Folklore

It's such a shame this album didn't match the success of Whoa Nelly! or Loose. It's raw, honest and simple. Nelly really let her artistry flow and shine with this piece of work.

great cd for a Nelly furtado fan. highly recommend it - just for the few great pop songs. Not for everyone. doesn't have the radio hits that most people want

I love Nelly Furtado! This is her best album ever! The songs on here are great. I don't think that I can say that I dislike any songs on here.

This is a classic from Nelly Furtado and one of my favorites! I love this album and have always really enjoyed the work from Nelly Furtado!

I'm going to start off by saying that this is my first album from her. It's great and I imagine that it'd be hard for her other two albums to be better, especially Loose.But anyway...I'm now a big fan of Nelly Furtado because of this album. It shows her talent as a writer and also displays the truth, realism and magic that she is truly capable of.When she stepped on the scene in the early 2000s, I didn't really think much of her. In fact, her debut single, Like A Bird kinda made me want to smash the radio. However, there was something special about Turn Off The Light that caught my attention.Flash forward to 2003. Nelly drops her second album, Folklore and her first single from the album, Powerless (Say What You Want). While I liked the single, it didn't make me wanna go out and purchase the album, so I didn't. A year or two later, I was standing in line at Tops (before it got torn down and changed to Martin's) and her radio single, Try was on. I enjoyed the song, but still, no buy.Fast forward to January 2007. I finally buy the album. And although it is a bit uneven, it still has its moments, and is worth owning. One-Trick Pony is the start off track and is very "stand out-ish" with its oh-so-not-typical Hip-Hop beat. Explode is refreshing. Try, I admit, was the first song in a LONG while that had made me sad. For some reason, it got to me. Fresh Off The Boat has an upbeat demeanor. Forca definitely isn't your typical pop song. And I mean that in a good way. The Grass Is Green is laid back - the guitar and the enchanting lullaby-esque production work make it so.Picture Perfect is a delight. I used to listen to it when walking around the Fredonia campus sometimes (I only took a music class there) and it was kinda relaxing. Saturdays is the first song that I just don't get. Nelly just lists a couple of things: the place she's at, her feelings and what's happening and it's not very exciting. And it never takes off. And while the next song, Build You Up is MUCH better, it's also very repetitive. Island Of Wonder is kind of a head scratcher. But I'd rather listen to that than anything T-Pain puts out! Childhood Dreams is adorable, and very anthem-ish by the end. Took me a while to "get it" but now I do. The only thing is it might be a bit too long, running at 6 minutes and 33 seconds.I guess this CD displays Nelly's culture in a way, with the different sounds it gives, if that makes any sense.It has a few bumps, but most CDs do. This one has them at the very end. But overall, if you want a unique pop experience that mildly makes you think, then you can't miss this!One-Trick Pony - 9.5 (4.75 stars)Powerless (Say What You Want) - 8.5 (4.25 stars)Explode - 9 (4.5 stars)Try - 10 (5 stars)Fresh Off The Boat - 8 (4 stars)Forca - 8.5 (4.25 stars)The Grass Is Green - 8 (4 stars)Picture Perfect - 9 (4.5 stars)Saturdays - 5 (2.5 stars)Build You Up - 7.5 (3.75 stars)Island Of Wonder - 7 (3.5 stars)Childhood Dreams - 8.5 (4.25 stars)Best tracks:TryOne-Trick PonyExplodePicture PerfectWorst track:Saturdays50/12 = 4.1666666674.166666667 = 4.14.1 stars.End note: If you've NEVER heard a complete Nelly Furtado release, I would start with this one or the first, Whoa, Nelly just so you get a taste of what she's really like without the AWESOME beats of Loose. That sounds weird, but TRUST me, just get her first or second release FIRST (I've reviewed all 3 of her albums already)!

Nelly Furtado is one of the coolest, most talented ladies on earth! Folklore is one of those rare CD's where every song is terrific. We are blessed to be able to share in Nelly Furtado's sunshine, energy and wisdom.

