Ayla Brown - Forward CD

List All 7 Reviews

 Alya Scores with this new Album!
The album is a variety of different types of music and I like each song for different reasons. I've listened to it many times and I particulary love the song "Forward" and hope to start hearing it on the radio soon! It is a love ballad filled with heart, soul, and hope. Thank you Ayla for this beautiful song! Best wishes at college, I look forward to your future musical endeavors in the years to come.
Submitted by Jenny (Littleton, MA) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No

 Love Her!
Ayla is not only a talented musician she is an amazing basketball player. She is such a great all around person and has a lovely personality. Her album really depicts her personality, and showcases her powerful voice. I think her best song on the album is "Forward" which has beautiful lyrics and is just the right song for her voice! Way to go Ayla!
Submitted by Anna (East Coast)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No

 Ayla can only move 'Forward'
Although she did not make it to the finals on the fifth season of FOX's hit show 'American Idol,' Ayla Brown struck a chord with many Americans due to her immense talent, both vocally and athletically. Ayla finished in 13th, being beat out by Melissa McGhee for the final spot in the Top 12. Though she undoubtedly deserved to go further, it seems that things have worked out quite nicely regardless. 'Forward' is littered with ballads, Radio Disney-esque pop hits and soulful tracks. Considering the album was recorded in about a week, it is amazing to see what has transpired over the past few months. Of course the highlight of the album is Ayla's voice, which is enough to make any song amazing, never mind listenable. 1) 'Know You Better' - 8.5/10 - A cover off of UK popstar Ruby Amanfu's 2002 album 'Smoke and Honey,' 'Know You Better' is a great track to start off the album. It's catchy, fun and very radio-friendly. Ayla's vocals sound amazing here. I think the bridge could have been re-written, but it works regardless. 2) 'If I Was a River' - 9/10 - Originally written for Tina Arena by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Diane Warren, 'If I Was a River' is truly an underrated song. This ballad shows off Ayla's range, as she magnificently reaches some high notes near the end of the song. 3) 'Sugah' - 7/10 - Another cover, 'Sugah' again was originally sung by Ruby Amanfu. Though it is uptempo, this song sounds a little dated. It's fun and poppy, just not one of the standouts for me. 4) 'I Quit' - 6.5/10 - A cover of the British girl band Hepburn, this is one of my least favorite tracks. This is the one song where Ayla's vocals are stretched too thin, especially during the chorus. It sounds like a second string Kelly Clarkson song. Again the bridge is lackluster, as it is filled with 'da da da da's instead of lyrics. 5) 'Forward' - 10/10 - This is my favorite song on this album. The lyrics are so meaningful, and Ayla sings with such passion. The gospel choir during the bridge adds a great feeling of emotion. This could be a huge hit at adult contemporary radio if released. 6) 'Breaking Away' - 6/10 - My least favorite track on the album. Although the song takes a unique approach and tries to be different by including basketball sound effects, crowd noises and the like, it doesn't do much for me. It is a fun song and it shows the connection to Ayla's basketball talents, but it does nothing to showcase Ayla's range and instead sounds as if it were to come straight out of a Disney Chanel original movie. 7) 'Falling Into You' - 9.5/10 - 'Falling Into You' makes this album complete for me. Ayla sounds amazing on this R&B-tinged cut, and it has 'hit' written all over it. It is everything radio is looking for, and is one of the most contemporary songs on 'Forward.' Hearing what Ayla can do with this kind of material, I hope she further pursues R&B in the future. Also, the fact that Ayla co-wrote this is quite a feat in itself. 8) 'Thanks to You' - 8/10 - Also co-written by Ayla, 'Thanks to You' is probably one of the most personal songs on 'Forward.' The song is like a giant 'thank you' note to all those who have supported Ayla, including her family, friends and fans. The sentimentality of the song overrides the clichéd lyrics, and the melody is pretty catchy. 9) 'Miles Away' - 8.5/10 - The simplicity of 'Miles Away' is refreshing. In an era where overproduction of tracks is as common as Dunkin' Donuts messing up your coffee, it's nice to hear a song that lets the artist's vocals do the talking. Ayla proves that she can hold her own with limited assistance and the finished product is a testament to what true talent can accomplish. 10) 'Ten Cent Wings' - 8.5/10 - The album's final cover, 'Ten Cent Wings,'is similar to 'Miles Away' in that it is not overly-produced, and this a plus. The piano accompaniment adds to the rawness of the song. 11) 'Forward (Unplugged)' - 10/10 - The most basic song on the album, it is also the most impressive. Untouched by any enhancements, this version of 'Forward' is nothing short of amazing. I'd like to see other artists Ayla's age try to pull this off. Just beautiful. As you can see, I am impressed with Ayla's first studio effort. Yes, there are both high and low points on 'Forward,' but realistically, is there any album that that doesn't have them? I truly think we will all get to look back on this album one day and marvel at the fact that Ayla was able to pull this off despite having little formal vocal training. I only think Ayla can move 'Forward' from this.
Submitted by Msd272 (Boston, MA, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No

 Surprisingly good debut!
I bought this CD after rediscovering Ayla on the repeats of this past season's "American Idol." She got cut right before the Top 12 were announced, so her time in the public eye got cut tragically short. But thankfully, because of that cut, she had did not have to delay the release of her debut CD. "Forward" is a very good first attempt and it showcases her very strong voice and her potential to grow as an artist. With some accomplished songwriters and better producers helping her, she may end up being the little "A.I." reject that could!
Submitted by Jeffrey (Mayfield, PA, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No

 AMAZING & TALENTED
My uncle bought me this CD for my birthday and sent it to me (to Israel). I listen to it now all the time! It's amazing, she's got the voice and the talent! And she's so nice too, I've talked to her on the phone couple of times and she's a great person. I've heard people saying she was a snob but she's really a nice girl and she was so nice to me!! And her songs are so beautiful. I liked "Ten Cent Wings" most but "Forward" and "Miles Away" and "If I Was a River" are also beautiful. I loved how "Breaking Away" and "Thanks to You" sounded too and "I Quit", "Know You Better", "Falling Into You" and "Sugah" make me wanna dance every time I hear them! I really enjoy this CD and I wish she would make another CD soon :D.
Submitted by Alina (Beer Sheva, Israel)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  0 of 1 found this helpful.

List All Reviews

Have you heard this album?