Jennifer Hudson’s much-anticipated debut album is not without its charms. But Jennifer Hudson ends up being a bit of a disappointing debut from an enormously talented singer. The first single, “Spotlight,” is one of the album highlights and features a perfect mix of drama and soul that fits Hudson’s abilities seamlessly; but there are too many contrived clichés of 2008 R&B on the rest of the album. As if the tired AutoTunes effect weren’t overused enough, it shows up again here, on the (guess who) T-Pain-assisted “What’s Wrong (Go Away),” and “If This Isn’t Love” barely even sounds like Jennifer Hudson. But that trademark Hudson sass shines on “Pocketbook,” even though the Ludacris guest verse is completely unnecessary. The surprisingly good duet with fellow American Idol alum Fantasia “I’m His Only Woman,” is a late-album delight, but one can’t help but feel that Hudson is capable of much, much more. Here’s hoping this set winds up being the underwhelming start to a respectable career; not a harbinger of things to come.
– dusty culpepper