Touch (by Amerie, R&B)

Amerie's 2002 debut album, All I Have, turned out to be a bigger break for producer Rich Harrison than it was for her. It's telling that all the reviews of TOUCH, album number two, mention the fact that Mr. Harrison went on to produce some heavy hitters before finding the time to work with Amerie again. Maybe that's a fascinating fact, or maybe it's just that there isn't all that much to say about Amerie herself. Either way, it's a good match. Amerie's voice, on the high and squeaky side, is the kind that benefits from the steady hand of a good producer, and she is well-supported on TOUCH. "1 Thing," the first single, samples the Meters' "Oh, Calcutta" horn parts and percolates with irresistibly danceable rhythm tracks. Other high points are the minimalist, sexy "Come With Me," and a gorgeous duet vocal contributed by Chris Thomas over lush instrumentation on "Can We Go."

Overall, our impression of Touch is of a young performer with some very good, generous friends and a fair amount of talent (she plays flute on one song, and co-wrote most of the album) -- just not as much as her producer.

Released on: April 26, 2005
Label: Sony Music
Genre: R&B