In late summer 2004, it seemed like Ciara came out of nowhere with "Goodies," a song that became omnipresent in urban America overnight, many weeks before her album of the same name made a splash of its own. And it just didn't seem that way -- that's really how it was. Ciara did come out of nowhere, becoming one of the increasingly rare no-names who make such waves with such immediacy. "Goodies" didn't come out of nowhere, however. To most urban music listeners, all it took was one listen to place the tune, even if the singer was unknown -- it's not a Ciara tune, it's a Lil Jon one. You know, Lil Jon, that red-hot producer with the simple yet infectiously booming bass beats and the clubby (even strip-clubby, dare say) singles that are more hook than song. You know, the dude who produced such trademarked smash hits as Usher's "Yeah!," Trillville's "Neva Eva," Lil Scrappy's "No Problem," Pitbull's "Culo," and Petey Pablo's "Freek-a-Leek" (and these are just his summer 2004 hits!). That latter song, "Freek-a-Leek," serves as the basis for "Goodies." In fact, you could even consider it a "response" song in the good ol' hip-hop tradition of "Roxanne's Revenge" (which had answered "Roxanne, Roxanne"). Both songs use the same beat, for the most part, as well as the same melody. The difference is that while the chart-topping Petey Pablo hit had taken the urban male perspective of courtship, boasting of his sexual exploits and how he can provide all a woman could possibly want physically, Ciara takes the female perspective here, boasting contrarily that she has what all the guys want but won't be exploited: "I bet you want the goodies/Bet you thought about it/Got you all hot and bothered/Mad 'cause I talk around it/If you're looking for the goodies/Keep on looking 'cause they stay in the jar." It's a simple song, yes, but it's quite a rousing album-opener! Regardless of your gender or sexual preference, there's something incredibly alluring about "Goodies," whether it's Ciara's whispery taunting, Petey's zealous machismo, or Lil Jon's oh-so-slow-grinding beats. The next four songs -- "1, 2 Step," "Thug Style," and "Hotline," "Oh" -- are good, if not great, and executive producer Jazze Pha (aka the big, Fat Joe-looking guy in the "Goodies" video) serves up some first-rate beats and hooks here and there. But just as Beyonci's Dangerously in Love had nosedived into mawkish balladry during its second half, Goodies sadly follows suit. If you're not expecting an album-length statement, however, and are instead just looking for the standout single, a couple serviceable follow-ups, and the usual abundance of middling filler, Goodies should satisfy you with its four-minute opening salvo, even if it does climax far too prematurely for lasting pleasure. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide

Year	Type	Label	Catalog #:
2004	LP	La Face	62819
2004	CS	Zomba	82876628194
2004	CS	Zomba	8287662819
2004	CD	La Face	62819