I always have to remind myself what a great album this is. While there are indeed some missteps (I’d count Sweet Side along with American Dream on that list), there are also some incredibly strong songs and performances. I’d consider Ventura to be her greatest post-Car Wheels song, for one.
Ventura was the first song I ever saw Lucinda perform live, and at that point I had only purchased her albums up through Essence. I wish I had a recording of the performance to confirm my memory of it, but I was absolutely awestruck. Usually it takes me a few listens to really appreciate a song, even a great one, but she had me from the first verse. I love the album cut but to this day I think about that live performance (it was in Chicago in ’05 I believe) every time I hear it.