The Rundown: Fantasia, Side Effects of You

A track-by-track review of Ms. Barrino's latest effort.

Album Of The Year: Fantasia - Side Effects Of You - With help from UK based producer Harmony Samuels, Fantasia created a career defining studio album.   (Photo: 19 recordings, RCA Records, Sony Music Group)

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The Rundown: Fantasia, Side Effects of You  - Like any pop star with a turbulent public life (and love) Fantasia has taken the happiness and heartache from her split with beau Antwaun Cook and spun it into an unforgettable studio LP. Her fifth one, Side Effects of You, comes at a time when Ms. Barrino is trying to regain the pop luster that had faded into sensational tabloid headlines. Being accused of seeing Cook when he was married, having a baby by Cook, attempting suicide reportedly over Cook — it ain’t hard to tell that, with so much of her relationship making it into the news, that it has also made it into this stellar LP. Here’s a track-by-track breakdown of Fantasia's latest.  (Photo: 19 recordings, RCA Records, Sony Music Group)

“Supernatural” - As Fantasia’s vocals invoke both gospel-inspiration and hood affirmation, the song “Supernatural” blasts off with a choir’s uplifting refrain over a simmering synth track. This cut, where Fantasia sings her love for her man, feels like a groove-heavy update of her club banger “Hood Boy.” Playing the corner-boy of her affection, rapper Big K.R.I.T. raps on the track.   (Photos from Left to Right: Big K.R.I.T at 106 & Park, May 9, 2012, John Ricard / BET, Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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“Supernatural” - As Fantasia’s vocals invoke both gospel-inspiration and hood affirmation, the song “Supernatural” blasts off with a choir’s uplifting refrain over a simmering synth track. This cut, where Fantasia sings her love for her man, feels like a groove-heavy update of her club banger “Hood Boy.” Playing the corner-boy of her affection, rapper Big K.R.I.T. raps on the track.  (Photos from Left to Right: Big K.R.I.T at 106 & Park, May 9, 2012, John Ricard / BET, Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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“Ain’t All Bad” - On this cut, Fantasia gives a refreshing twist to the theme of a struggling love lost, belting out her reflections over a bouncy roots-reggae rhythm. “I don’t want to live fear,” she sings, “of living my life without you.” Given Fantasia’s mastery of melody and rhythm in her vocals, the island/R&B mixture doesn’t sound awkward, but rather makes for a great surprise.  (Photo: ©CPA, PacificCoastNews.com)

Photo By CPA

“If I Was a Bird”  - At some point crooning about love can feel a little forced. And that’s the case with the song “If I Was a Bird.” Over a skipping 808 beat sprinkled with lilting harp notes, Fantasia tells her beau if she was TRULY fed up with his mess, she’d be out… flying like a bird, of course.   (Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

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“If I Was a Bird” - At some point crooning about love can feel a little forced. And that’s the case with the song “If I Was a Bird.” Over a skipping 808 beat sprinkled with lilting harp notes, Fantasia tells her beau if she was TRULY fed up with his mess, she’d be out… flying like a bird, of course.  (Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

“Without Me”  - “You really gone make me expose you for exactly what you are.” This is how Fantasia starts off “Without Me.” In a scenario where her man is claiming he is the author of the fabulous life she’s provided for him, Fantasia sets the record straight backed by a drippy (yet tolerable) 808 rhythm. In name of girl power, Kelly Rowland and Missy Elliott jump in the mix.   (Photos From Left to right: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images, Paul Morigi/Getty Images for BET, Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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“Without Me” - “You really gone make me expose you for exactly what you are.” This is how Fantasia starts off “Without Me.” In a scenario where her man is claiming he is the author of the fabulous life she’s provided for him, Fantasia sets the record straight backed by a drippy (yet tolerable) 808 rhythm. In name of girl power, Kelly Rowland and Missy Elliott jump in the mix.  (Photos From Left to right: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images, Paul Morigi/Getty Images for BET, Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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“Side Effects of You” - Three years after attempting suicide with an overdose of aspirin and sleeping pills, Fantasia melodically confronts the root of the issue on the title track. “Was looking for a cure to pull me through,” she begins the heartfelt song. “Tried to decide what medicine to use. And every bottle had your name on the label.” The lyrics, while hitting the issue of drugging ones problems away, are impressively poetic.   (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

