Personnel includes: Anastacia, Faith Evans (vocals); Miklos Malek (various instruments); Eric Kupper (acoustic & electric guitars, keyboards, bass, drums); Chieli Minucci (acoustic & electric guitars); Chris Camozzi (guitar); Joel Derouin, Becky Bunnell (violin); Roland Kata, Denyse Buffum (viola); Larry Corbett (cello); Sharon Bryant, Audrey Wheeler, Nicole Renee (background vocals).
Producers: Richie Jones, Ric Wake, Sam Watters, Louie Biancaniello.
Sporting the cleavage-and-bare-midriff look that's requisite early-21st century pop femme-wear, the New York-born blonde bombshell Anastacia drops her sophomore album with all the subtlety of a Pamela Anderson video. Her vocals avoid the little-girl breathlessness of a Britney Spears or Mandy Moore--instead, she projects an unmistakable earthiness and raw sexuality, notably in the album's title track and "Why'd You Lie to Me?," both of which find her in feisty mood.
Anastacia also channels Chaka Khan in the Brazilian-inflected rhythms of "Don't Cha Wanna," and shows her quieter (if no less uncompromising) side in the charming "Overdue Goodbye." With the addition of a couple of Celine Dion-style ballads ("Hold On," "I Dreamed You") that also lighten the mood, FREAK OF NATURE is a well-rounded effort.
What the critics say...
Entertainment Weekly (6/28/02, p.142) - "...A kicky 'Flashdance' retro vibe...Anastacia has major-league pipes and solid rhythm...Played loud and often, NATURE can help you get ur freak on" - Rating: B
