Since Amerie broke onto the scene with her 2002 debut ALL I HAVE, she's acted in films and been a BET television host. So for her sophomore effort, TOUCH, the D.C. native drew from these experiences in taking a bolder and more explicit approach towards revealing a more sensual and self-confident side of her persona. The twentysomething songbird gets straight to the point on the Lil' Jon-produced title track, where she alternates between coyness and aggression over a squiggly synth line with a faintly Arabic flavor. In working her hip-hop/soul groove, Amerie gets plenty of mileage from vintage samples, from the Roy Ayers saxophone riff that gooses the heavy thump of "Rolling Down My Face" to the Gamble & Huff-penned Ebonys sample at the heart of the bonus "Why Don't We Fall in Love" Richcraft Remix. But nothing hits the mark more than "1 Thing," a go-go flavored slice of funk driven by a sample from the Meters' "Oh Calcutta." Upping the ante even more is a second version featuring plenty of sass from guest rapper Eve. This DualDisc features the CD version of TOUCH on one side and a DVD version with surround-sound mix and bonus video material (including behind-the-scenes footage and three music videos) on the other.

release year: 2005

star(s): Amerie