scene as I once was, Amerie only came to my notice upon seeing 'Hitch', which featured her massive single `1 Thing'. From there I borrowed a copy of this CD to see if the rest of the songs came up to scratch. For me the best moments on this CD, are when the producers get that `Retro Vibe' going on. 1 Thing is the classic example. By using a portion of a Meteor sample, they have built a new song around it, that upon first hearing, I thought could have been from the seventies. `Rollin Down my Face', by using a Roy Ayers sample (Searching), also falls into this category. Sampling old tunes in this way, meets my approval, as it is cleverly done, and doesn't song as if the singer/rapper are performing over an instrumental version of the original (a la P Diddy, or whatever he is calling himself nowadays). All I Need. With it's speeded up vocals sound goods, and I loved the collaboration with Nas, on the UK Album version, of 'Man up', with it's 80's feeling vibe.The remainder of the CD is really no different to what's out there at this moment in time, but the retro vibe mentioned is enough reason for me to consider buying this CD.


Needs a touch more creativity
2005-12-19 - Amerie seemed like she was doing fine a while back when she scored with songs like "Why Don't We Fall In Love" and "Talkin' to Me". But then, almost two years ago, she came back with the song "All I Need". It didn't receive much of a response, which is probably why her second album got pushed back (although that song IS on here). But Touch was finally released this year.

I agree with reviewer Paul Clarke when he said that Amerie has a limited vocal range. Honestly, she never really was a spectacular singer (and I'm not exactly sure where the reviewer that said "watch out, Beyoncé" is coming from). But what brings things down even more on here is the average songwriting. The only real standout I can see is the lone ballad, "Just Like Me", which was co-written by Sunshine Anderson (yo, Sunshine, any chance on a second album???).

The made-for-the-club songs are the biggest mistakes, like the lazy "Talkin' About" and the irritating "1 Thing" (sorry, I never liked that song). And the Eve-assisted remix of that song doesn't help or hurt the album, nor does the new version of "Why Don't We Fall In Love". Even Carl Thomas' appearance on "Can We Go" can't save the album.

The rest of the songs pretty much go by without being too memorable. In fact, the only thing I think most people WILL remember about this album is how virus-inducing the copy-protection is. Anyway, borrow this album from a friend if you must, because I really don't think Touch will touch you.

Anthony Rupert

Amerie does it her way
2005-12-14 - I hadn't really known too much about Amerie. She emerged in a post-Aaliyah era along with Ashanti, though Ashanti proved to be a more commercial viablity than Amerie. I do know that a producer named Rich Harrison first emerged producing her first album "All I Have" & her first single "Why Don't We Fall In Love?". The single & album from what I understood showed promise for both of them in 2002.

Rich of course would go on to produce for Beyonce' & Jennifer Lopez amongst others. The question remained though, where was Amerie?

Then in the early spring of this year "1 Thing" Amerie's newest single from the then forthcoming album "Touch", catapulted her into the collective minds of both mainstream R&B and pop audiences. That single, helmed by Harrison, showed that despite the previous big guns he'd worked with his D.C. "Go-Go" sound worked best with Amerie's sweet stylist voice. The song featured a feverish sample from The Meters' "Oh, Calcutta!" which had an undeniable pop hook & an amazing R&B dance edge. The video was great because it recalled Jody Watley's runway piece from 1989 "Real Love", it was good to Amerie stepping up her game. This all of course made me take notice & made me purchase "Touch".

Overall, Amerie is a standard commodity as a writer & singer. She has an eye on the pulse of how she delivers what would be mediocre in the hands of others, & makes it stylish & accesible for her. The "go-go" sound is pretty much laced through the record, & only maybe three tracks fall flat; the garishly produced Lil' Jon crunk/go-go-lite affair of the title track comes to mind.

Otherwise, this is a pleasant mainstream black pop record. Hooky, stylish, & sexy without being trashy. Another thing I liked about this record (barring a pointless remix redux with Eve of "1 Thing") is that the basic album is an Amerie record. She didn't hide behind any big name MC's, Amerie did her thing.

Highlights for me would include an amazingly emotive duet between Amerie & Carl Thomas on "Can We?", the hip-swaying "Talkin''Bout" (great horn sample), & effortlessly pretty "Rolling Down My Face". Ballads & uptempo jams are a plenty here. Though this record would be lost in a chart dominated by Mariah's "comeback" success, Amerie still made an impressive sophmore record.

Her next record should be interesting.

On a sidenote, I own the original release which featured the Sony "spyware" mess that has caused quite a stir. I reviewed the Dualdisc version so the reviewe could be read, I don't own this version.