As songwriters, Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart are two of the most exuberant faces in R&B; their composition “Butterflies” was the only reason to pick up Michael Jackson’s last record. As performers, however, they need to learn a thing or two from the artists they’ve worked with, especially Jill Scott. Much like Floetry’s debut album Floetic, this live release looks fantastic on paper – two talented songwriters, a top-flight backing band and a packed house in New Orleans. It hits the ground running with three brand new studio cuts, including a soul-stirring collaboration with Mos Def. Even the packaging of Floacism “Live” had me hoping for the energy and passion of The Roots Come Alive or Erykah Badu’s Live. What the disc actually contains is an admirable but forgettable neo-soul exercise. The songs and harmonies are nice, full of smooth, Fender Rhodes fills and an even mix of singing and spoken word. None of the notes are flat, none of the lyrics are embarrassing, and none of the music is memorable. Songs like “If I Was A Bird” are unbelievably pointless – it’s not exactly shocking when Ambrosius reveals to the audience that if she was a bird, she’d “fly away.” From beginning to end, the concert fails to grab listeners by the collar; each track runs imperceptibly into the next, failing to distinguish itself. The performances here certainly capture Floetry’s burning love for its art, and while their hearts are in the right place, Ambrosius and Stewart are way out of their league.
Appeared in the January 30, 2004, issue of Artvoice.