Anastacia is not very known in the U.S but in Europe and Asia is one of the hottest singers. Her two previous albums sold more than 10 million copies and brought Anastacia several Top 10 singles including "I'm outta love", "Cowboys and kisses", "Paid my dues" and "One day in your life".
Her American debut happened in 2002 with "One day in your life" as lead single. The song and album had a moderate success but I'm more than sure that it wasn't stronger because there was not a big promotion.
Now about this album. It debuted at #1 in the European charts and stayed there for several weeks leaving behind strong albums such as Norah Jones's "Feels like home" (which is amazing) and Prince's latest album.
The first single "Left outside alone" climbed the charts very fast arriving also to #1.
If you know about Anastacia's music. I can tell you that this one is very good as her previous ones but it has more rock influences. And if you don't know about her music, think about a mix between Tina Turner, Taylor Dayne, Billie Myers and Evanescence.
Finally I can say that the album is very, very good and if you like one of the singers that I've just mentioned, you'll simply love it (check the songs "Season's change", "Left outside alone", "Sick and tired", "Heavy on my heart", "Pretty little dum dum" and "Maybe today").


Another fantastic album by Anastacia!   April 20, 2004
S. Stinson (Oklahoma USA)
17 out of 17 found this review helpful

Anastacia does it again with her self-titled album, "Anastacia!" While different in tempo and beat from her previous dance-laden albums, Anastacia has found a new sound she calls "sprock," which is soul, pop, and rock mixed together. And what a sound it is! The tracks are full of heart-rending and through-provoking lyrics, which is to expected given Anastacia's real-life scare with breast cancer. But don't expect the lyrics or album to be a downer. Believe me, if anyone is a Survivor Chick, it's Anastacia and she proves it by rockin' out at full blast! Don't miss this album!


Why isn't America listening to this woman? She's INCREDIBLE   March 19, 2005
Brian (USA)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

I got this CD as a gift from a friend who had seen her in Germany. I'd never even heard of her. I was AMAZED! The voice on this woman is INCREDIBLE. A lot like Taylor Dayne but with her own distinct sound. Her vocals have an emotion to them we aren't hearing with other singers these days. Her sound seems to wrap around the lyrics beautifully. She's got a special gift.

I'm scratching my head because after doing a little research on her I was stunned to find out this isn't her first CD. This is actually her third and she is considered a HUGE DIVA in Europe. I've dloaded her other songs from her other CD's and I'm stumped by the lack of interest in her here in the USA. Radio needs to get it together. This woman can SANG! Everything we hear on the radio these days is either R&B, Rap, Hip Hop, or skateboard POP. You'd think her label would PUSH for her success in the USA knowing that we are in desperate need of something new after the poor ratings for the grammys. It's obvious that it's time to make some changes.. Here's the change and the name for the change is .. ANASTACIA!!. Perhaps this CD will be the one that finally gets her to the top of the charts here in the USA.

If I could give this CD 100 stars I would. Seasons Change, Left Outside Alone, and Time have HIT written all over them. The whole CD just flows together perfectly. You just want to play it over and over. The voice is Funky and powerful. This is no little girls voice. This is a woman who knows what she's singing about and knows how to deliver it. It's the best CD I've heard in a long time.

So...If you are dying to hear some incredible vocals and are just a little tired of the standard they are pushing at us as of lately I'd suggest you pass on 50 Cent and get Anastacias CD. You won't be sorry. She is amazing.

Come on USA radio get it together and let all of America hear this womans voice! It's well past due.


The Artist That Is Anastacia   July 10, 2004
Caleb (New England, USA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

Madonna had Ray Of Light. Mariah had Butterfly. Janet had Velvet Rope. Now it is Anastacia's turn to show the world how much she has grown as a person and artist through all the hardships that she has been through. When I first listened to the album, I was in complete shock by the talent that this incredible woman portrayed. She has grown emensely as a writer and singer since Freak Of Nature. The best track of the album is Heavy On My Heart. Other fantastic songs are Left Outside Alone, Welcome To My Truth, Seasons Change, and Where Do I Belong. I also love the rest of the songs - except Sexy Single.


