Turn Me Loose
Studio album by
Ledisi
ReleasedAugust 18, 2009
Length53:53
LabelVerve
Producer
Ledisi chronology
Lost & Found
(2007)		 Turn Me Loose
(2009)		 Pieces of Me
(2011)

Turn Me Loose is the fourth studio album by American singer Ledisi. It was released by Verve Records on August 18, 2009 in the United States. It was recorded after Ledisi's experience with the writer's block, which she able to overcome it, after finding inspiration by listening on the Buddy Miles's album Them Changes (1970).[1] In contrast to her previous work with jazz and soul influences, the album features a prominent funk sound.

The album debuted at number 14 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 27,000 copies in the first week.[2] Upon its release, it received generally positive reviews from music critics, based on an aggregate score of 72/100 from Metacritic.[3] Turn Me Loose received two nominations at the 52nd Grammy Awards including Best R&B Album.

Background

Speaking in April 2010 to Blues & Soul, Ledisi explained how the title of the album reflected its musical diversity: "The title 'Turn Me Loose' is basically me saying 'I don't wanna be boxed in! Let me be myself as a performer and singer, because I do EVERYTHING! Not just one particular style!'."[4] The singer was able to secure some of urban music's most respected producers, including Raphael Saadiq, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and James "Big Jim" Wright. She also reunited with producer Rex Rideout, who contributed greatly to the sound of her previous album Lost & Found. With help from the four other producers, including Carvin & Ivan, Chief Xcel, Chucky Thompson, and Fyre Dept., the artist braided brilliant strains of rock, blues, classic soul, funk and hip-hop are all fused together throughout Turn Me Loose. The funky title track, for instance, updates the sassy grooves of vintage Stax. As a tribute to Buddy Miles, Ledisi does a cover of "Them Changes" as a bonus track.[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic72/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[5]
Allmusic[6]
Boston Herald(B+)[7]
Dallas Morning News(A-)[8]
Los Angeles Times[9]
Miami Herald[10]
New York Times(favorable)[11]
People[12]
PopMatters(7/10)[13]
San Francisco Chronicle(favorable)[14]

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, Turn Me Loose has an average score of 72 based on 5 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[3] Allmusic editor Andy Kellman found that Turn Me Loose "partially roots itself in the singer's past work and otherwise branches out from it [...] Most of the material that is in the vein of the subdued, sophisticated R&B showcased throughout much of Soulsinger and Lost & Found is fine, if sporadically tepid – something that really comes through when heard with the harder material."[6]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Runnin'"
Chief Xcel2:18
2."Everything Changes"
  • Ledisi
  • Thompson
4:00
3."Turn Me Loose"
  • Young
  • Rex Rideout
Rideout4:18
4."Higher Than This"
4:54
5."Alone"
Carvin & Ivan4:18
6."Love Never Changes"
  • Saadiq
  • Ledisi[A]
3:50
7."Please Stay"
  • Young
  • Saadiq
  • Saadiq
  • Ledisi[A]
3:47
8."Knockin'"
Fyre Dept.3:45
9."Say No"
  • Young
  • Deitch
  • Krasno
Fyre Dept.3:43
10."Goin' Thru Changes"
  • Young
  • Rideout
Rideout4:45
11."I Need Love"
  • Young
  • Haggins
  • Barias
  • Smith
  • Carvin & Ivan
  • Smith
4:01
12."Trippin'"
  • Young
  • Thompson
  • Kyonte Vincent
Thompson2:57
13."The Answer to Why"
  • Young
  • Lorenzo Johnson
Rideout3:04
14."Them Changes"Buddy MilesRideout4:37
iTunes bonus track
No.TitleLength
15."Movin' On"4:04
Notes

^[A] denotes co-producer

Charts

References

  1. ↑ Farber, Jim. Review: Turn Me Loose. New York Daily News. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  2. ↑ Kreps, Daniel. On the Charts: Reba McEntire Scores Second Number One Album. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  3. 1 2 3 "Turn Me Loose by Ledisi". Metacritic. United States: CBS Interactive. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Ledisi interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' April 2010
  5. ↑ Nero, Mark Edward. Review: Turn Me Loose. About.com. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  6. 1 2 Kellman, Andy. Review: Turn Me Loose. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  7. ↑ Carter, Lauren. Review: Turn Me Loose. Boston Herald. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  8. ↑ Tarradell, Mario. Review: Turn Me Loose. The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  9. ↑ Wood, Mikael. Review: Turn Me Loose. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  10. ↑ McGee, William T. Review: Turn Me Loose. Miami Herald. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  11. ↑ Chinen, Nate. Review: Turn Me Loose. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  12. ↑ Columnist. "Review: Turn Me Loose". People: August 2009.
  13. ↑ Horowitz, Steve. Review: Turn Me Loose. PopMatters. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  14. ↑ Vaziri, Aidin. Review: Turn Me Loose. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  15. ↑ "Ledisi Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Ledisi Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
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