Review: Cassie - Self-titled debut album
Cassie’s self-titled debut album is as unique as it is groovy. Nearly 20-years since her debut, Cassie and her then unheard of sound has since been lauded by music critics and garnered Cassie musical infamy. Though some might say in the most oblique manner, what CANNOT be disputed is the incredible music that paved the way for new and experimental sounds to flourish in both genres of R&B and pop music. Cassie (and Ryan Leslie) produced an album that delivered on the hype, meeting expectations while also subverting them. I don’t think fans or the world were ready for what they were about to experience. Alright, let’s go! Cassie debut album x RNB NERD SUPER FAN x LOTS OF HEART, SOUL, and PASSION = The review I have always wanted to share on this album.
I want to preface this by saying; there is a degree of satisfaction I am experiencing now that I am finally writing about Cassie’s debut album. But at the same time, I feel a bit sad because I know that I could never ultimately say all the things and express what I truly feel about the music on this project. Sure to someone else this album could be just another well produced R&B/Pop album from the mid-2000’s that housed one of the biggest songs of the time and it would just end there. But I, like the rest of the world, became so moved by the simplicity and hypnosis that poured out of this album. Nothing about ANY of the songs here sounds like Ryan or Cassie went into it with a mentality of trying to fit a trend, popular sound, or think about what the consumer may have wanted at the time. They just did THEM and we have one of the most celebrated and critically acclaimed R&B albums of the 2000’s that feels like it came out of nowhere.
“Me & U” - Following suit of most albums released during this time, the HIT was the first or second song to play. The hit here being, “Me & U”. A record that has stood the test of time, living on through remixes and interpolations by current and legacy artists alike, this song was ahead of the curve. The haunting and sinister beat riding below Cassie’s seducing whisper gave us just enough to enjoy but left us wanting more. I can remember being in the computer lab of my community college and hearing the song on a friend's Myspace profile. I HAD TO KNOW who this girl was. In an era of R&B mixtapes and song leaks wreaking havoc, the internet was in a MAJOR transitional period. On the brink of full integration of social media into every facet of life, Facebook and Myspace became THE location that everyone would spend their time and give their attention to. There were countless profiles devoted to serving as just a space for Cassie’s song to exist. There were multiple versions of the song as well, the main one I remember being a remix with Ray J. This phenomenon has never really left social media and I would bet that Cassie and her journey (with her breakout song “Me & U”) laid the foundation for this formula successfully replicating itself thereafter. Much like the enigmatic quality of the song, Cassie was and remains to this day a mystery of sorts. Having created and mostly holding true to her unique sound, Cassie has had the opportunity to express what she is about in her music while also reminding us that we will never truly know everything. I believe that is what drives me and other die hard R&B fans to always have space in our lives for her and her music. In today's world, that is worth its weight in gold.
“Long Way 2 Go” - Not quite carrying the torch from where “Me & U” left off, perhaps this was a sort of premonition of where things would go with Cassie’s project. Something that I would label a blessing in disguise. When you are putting out something like “Long”, not the most quick digesting, radio-ready song, you are bound to potentially alienate while also strengthen segments of the general audience. “Long” is that moment where I can take solace in knowing the unworthy remain ignorant! Does that sound too harsh? Put another way, IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW. Ryan kicked up the #NextSelection sauce on this one, taking R&B sensibilities to a place that (understandably) not everyone would gravitate toward. For me, it made me a bigger fan and I think Cassie would probably agree about the power the song had in doing that for many other fans as well.
“About Time” - When MTV’s “The Leak” previewed the album on their website a week before the album dropped, “About” was the new song that I resonated with the most. Cassie shifts between her raspy whisper in that higher key to a more smoother, delicate vocal delivery with ease. What stands out to me is how much of Cassie’s later music would abandon this style of singing from her. The production is CLASSIC Ryan Leslie and it goes to show just how much geniusness (I know that is not a word) and sincerity comes across in all the records on this project. It further cements the beautifully INSANE chemistry that her and Ryan had in making this project literally from scratch. “About” is precious and vulnerable, sincerely conveying the spirit of a true broken heart in a way that only Cassie can.
“Kiss Me” - Pulling on the R&B heartstrings in us all by sampling the iconic “T-Shirt” by Destiny’s Child, “Kiss Me” is a special record. If Cassie were to use a true R&B sample like this one on any of the songs, she made sure to reflect this in her vocal delivery. Out of the set, “Kiss” shows Cassie putting the texture in her voice to work. Some of her most soulful runs, ad-libs, and choices can be found on this track. I particularly love her entering into some lower registers toward the end. Ryan, getting an opportunity to flex his vocal chops here too, traded matching ad-libs and made this feature that much sweeter. Ryan did a great job flipping the original with some nice Next Selection flare, making it their own.
“Call U Out” - Another song to exist in multiple versions, the regular version and the one featuring Yung Joc. Personally favoring up-tempo records, chasing “Kiss Me” with “Call” really turned up the energy IMO. Ryan made sure to hit those producer tags a few times because he KNEW the record was FIRE. A mix of hip-hop and electric elements, THIS was the sound of Next Selection (NS4LIFE) - A lifestyle group that Ryan worked hard to get off the ground with Cassie at the center. Busting right into the first verse, Cassie is firm and refuses to yield to the behavior of her love interest. Given how soft Cassie’s voice is in general, she does not get lost in the cyclone of claps and synths spinning around her. Hearing both versions, I think Joc adds a nice touch to the track and gives it some southern grit that pairs nicely with the trap elements too. Solid record!
