Fantasy Ride
by Ciara
  • Record Label: La Face
  • Release Date: May 5, 2009
User Score
5.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 73 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 73
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 73
  3. Negative: 25 out of 73

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  1. empresscthomas
    Dec 10, 2012
    10
    This album is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING and so underrated. Her sexy voice, her slow jamz, her seductive lyrics are compelling and outstanding. I wish she can get the recognition she deserves. Their is not one track on here that I dont enjoy. This album is a masterpiece.
  2. ClifC
    May 7, 2009
    3
    "Goodies" and "1, 2 Step" period is really far far far from her now. And we can feel it so deeply: The electronic sounds are (almost everytime) naive and badly used. No personnality. No standout track ("Never Ever" and "Work" being very good songs though, almost standout tracks). Recyclage ("High Price" being a "Oh!, Part 2" for example). The artists featuring on this album were "Goodies" and "1, 2 Step" period is really far far far from her now. And we can feel it so deeply: The electronic sounds are (almost everytime) naive and badly used. No personnality. No standout track ("Never Ever" and "Work" being very good songs though, almost standout tracks). Recyclage ("High Price" being a "Oh!, Part 2" for example). The artists featuring on this album were predictable. Not only the artists, but the album in itself is predictable.… Expand
  3. remib
    Jun 6, 2009
    9
    Not her best, bust still works. watch out for plucker up and like a surgeon.
  4. DerekB
    Jul 4, 2009
    9
    Work and Like A Surgeon are among the best songs of the year.
  5. LukeM
    May 7, 2009
    8
    If this album had shown up in stores without every song having leaked first, peoples' reactions would be much more positive. Reviewing it based solely on song quality, the production is inventive and modern, and the album is highly listenable from front to back (unlike Goodies and The Evolution, which both trailed off into treacly ballads). Ciara sounds good and shows off a harder If this album had shown up in stores without every song having leaked first, peoples' reactions would be much more positive. Reviewing it based solely on song quality, the production is inventive and modern, and the album is highly listenable from front to back (unlike Goodies and The Evolution, which both trailed off into treacly ballads). Ciara sounds good and shows off a harder edge to her personality, but balances this with more emotional tracks like "Lover's Thing" and "Never Ever", ensuring she doesn't dehumanize herself. (Ok, "Never Ever" isn't very good, but it's the biggest misstep here). The deluxe edition is also even better - Echo and I'm On should have made the standard edition.… Expand
  6. KeenanC
    May 13, 2009
    10
    Though it does have the usual collaborators and featured guest Fantasy Ride has a plethora of different tracks ranging from hip-hop (High Price) to RnB (Whats your name). All the songs on the album have potential to be singles, and all of them being strong vocally with the strong hot beat. I think Fantasy Ride is the best album out in 2009!
  7. iamanicon
    May 24, 2011
    5
    Its ashame that Ciara has made these far from amazing albums. If she were to take the singles and the few album tracks that arent filler from each of her albums she would create an amazing r&b record. But alas, we're stuck with ripping discs onto our laptops and making them playlists.
  8. jmagicvamp
    Nov 23, 2010
    4
    After 2 great albums, Ciara has lost her sense of touch. This album is sloppy and lacking in personality. While Love Sex Magic, Turntables, Never Ever and Keep Dancin' On Me keep us entertained, they are brief moments of real pleasure on this record. Much of the rest is merely filler. Better luck next time.
  9. Ethan_G
    May 7, 2015
    10
    The reviews for this album make me almost insanely, unreasonably angry. A pop masterpiece that flows from sick nasty dance floor explosions to a trio of late album slow-down jaw-droppers, it'll never be done again. This was the Ciara breakout and still sounds fresh 6 years later. Play the last 3 tracks in a row for your friends and watch their jaws drop.
  10. BabyJane
    May 13, 2015
    6
    Track by track review:
    1. Ciara to the Stage 8/10
    2. Love Sex Magic 5.5/10 3. High Price 3/10 4. Turntables 4.5/10 5. Like a Surgeon 7/10 6. Never Ever 3/10 7. Lover's Thing 6/10 8. Work 9.5/10 9. Pucker Up 9/10 10. G Is for Girl (A–Z) 8/10 11. Keep Dancin' on Me 6.5/10 12. Tell Me What Your Name Is 6.5/10 13. I Don't Remember 6/10 Highlight: Work Potential singles: Love    Track by track review:
    1. Ciara to the Stage 8/10
    2. Love Sex Magic 5.5/10
    3. High Price 3/10
    4. Turntables 4.5/10
    5. Like a Surgeon 7/10
    6. Never Ever 3/10
    7. Lover's Thing 6/10
    8. Work 9.5/10
    9. Pucker Up 9/10
    10. G Is for Girl (A–Z) 8/10
    11. Keep Dancin' on Me 6.5/10
    12. Tell Me What Your Name Is 6.5/10
    13. I Don't Remember 6/10

    Highlight: Work
    Potential singles: Love Sex Magic, Never Ever, Work, Ciara to the Stage, Like a Surgeon    … Expand
  11. DoseofLoyalty
    Jun 25, 2021
    10
    It's a great album I love Ciara and Fantasy ride is a great album and the songs are awesome and great to dance to! as well as a vibe to I’m a huge fan of Ciara and my favorite songs on this album is Like a surgeon, Ciara to the stage, High price, Never ever, Lovers thing and more.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. AllMusic
    60
    Even if Ciara imaginatively develops the "Super C" superhero introduced in the disc's booklet, she and her collaborators will have to work extra hard on the next album to ensure that she does not stall in a creative cul de sac.
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  2. Boston Globe
    50
    On her third release, the queen of the club wastes way too much time trying to convince the listener that she's some kind of chanteuse....When she puts the emphasis back on the groove, which is about half the album, however, Ciara soars.
    Read full review
  3. Slant Magazine
    60
    While Fantasy Ride doesn't include as many obvious peaks as Ciara's previous discs, the only major disaster is 'Like a Surgeon,' which is filled with creepy, ill-conceived metaphors for sex and should not to be confused with Weird Al's "Like a Virgin" parody. And that makes Fantasy Ride Ciara's smoothest ride to date.
    Read full review
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