The world was missing something pretty special without the smooth sounds of Canadian artist Melanie Fiona. The Bridge, Fiona’s debut album,
solidified her status as a star. Songs like “Give it to Me Right” and crowd favorite “It Kills Me” were phenomenal. Fans of R&B
instantly realized she was more than just a two hit wonder. The MF
Life, Fiona’s latest work is filled with much deeper songs,
richer vocals and more exciting beats than her previous album.
The last time the public heard  snippets of Fiona’s voice was when she was featured on Cee-Lo Green’s Grammy winning track “Fool for You.” Since then, she has been
writing and recording music
featured on her latest album in stores on March 20.
The album, which was supposed to be released in
2011 was pushed back due to the
merging of different labels in the
music industry. Fiona believes this
setback was a blessing in
disguise because was she able
to add songs done with J.Cole who is featured on the track “This Time,” Drake who co-wrote “I Been that
Girl” and Nas who’s on the track
“Running,” to the album.
What sets Fiona apart from
other artists in her genre is her
candidness about love. The power
in her vocals and the simplicity of
the musical arrangement on songs
like “Gone,” “Never Coming Back” and the album’s lead single “4 a.m.” will definitely speak to those
struggling with the memories of
lost love.
Anyone who sings love
inspired songs runs the risk of being
overshadowed by powerhouses
like Beyonce and Adele, but
Fiona stands out on every song
because she stays true to herself as
a soul artist. This is evident on tracks like “Bones” and “Can’t say I never Loved You.”
Fiona also runs the risk of
sounding like the late Amy
Winehouse on “Running,” but with the help of Nas, she is able to the make the song into something classic and fresh. J.Cole is also able to convey Fiona’s  unique sound on “This Time.”
Surprisingly enough, Fiona’s best song is “6 a.m.” featuring
T-Pain, which parallels his song
“5 O’Clock.”
Overall, Fiona’s sophomore
album puts a new spin on love and each featured artist manages helps
blend the songs well with her
concept and strong voice. The
album, which drops on March 20,
is a definite must have for old fans and new fans alike.