CIARA IN THE STUDIO WORKING ON HER COMEBACK ALBUM

As I reported to you guys a few weeks back, Ciara is back at work trying to revive her fledgling music career under the guidance of L.A. Reid at new home Epic Records. Well the singer tweeted a picture of herself in the studio yesterday, laying down some tracks for her forthcoming album that's set to drop in Spring 2012. For those who may not remember, L.A. signed CiCi back in 2004 and gave us the fierce gem that was Goodies. After the success of that album she seemed to have done a complete 180 and tried channeling her inner-Janet Jackson and failed miserably. The problem was that once L.A. left LaFace for Def Jam (where he oversaw projects by Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bieber and Rihanna), Ciara got lost in the shuffle. It usually happens that once the A&R that signed you and knows your strengths leavs the inner circle and leaves you to fend for yourself, it becomes pretty sink or swim from there.

Now that Ciara is back in the hands of L.A. to guide her career in the right direction, we may finally get a taste of the album CiCi truly deserves to be putting out. So far she is collaborating with hit songwriter Diane Warren (does that mean Ciara will be singing ballads on the new album? I don't know with her paper thin vocals if that's a good idea), and producers Polow Da Don (Promise) and Soundz (Gimme Dat). I think at this point Ciara needs to figure out who she is as an artist. Me personally I see Ciara in the lane of Aaliyah mixed with a bit of Chris Brown and a spritz of Janet, but I'm not suggesting she hook up with Timbaland, who's heyday has long passed after he worked on Justin Timberlake's brilliant FutureSex/LoveSounds album. All I'm saying is that Ciara needs to take a page out of Usher and Chris Breezy's career resurrection book and mix your album with smooth, sexy R&B tracks and international dance/pop songs. Maybe Ciara needs a meeting with David Guetta and Benni Benassi?
Speaking of team, please put the ghetto girl marketing strategy on the backburner, because when you're hanging out with LaLa Anthony, Monica and Kim Kardashian, you're no longer a round-the-way chick from ATL. So far you have that with L.A.  so I've got my fingers crossed that he will push you way outside your comfort zone. There has to be some unknown producers out there that Ciara can work with and they can push each other, because lord knows CiCi is just as hungry to win as some up-and-coming producers. I see Ciara needing those catchy, hot dance tracks that Britney Spears always gets, except unlike Britney, she really wants to sing, dance, put out hot music videos and tour for her fans. I'm definitely rooting for you CiCi, and I'm hoping that you finally get a taste of the success you deserve as someone who can dance circles around any broad in this business including Britbot five years ago.