Idol Chatter & Voice Views

We’ll have to wait until Thursday to see where Fantasia’s new album lands on the Billboard 200.

But critics seem to love “Side Effects of You,” the fourth album from American Idol’s Season 3 winner.

Fantasia performs earlier this month on American Idol. (FOX Photo)

With so much happening on American Idol and The Voice, I’ve only had time to listen to the album two or three times.

But I think the critics are onto something. In addition to the excellent lead single, “Lose to Win,” folks should check out “Without You” (featuring Kelly Rowland and Missy Elliott) and the rollicking “Get It Right.”

Below are links to the four reviews I’ve found so far for “Side Effects of You.”

If you know of others, pass the word along.

AllMusic.com: Gives Fantasia 4 stars out of 5, noting that Fantasia has co-writing credits on seven of the 12 songs and attracted a top-flight producer in Harmony Samuels. “Seven or eight years after she was supposed to be an AI punch line in another line of work, Fantasia has released her finest album yet.”

The Associated Press: Gives Fantasia a positive review saying, “‘Side Effects of You’ reminds us exactly why she captured our hearts to win 2004’s American Idol.”

Soultracks.com: Gives the album its enthusiastic recommendation, saying what Fantasia “demonstrates with her fourth studio CD, Side Effects Of You, is that she’s still raw, still resilient and more than adventurous enough to serve up the sultry tanginess that fans have come to expect, and adore, from the soft-spoken, yet sensational performer.”

Knoxville.com: Gives Fantasia 3.5 stars out of 5, saying “the way her raspy voice intertwines with the retro vibe of her new ‘Side Effects of You’ proves she’s comfortable in the rock/soul sound of decades ago. It’s a clear upgrade from 2010’s ‘Back to Me,’ where Fantasia was in and out of her zone in the thoroughly contemporary pop/dance context.”