“Just One Night” - This is another song that had alternate versions floating around on the net. But whichever version you heard will still deliver with minimalist greatness. Claps, a gentle guitar melody, drums, and a piercing electro element that weaves in and out (one that is felt throughout this entire project TBH). Cassie’s ad-libs ARE FIRE here and exude a youthful confidence that we would feel in a lot of her music. I would argue that confidence was the thread throughout this entire project and even her earlier performances. It's like she had not yet experienced criticism and was just going without hesitation. This reminds me so much of something Janet would release and that makes me love it even more.
"Not with You" - Some of the sweetest and realest words on the project can be found in this record. Cassie lets us sneak a peek into some of the insecurities that even a gorgeous girl like herself naturally experiences. A song perfect made for dedications, I appreciate that Cassie does not shy away from the need to have her feelings validated and matched by her partner. The song has a nice juxtaposition between the sentimental lyrics of her devotion and her vocalizing that trust is something she struggles with. Cassie beautifully sings about how an unrequited love is not what she signed up for, but let's us know that if the feelings are mutual, her man will get so much more in return.
"Ditto" - Okay hear me out, I can already hear people coming for this song for sounding adolescent (and the Pokemon references) but I think there is some nice funk to be had on it. The song definitely picks up speed and has a brightness to it, though it can be slightly overshadowed by the momentum of that chorus. Cassie's voice gets a nice moment to shine here too, being another great place that she gets to flex that falsetto of hers.
"What Do U Want" - It is hard to ignore and not immediately gravitate toward the infectiousness of the guitar melody here and the anthemic "let's go" on the chorus. But besides sounding unlike anything else on the project, this was a personal moment for Cassie. Being a fan or maybe friend of the female rockback, Pretty Boys, Ryan and Cassie brought in the duo to add their flavor while still maintaining creative control. That is obvious during the bridge where Ryan's synths are so pronounced. It feels strategic to have this last twist come in before we send the album (at least the standard version) off into its final song made of Cassie+Ryan Leslie = Next Selection greatness that is, "Miss Your Touch".
“Miss Your Touch” - My favorite record from the project as of today. The envy I have for those lucky Germans that got to see Cassie perform this along with "Me & U" before bringing these records to the states is CRAZY. “Miss” is so magical and pure, I wish the video of her singing this during a vocal lesson with Ron Fair was still available on YouTube because she sounded like an angel. Ending the record on this note was a nice way to show all of Cassie on the vocal front, but also all of Ryan. This was THEIR thing and it makes sense that this and “Me & U” were put to the test in Europe; you got to see both of them completely bringing it in two different arenas of sound. If you want a taste of what these two can do (and do well!), check this one out.
"When Your Body Is Talking" - One of two bonus tracks from CIRCUIT CITY (of all places) edition of the album, this was an interesting collaboration between Cassie, Ryan, and JYP of K-pop fame (who would have thought!). "When" does feel like a good candidate for the bonus track treatment. While Cassie sounds just as angelic here as she does elsewhere on her debut, the production, sonically stands out from the rest. While a fitting record for Cassie as a whole, the production does not resonate with the sounds that we found on tracks 1-11. I am glad that the record made the cut though because it is pure R&B and Cassie excels there too!
"Can't Do It Without You" - Another name that I began to follow around this time was the talented, Makeba Riddick. Co-writing this with Ryan made for a jubilant record; one that I can see why it got the bonus track treatment as well. Though Cassie's voice is so pretty and that beat is unlike anything else we were hearing at the time, where would this have fit in on the final tracklist? I couldn't answer that question, but it doesn't deny that it still remains a special song that I wished more people knew about. What I appreciate the most about this record is that it is sung completely in Ryan's SIGNATURE style. I could bet that the same inflections and ad-libs can be found on future Ryan solo releases and I think that's special. Cassie could mutate what Ryan was giving to her in a way that accentuated both of their talents. I wished they could have worked more together.
The one thing that stood out to me while going through this exercise and listening even more intently than before to these songs, is that Cassie was the ultimate vessel to bring Ryan’s creative genius to life. As is often the case with female artists, women cross barriers and resonate with everyone so deeply. Not to say that their male counterparts don’t, but female artists (for me anyway) just go deeper. Cassie is no exception and I would argue that what captivated me and countless others was the electrifying allure and charm she had about her and that carried over into her music. Cassie had the “it” factor that made everyone want to partake and witness what she had to offer. Cassie’s self-titled debut album is a fearless declaration of an artist who brought something to the world that would end up meaning more than she probably could have imagined. Ryan and Cassie’s work on this project exemplified R&B at its most forward thinking through style, innovation, and minimalism. I hope you enjoyed the album too and that my review resonated with you in some way. As always, I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read what I have to say and gives my little piece of the internet their attention. Thank you so much!
