Nelly Furtado "The Spirit Indestructable"

Her last English language album was pretty successful commercially and on the charts, so I was surprised that it fared as well critically. I guess it doesn’t hurt to get a little Loose now and then. That is not all that was unleashed, but The Spirit Indestuctable was freed as well; all part of Mi Plan (in her words though).
Unfortunately, this album didn’t fare as well critically, even though it was on par with her 2006 album; just more club driven? “Spirit Indestructible” sounds like it could be found on a more mature Britney Spears album, and while I really like “Big Hoops” because the bigger the better (some of the time), I was surprised to find out that this song was by Nelly Furtado. I appreciate the production and the finale, but I felt that she sort of dumbed it down. Track three speaks for itself musically, but more importantly, lyrically; the real challenge is finding out who describes the “High Life” best, Nelly or Ace Primo. Nelly sounds like she met Santigold in the “Parking Lot,” but maybe it’s missing “Something.” Nas may be the x-factor, but just before that we heard what a female Sean Paul may sound like. I like the little outros on some of the songs, usually laughing or talking, because it seems more natural; almost as if you hear the fun she is having. We all have our own “Bucket List,” but these are some good suggestions; I’m getting a good feeling that she may complete it before she runs out of time.                                                                                                                         If I was “Waiting For The Night” where polka would be universally accepted as  perfect dance music I might die before that night; this is a great substitute though! What seems so simple can become one of the most majestic “Miracles.” Most of us do not realize how special someone or something is our life is until it is gone, and while this seems lackluster it really isn’t. We are often our own worst “Enemy,” and while it seems you are competing with others to verify your worth, you are often competing with yourself; unbeknownst to you. “Believers (Arab Spring)” is a stellar finish to the traditional album, while “Hold Up” sounds dirty, sans vocals, and that auto-tune moment reminds me of that time when Travie McCoy says I need you. If it’s true, the “End of The World” can be occurring within a short period of time, and if this would be the score it would not be a sad way to go. The lite reggae just sing “Don’t Leave Me,” while the male perspective seems to be emphasized on “Be OK,” even though either side can empathize. If I have any “Thoughts” on the majority of these bonus tracks it is that they should have been on the standard album, and possibly replaced some that made it on the original, but that is just me.