Although it is three years after the release of this album, I felt that in light of her releasing her new album (Loose due out June 20th, 2006) I should revisit her album Folklore. I absolutely adore this album, and although I can't force you to buy it (because if I could I would) I hope this review will excite you to buy and listen to this amazing album.The album begins with the ever powerful track 'One-Trick Pony'. Aside from amazing orchestration (Kronos Quartet) and interesting beats throughout the song, the deep but simple lyrics make the best statement. Standout lyrics: "You say, you're identical to none but you're identical to some, who wants to be a some? Not Me"The first single 'Powerless' is the second track and has one of the catchiest beats on the album. The lyrics are extremely representative of a ethnic person's fight in a country that is not their own to fit in and be somebody. Standout lyrics: "Hey you, the one that don't fit in, how ya, how ya gonna get in, get in? Hey you, the one outside, are you ever gonna get in?"The third song is 'Explode' and it's very representative of the emotions teenagers experience in this day and age. It's extremely captivating. Standout lyrics: "It's truth or dare, we don't care."There really are no words to justifiably represent the beauty of the fourth track 'Try'. The lyrics and the music are fantastic. The arrangement is breathtaking. Unlike the single/video version, the album version is much more like a freestyle poem. The chorus only happens twice, she ad-libs in the ending. It's just.. wow. Standout lyrics: "All of the moments that already passed. We'll try to go back and make them last. All of the things we want each other to be. We never will be. We never will be. And that's wonderful. That's life." and "That's you baby. This is me baby. We are. We are. We are. Free to love."'Fresh off the Boat' really hit close to home because I am a Canadian immigrant like Nelly (although she is Portugese and I'm Latin American). Although the exciting and busy music took a while to grow on me the message is exactly how you feel as an immigrant. The beauty of it is that while the statement 'fresh off the boat' is usually used as an insult she takes the saying back and uses it as a representation of pride, beauty and the idea of being grateful of the opportunities in a new country. Standout lyrics: "I rock these bare feet like no one else can. My hands are dirty I like 'em that way. Shows who I am"'Forca'. A moving song about the power from within. Standout lyrics: "It is the passion flowing right on through your veins.And it's the feeling like you're oh so glad you came. And it's the moment you remember you're alive. It is the air you breathe, the element, the fire"'The Grass is Green' is about wanting what you can't have. And if by chance you do get what you want, it's about realizing that sometimes things can be deceiving. Standout lyrics: "You opened up to me 'til I could only see the beauty in your dishonesty."'Picture Perfect' is perfect. The round/buildup at the very end is simply magnificent. Standout lyrics: "So you made an oil painting to immortalize all of the hope and vision in your eyes..."'Saturdays' is the only song I will skip on the CD but that is of no fault of the lyrics or the music. I just cannot tolerate Jarvis Church singing in the background. Otherwise a very personal tribute to Nelly's previous life. Standout lyrics: "I rest my heart and dream of the city."'Build You Up' is about how many people can and will let you down. But then there's that one person who never will. Standout lyrics: "Put your heart in my hands and I won't hurt you." and "I'll never build you up only to tear you down...I love you the way you are." The piano at the end is simply brilliant as well.'Island of Wonder' is about the island of Azores (off the coast of Portugal where she is from). It's very mysterious and hypnotic. Caetano Veloso adds an excellent vibe to this beautiful ethnic song. Standout lyrics: "Island of wonder. where do you come from? Is it the way the sun hits my face? Or is it your memory which I cannot trace?" and "Look at me I have so much pride. I took my shoes off I ran I did not hide."and lastly 'Childhood Dreams' which is most definitely my favourite track on the entire album. The organ intro is haunting but intriguing and sets the mood for the rest of the song. It's about finding the one person who is meant for you entirely, who if you haven't found yet, you know is out there somewhere. Standout lyrics: the entire song.. but if I have to choose: "I can't believe you need me. I never thought I would be needed for anything. I can't believe my shoulder would carry such important weight. As your head and your tears..." and "Before this existence you were always there waiting for me. You are, you are the realest thing I know." This song is just absolutely magical.This album is definitely a must have.