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“Side Effects of You” - Three years after attempting suicide with an overdose of aspirin and sleeping pills, Fantasia melodically confronts the root of the issue on the title track. “Was looking for a cure to pull me through,” she begins the heartfelt song. “Tried to decide what medicine to use. And every bottle had your name on the label.” The lyrics, while hitting the issue of drugging ones problems away, are impressively poetic.  (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

Idolized - Fantasia breathes energy into the microphone! (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

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“Get It Right” - This cut gives the LP an appropriate boost with some ‘60s-inspired rock 'n soul (ala Outkast’s “Hey Ya”). Once again, we hear Fantasia telling off her lover with lines like, “Tired of empty promises.” But with the get-up-and-go of this track, you’ll be more encouraged to dance to Fantasia’s rants about being done wrong.  (Photo:Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric)

Photo By Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Centric

“So Much to Prove”  - This big, bold and brassy track is the soundtrack to Fantasia getting strong in this tug-of-war romance. Over a stomping drum rhythm and rising horns, she demands more consistency from her man. “[You said] we would be forever,” Fantasia croons. “Don’t mean to let you down boy but it’s gonna take more than that.” Listening to the song, you can almost see Fantasia stepping toward her man to the beat.   (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

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“So Much to Prove” - This big, bold and brassy track is the soundtrack to Fantasia getting strong in this tug-of-war romance. Over a stomping drum rhythm and rising horns, she demands more consistency from her man. “[You said] we would be forever,” Fantasia croons. “Don’t mean to let you down boy but it’s gonna take more than that.” Listening to the song, you can almost see Fantasia stepping toward her man to the beat.  (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

“Change Your Mind” - Fans of Whitney Houston will get a kick out of this song when they hear its reworking of the 1990 hit “I’m Your Baby Tonight.” For this song, about Fantasia whipping it on her beau (apparently things are smooth between the two on this one), she rewrites the chorus of the original, singing, “The things I’m gonna show you tonight.” Whitney would approve.  (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for The Jackie Robinson Foundation)

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“Change Your Mind” - Fans of Whitney Houston will get a kick out of this song when they hear its reworking of the 1990 hit “I’m Your Baby Tonight.” For this song, about Fantasia whipping it on her beau (apparently things are smooth between the two on this one), she rewrites the chorus of the original, singing, “The things I’m gonna show you tonight.” Whitney would approve. (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for The Jackie Robinson Foundation)

Back to Me - In late 2010, her third album, Back to Me, debuted at number one on the Billboard R&B album chart, becoming her highest charting album to date. (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

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“Lighthouse” - Finally, Fantasia gives her battle with love a break to confront another troublesome part of her life: the haters. Beginning the song with a stellar rhyme, Ms. Barrino sings over an infectious marching rhythm track, declaring that, through her very public troubles, she is an inspiration, a lighthouse so to speak.  (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

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Life Is Not a Fairy Tale - In 2006, Fantasia released her autobiography, The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale, which was later made into a Lifetime Television movie directed by Debbie Allen.(Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Super Bowl)

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“Lose to Win” - This track gets its introspective sound from its sample of the Commodores 1985 hit “Night Shift.” But instead of Fantasia thinking about fallen R&B icons, she uses the tune to longingly discuss her inability to let her man go — even though she knows he’s no good for her. Vocally, as with all of the songs on the LP, Fantasia gives the song great emotional depth to match the production. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Super Bowl)

“End of Me”  - If you’re not tired of hearing Fantasia sing her heart out about her unmanageable love, “End of Me” will bring you back to square one. Here the songstress declares her need for a relationship that she knows will do her no good. Where other songs bring some much-needed surprises to the mix, this cut rings with cliché strings which express her longing.   (Photo: Arnold Turner/WireImage.com)

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“End of Me” - If you’re not tired of hearing Fantasia sing her heart out about her unmanageable love, “End of Me” will bring you back to square one. Here the songstress declares her need for a relationship that she knows will do her no good. Where other songs bring some much-needed surprises to the mix, this cut rings with cliché strings which express her longing.  (Photo: Arnold Turner/WireImage.com)

Free Yourself - In late 2004, Fantasia released her debut platinum-certified album Free Yourself, featuring production from Missy Elliott, Rodney Jerkins and Bryan Michael Cox. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

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“In Deep” - Again, a love song swimming in uninspired clichés over a swaying piano and marching drum track. At this point, the LP has hammered home the point to the extent of, what more can Fantasia say about the L-word and her relationship. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)