With a desire to do something different the second time around, R&B singer Ciara pulls all her innovative buttons on her sophomore set ‘The Evolution.’ After the first listen, it is safe to say that Ciara is no longer the princess of Crunk R&B. This album is fueled by modern day hip hop, electro-funk, seventies disco style and eighties dance-pop music.

On ‘The Evolution,’ 22 year old Ciara personalized things a bit by co-writing every track, letting her own experiences speak for itself. This experience is very evident on the current smash single “Promise,” as she sings about how she wants to be loved.

Even though Ciara defeats the sophomore slump with this set, it’s safe to say that ‘The Evolution’ was not as strong as her 2004 multi-platinum selling debut, ‘Goodies.’ Notable winners on this album includes “Like A Boy,” “Can’t Leave ‘Em Alone” featuring 50 Cent, which is in hit record form, “Get Up” featuring Chamillionaire, “C.R.U.S.H,” and “So Hard” produced by Bryan Michael Cox, which makes a great third or fourth single. Among several ballads, I though “So Hard” really stood out. I personally like that song a lot.

Beyond the features of top hip hop artist and producers like 50 Cent, Chamillionaire, The Neptunes, Lil Jon among others, ‘The Evolution’ is standard, radio-friendly R&B with a few nice touches. Even though Ciara showed off her creativity, if she wants to be in the game of R&B music for awhile, she will have to improve her horns (Vocals).