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The First Lady

Generally favorable reviews
Based on 17 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 6 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Capitol
Release Date: 05 April 2005
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): R&B
Summary
The singer's first album in four years features contributions from the Neptunes, Jermaine Dupri and Mario Winans.
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
All Music Guide
The First Lady is terrifically balanced in its distribution of club tracks, midtempo grooves, and slow jams.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
Though blemished by a few toothless slow jams... the album's mature whimsy reflects a healthier, happier Faith Evans. [8 Apr 2005, p.63]
Billboard
By turns playful, sexy, soulful, funky and passionate, Evans showcases the full range of her talents on her most consistent effort yet.
Read Full Review >Mojo
She's right back on track with this terrific debut for Capitol. [Jun 2005, p.110]
New Musical Express
[Evans is] a sharp songwriter with an acute ear for melody and a voice that could bitch-slap any R&B wannabe into place. [21 May 2005, p.66]
Vibe
There's no doubt that Evans can still finesse the notes. But instead of continually pushing her sound into the future, she often backtracks, covering much of the same ground as her previous offerings. [Jun 2005, p.156]
Dot Music
The quality is unmistakable and confirmation enough that she deserves to be remembered as more than just Biggie’s widow.
Read Full Review >Blender
Intermittently great. [May 2005, p.117]
PopMatters
By the time you've absorbed her past, her new label, her cover, her album title, and then the mostly fresh music behind it all, you should be largely won over by Faith Evans's genuine talent.
Read Full Review >The Guardian
Evans restores soul music's long-overlooked tradition of autobiographical storytelling, dissecting her life before and after the spotlight began to burn.
Read Full Review >Uncut
She proves... that she's more than a professional widow. [Jul 2005, p.104]
Q Magazine
Chic but charmless. [Jun 2005, p.111]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 6 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Elton W gave it a9:
This album was very refreshing considering the current state of R & B. It's nice to see Faith keep soul the heart of music. She took risks with this album and it is very rewarding. Key songs are I Don't Need It, Mesmerized, Again, Until You Came, Stop N Go, and Tru Love.
Sam Sexy gave it a10:
Dis iz da best it iz so worf it. I r8 it 5 star It iz wiked at da mo. itz worf byin
Omar B gave it an8:
This album is great. The first track is not that good but I will listen to it. The rest of the album flows nicely except for Jealous and Lucky Day. They are well written but the beat is not up to par with the rest of the album.
Dallas C gave it a9:
A great contemporary soul album that is tight in it's production. Faith sounds great as always and except for two rap-infused songs, the irritating first song, Going Out which at least will make you move and the much better Hope from the Coach Carter soundtrack, she is front and center and invokes a lot of First Ladies of Soul of the past while still remaining herself.
