Through all the twists and turns taken by Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson during her 20-year career as an entertainer -- including a stint on Kids Incorporated, background vocals for Martika, two albums with adult contemporary/dance-pop group Wild Orchid, and superstardom with Black Eyed Peas -- she has always sounded as if she is trying really, really hard. That has been the lone consistent characteristic of her output, and it remains in effect throughout The Dutchess, an album with all the characteristics of a release fronted by ...
Read More
Through all the twists and turns taken by Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson during her 20-year career as an entertainer -- including a stint on Kids Incorporated, background vocals for Martika, two albums with adult contemporary/dance-pop group Wild Orchid, and superstardom with Black Eyed Peas -- she has always sounded as if she is trying really, really hard. That has been the lone consistent characteristic of her output, and it remains in effect throughout The Dutchess, an album with all the characteristics of a release fronted by someone who has been itching to go solo and prove herself, once and for all, as a versatile force all her own. Fergie does cartwheels and handstands, juggles three objects at once, balances books on her head, hangs upside down, rides a unicycle with her hands in the air -- all these things while wearing different outfits. The whole process, produced mostly by fellow Pea will.i.am, is mildly entertaining. There's throwback hip-hop ("Fergalicious," done to the tune of J.J. Fad's "Supersonic"), throwback soul ("Here I Come," done to the tune of the Temptations' "Get Ready"), reggae ("Mary Jane Shoes"), ska-punk ("Mary Jane Shoes"), scat ("Mary Jane Shoes"), vaguely torchy midtempo fluff ("Velvet"), and a classy string-drenched ballad (the appropriately titled "Finally"), among several other passable switch-ups. "London Bridge" is terrific, provided you can block out the lyrics or prevent yourself from trying to decipher its meaning. One of the more convincing songs on the album, "Big Girls Don't Cry," sounds exactly like a 2006 version of Wild Orchid, with Fergie's Taylor Dayne kid-sister act in full effect. [The "Deluxe" version of the album, released in 2008, adds four bonus tracks.] ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi
Read Less
Add this copy of Dutchess-Deluxe to cart. $5.55, good condition, Sold by Goodwill of Greater Milwaukee rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Milwaukee, WI, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by A&M.
Add this copy of Dutchess-Deluxe to cart. $10.53, good condition, Sold by Goodwill Industries of S.W.FL. rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fort Myers, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by A&M.
Add this copy of The Dutchess [Deluxe] to cart. $3.99, good condition, Sold by Warner Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Girard, OH, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by A&M.
Add this copy of Dutchess-Deluxe to cart. $6.53, good condition, Sold by Goodwill rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brooklyn Park, MN, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by A&M.
Add this copy of Dutchess-Deluxe to cart. $11.98, like new condition, Sold by GoPeachy rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from JACKSONVILLE, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by A&M.
![The Dutchess [Deluxe] - Fergie](https://www3.alibris-static.com/the-dutchess-deluxe/cover/k55314r2lus_l.jpg)
![The Dutchess [Deluxe]](https://www3.alibris-static.com/images/elements/image_coming_soon.png)
![The Dutchess [Clean]](https://www0.alibris-static.com/the-dutchess-clean/cover/h58946jtwf0.jpg)
![The Dutchess [Deluxe] [Clean]](https://www1.alibris-static.com/the-dutchess-deluxe-clean/cover/k60648t54ly.jpg)
