Soul music is alive and well on this artist's debut album. Loaded with emotive vocal demonstrations, the set kicks off with the explosively memorable ballad "Friend of Mine." From there the album levels off into mostly satisfying tracks, including "Soul of a Woman"--a lengthy ballad interlude that's not quite a complete song but nevertheless allows the Queens, New York, artist to glow through passionate verse. A contemporary R&B artist, to be sure, Price also demonstrates her ability to flow in more traditional veins with songs like "Take Me to a Dream." But her creative skills don't stop just with her fervent ability to soar, slip, and slide through her songs. She gets extra-credit points for her talents as a songwriter and producer--once for Mary J. Blige and Mariah Carey, now for herself. --J.R. Reynolds