Album Review: Nelly Furtado's Loose

Following her 2000 multi-platinum debut album of Whoa, Nelly! and the gold certified sophomore follow up, 2003’s Folklore, Nelly Furtado is back with her new album, Loose. The overall tone of this third disc is a pleasing, club friendly, fun sound. Much like many dance albums, the content is not mind shattering by any means, and the overt mention of sex in a few tracks, perhaps for a more adult sound, seems too deliberate. 

The choruses are often repetitive to the point of annoyance at times, and the staged banter and dialogue intro in between tracks loses its novelty fast. Those aversions aside, the album is hip, fresh, young and should get great play on radio and in club venues. 

The opening track, “Afraid”, boasts light vocals with a house beat mixed in. The airy tone and the chorus heavy tune make for a good song. The mood continues in “Maneater,” not to be mistaken for the Hall & Oates song of the same name. Typical simple but catchy lyrics are found, along with a throwback 1980’s electronica beat. 

The third track, “Promiscuous”, is already receiving constant play and is on the way to being the big hit for summer. Besides being on top 40 stations, the song is also prominent in a television commercial. Timbaland, co-producer of the album, also provides the guest vocals. With a sensual sound and heavy drum bass, it is among the best tracks on Loose. 

Forgettable pieces on this collection include “Glow” and “Showtime”. “Glow” has muddy vocals, and the listener can get lost in the weird melody, while “Showtime” has a choppy element to it. Though the verses are smooth enough, the hook is off.
Nelly goes international with “No Hay Igual.”