The Voice Is Back - Big Time!   June 1, 2004
Busy Body (London, England)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

One of the most consistently interesting female artists of recent years is the amazing Anastacia. Since she burst onto the scene in late 2000, she has been one of the most outstanding vocalists to come out of America. Her success as a female artist in Europe and Australia is rather unparalleled by anyone else - she shifts more records than Jennifer Lopez and Kylie Minogue could ever dream of selling! Her first two albums, "Not That Kind" and "Freak Of Nature," sold a combined total of 10 million copies in Europe alone and were No.1 all over the continent. Despite all this success, the majority of America remains oblivious to Anastacia and her powerhouse voice that brought her to Europe's attention...

All I have to say is that they really don't know what they're missing. Here is a lady with the build of Mariah Carey, the voice of ten Tina Turners and praise from legends such as Elton John! In January 2003, Anastacia was diagnosed with breast cancer. The public was instantly sympathetic and Anastacia received much gratitude from her loyal fanbase. Suffice to say, she stood up strong and fought this evil and came out at the end of the year a new woman, which brought her first new material in more than two years. Her third album arrived in March 2004 and became a massive European No.1.

The music on offer here is more rockier than ever before. There are clear influences of Evanescence in her music, but she towers above Amy Lee easily. She used to be a soulful diva with a passion for R'n'B/funk classics, but Anastacia is almost a new woman with this album. Her battle with cancer has clearly had it's effects. The album opens with "Seasons Change," a fantastic up-tempo rocker that sees Anastacia sing about how life goes around in cycles like the seasons. It's an impressive opener, but nothing compared to what arrives next: "Left Outside Alone." As the first single to be taken from the album, this song is just a classic. Opening with high-pitched and haunting vocals, Anastacia soon breaks loose and thrashes her way through this rocker of a smash hit single that has spent more than ten weeks in the UK Top 10.

"Time" is a rather weak spot for me because the song seems to go no where, and is a bit repetitive. However, this dip doesn't last long as "Sick And Tired" picks things up. As the second single to be released from the album, Anastacia sings of heartache and sadness as a man babbles something African in the background. Anastacia is said to be at her best on powerhouse ballads which have gained her the name The Voice. However, I think she's best at uptempo songs, but I make an exception for "Heavy On My Heart," a ballad in which she spills forth her emotion about her cancer last year. Her voice rises into the stratosphere and you really feel for her. "I Do" is a massive anthemic rocker in a Linkin Park style, but features the vocals of Sonny from P.O.D. Anastacia sings about a crazy world (who can blame her?) that we live in at the moment, and how she wants to pray for a better world.

"Welcome To My Truth" is a true album highlight for me, because it's like a true revelation of Anastacia's personality. It opens like U2's "Beautiful Day," and she sings about an escape from dark times as the sun rises, and she sings, "Somebody bring up the lights, I want you to see. My life turned around, but I'm still living my dream!" You go girl! "Pretty Little Dum Dum" has an awful opening, it's so corny! However, the song itself is rather catchy. "Sexy Single" is another brilliant song that opens with some really airy and breathy vocals from the backing singers and you just feel like sighing along to them! The beat is brilliant and Anastacia really sells the song from deep down. She's single, happy and freely living her life!

"Rearview" opens sounding like "Every Breath You Take," but you soon find Anastacia's growling vocals purring all over the arrangement, stamping her trademark footprints onto it. The vocal arrangement is very catchy, but in a very mysterious and ambiguous way. The chorus totally kills it though, and makes this one of Anastacia's best-ever songs. "Where Do I Belong" is the second of only two songs in which Anastacia confronts her trauma of last year. It's a fantastic ballad and is perfectly followed up by the album's final track, "Maybe Today." This song is actually rather so-so. It's not the album's best track, but then again it's not the worst!

OVERALL GRADE: 9/10

I bought this album at the start of April and at first, I have to be honest, I really didn't like it. I really didn't listen to it much to begin with because I was too obsessed with Norah Jones' "Feels Like Home," but I've really listened this past week and I love it. Okay, the new rockier Anastacia takes a bit of getting used to, but once you do you'll surely not turn back. America is missing out big time, guys! Buy this album now and see why Anastacia is one of the most celebrated pop divas of the past five years.