With a compelling voice and lyrics that manage to be sexily empowered without sinking into Beyonce-style materialism, Amerie sounds like the kind of girl you wouldn’t want to cross. Luckily, Because I Love It gives you no reason to do so.  Full text...

Because I Love It may not be on the shelves of your local Target, but the internet has made it simple to order imports, so take the little bit of extra time. It’s worth it.  Full text...

Spectacular work.  Full text...

A whip-smart collection of retro R&B that's more Winehouse than Aguilera, 'Because I Love It' is held together by a nymph-like voice that's whisky soaked one minute and light as candyfloss the next. From 'Some Like It', which sounds like it was made on equipment from an '80s car-boot sale, to the spidery Cee-Lo collaboration 'Take Control' and the horns of 'Gotta Work', this is bar-raising pop.  Full text...

These are a mix of the sweat-drenched sublime and the saccharine ridiculous. There’s still a flavour of the percussive, filthy Washington DC Go-go sound that gives her music a satisfying and unique feel within the pop world, but at other times the sugar content will repulse all but those with the sweetest tune tooth.   Full text...

"Because I Love It" is consequently less easy to categorise than Amerie's previous efforts; it's essentially an exercise in R&B pop, but with notes of hip hop soul, '80s pop and '70s soul.   Full text...