Ranking the Best Fantasia Albums

Someone tell me – did Fantasia make that list of 200 best vocalists that Rolling Stone put out a few weeks ago?

Oh, I didn’t bother reading it. I heard Michael Jackson was at No. 87 or something so I wasn’t going to click a list created by the mentally impaired.

I CHOOSE TO PROTECT MY PEACE IN 2023.

Anyway, I’ve received more than a few requests to revisit Fantasia’s catalog and it’s easy to see why. In an era where powerful R&B vocalists feel like they should be Jurassic Park exhibits, artists like Tasia are, sadly, becoming an anomaly. From her rise on American Idol to overcoming more than a few personal setbacks, her story is pretty inspiring – and those vocals can still level buildings.

So let’s get to it – to time revisit Fantasia’s studio LPs, minus the Christmas joints, of course.

6. The Definition Of… (2016)

Read our review here

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: Ol’ girl is really getting her Terminator 2 on with this album cover. T-1000 Tasia has publicly denounced this album in the past – she’s REALLY not a fan of it – but objectively it’s really not that bad. Many of the tracks take her out of her comfort zone sonically, drifting from reggae-tinged production to smokey blues, and the change of pace brings lots of needed diversity to her playbook. However – and get used to me saying this a lot during this ranking – the overall album is plagued with weak spots that make it an inconsistent listen. Kinda forgettable but it has its moments.

Forgotten favorites: “Sleeping with the One I Love,” “So Blue,” “No Time For It”

5. Fantasia (2006)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: Yeah, I’m a little surprised this one is ranked so low too. Just two years after her debut, Tasia returned with a BUNCH of heavy hitters at her side. Writing by Diane Warren and Missy Elliott, production by Babyface, Swizz Beatz, Dre & Vidal, Kwame, Danja and more – Tasia was determined to beat the sophomore slump. The result is a very high-energy release that’s a gift and a curse. On one hand, the hard-hitting production helps shed her image of simply a torch singer; on the other, many of the beats aren’t great fits for her voice, drowning out her vocals. Do you KNOW how loud a beat has to be to drown out FANTASIA???? But it happens more than once here. When the album is good, it’s good (“When I See U” will always be a signature Tasia track) but it comes off as too ambitious sometimes.

Forgotten favorites: “I Nominate U,” “Two Weeks Notice,” “I’m Not That Type”

4. Free Yourself (2004)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: The one that started it all! Coming off her star-making American Idol appearances, it was only a matter of time before a full-length LP landed in our laps. And to her credit, Fantasia seemed to transition from stage to studio much more smoothly than several of her Idol peers. The result is another album with high highs … but several weak spots. “Free Yourself” is still her best song to date (and “This is Me” might be her best album cut ever). But you know where I’m going with this – the album starts very strong before getting a bit generic and dated on the second half. A solid debut but there was plenty of room for growth.

Forgotten favorites: “This is Me,” “Summertime,” “Got Me Waiting”

3. Sketchbook (2019)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Read our review here

Edd said: Here’s an album that aged a lot better than I remembered. Proclaiming this as her comeback album after her issues with The Definition Of…, Tasia threw on her M. Bison hat and got ready to give us that final boss energy. Though those pesky consistency issues plague the album’s second half, per usual, Fantasia sounds much more motivated here and her confidence is through the roof. I enjoyed this one so much on my relisten that I’m raising my original 2019 score! New year, new me!

(But don’t get used to it)

Forgotten favorites: “Enough,” “The Way,” “Bad Girl”

2. Back to Me (2010)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Like the album before it, Back to Me is mainly remembered for one track – in this case it’s “Bittersweet,” her last No. 1 single to date. But unlike that previous album, and many others on this list, Tasia nails the tone throughout the project, giving us that solid, cohesive listen than many other projects lack. Back to Me showcased much-needed maturity and growth, not just as a vocalist but as an artist.

Forgotten favorites: “Man of the House,” “Who’s Been Loving You,” “The Thrill is Gone”

1. Side Effects of You (2013)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Read our review here

Edd said: Remember that growth I mentioned on the Back to Me project? It reached its apex on Side Effects of You. No longer was she running from her well-publicized struggles, she learned to use them as motivation for herself and as a lesson for listeners. She and producer Harmony Samuels find undeniable chemistry that invigorate every track, giving her that sonic cohesion that eluded her much of her career. The result? Easily the best album of Fantasia’s career. From tabloids to triumph – Tasia earned this victory.

Forgotten favorites: “Side Effects of You,” “End of Me,” “Get It Right”

Tasia stans, get ready to argue – which album is your favorite? Which ones did I underrate? Let us know below.