Keisha White:
Seventeen

Release Date: 7 March 2005

Reviewed By: Belinda Boakye

1. Seventeen

2. Don't Care Who Knows (Album Mix feat Cassidy)

3. Open Like So

4. Don't fool a Woman In Love

5. Brother

6. Spent Money

7. The Weakness In Me

8. No Wallflower

9. Why

10. What's on Your Mind

11. Complicated Emotions

12. What Makes You Think

13. One Step At a Time

14. I've Got Love Feat Bob Marley

15. Don't Care Who Knows (Original Version)

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Keisha White has been labelled as the ‘next big thing’ by The Sunday Times Magazine and ‘one to watch’ by Blues & Soul Magazine. Well if they say so, it ought to be true... surely! Once again, the album ‘Seventeen’ serves as evidence of a lot of excessive hot air and hype from White’s marketing team; an example of well packaged mediocrity from the UK urban (verging on pop) music scene.  

But hold the press! Don’t mistake my disheartening introduction as a complete annihilation of White’s efforts. There are some absolutely acceptable tracks that I found myself humming along to, (however unwillingly). Of course, the already released ‘Don’t Care Who Knows’ featuring man of the moment, or at least six months ago, Cassidy, demonstrates White’s sexy, sultry tones complemented by Cassidy’s laidback rap. Its chorus is strong and catchy, however, for a first release it falls short of making a noticeable impression or lasting impact.  

The next track to capture my attention in a positive way is the token ballad – ‘The Weakness In Me’, a cover version of a Joan Amatrading original. White successfully manages to make this one her own and the simplicity of a piano accompaniment and minimal backing vocals gives her the opportunity to display her vocal range. It is here and on the track ‘One Step At A Time’ that I feel we get an insight into the soul of White, and hopefully, they are a promise of better things to come from this young artist as she grows musically and as a person. 

The main source of my negativity stems from the production on tracks like ‘Complicated Emotions’ and ‘Brother’, which bring an overall generic sound to the album. Although proclaimed to be working with some of the best writers and producers around in the UK and Stateside, no less than Scott Storch, (of Dr Dre, Janet Jackson and Beyoncé fame), the tracks fail to have the cutting edge impact so desperately needed from UK female solo artists. Instead, production on ‘Spent Money’ reminds me of Aaliyah’s trademark Timbaland sound, and ‘What Makes You Think’ of Janet Jackson; yet, I am unable to find any encouraging distinguishing elements of originality from White herself. 

‘Seventeen’, when taking into consideration the fact that it is the first effort from a 17-year-old UK urban vocalist, is a good collection of pleasant upbeat songs; as easy on the ear as White is on the eye. It lays the foundations for future growth and it would be unforgivable to deny that potentially Keisha White could be a huge success. However, I would like to see more hardcore originality, more edge, more soul, more of White upfront instead of hiding behind already established names. 

Rating: 2 out of 5 

Top 3 tracks:

7) The Weakness In Me

13) One Step At A Time

2) Don’t Care Who Knows

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