I absolutely LOVE this album. I bought it in December of 2002 and I still listen to it (almost daily) now. The one thing that I love the most about this album is her experimentation with other genres without losing her dance/house roots (like Ce Ce Peniston made the mistake of doing). That brings me to a question I would like to pose to those who said that there isn't enough dance material. What if Naked was more dance-oriented? What if it was basically This Is Your Night part 3 (with Part 2 being her 1999 release)? Then the same lot of you who complained that it was too different that her previous two would complain that it was too similar to her previous two. Make up your mind. And, to be completely honest, the Berman Brothers (the producers of her first two albums) were Amber's blessing and her curse: they helped her become the revered dance diva that she is known as now, BUT they also set her up in such a manner that one only expects her to limit herself to dance material, which is WHY she bought back her contract from them in the first place, so that she can express more of herself. THIS is the real Amber right here. And we also have to remember that, if this music sounds too "adult", guess what? That's because she IS ONE! She's not some teenager, she is a grown woman. So cut her some slack.

i can't believe this album only got 2 and a half stars on allmusicguide.com..anyways i really liked this album even though it was kind of erotic.

1) Yes! - a good song to start off the album (10/10)
2) The Need to Be Naked - this song is pretty good, but I think the remix is better (8/10)
3) Anyway (Men are from Mars) - its an OK song. it explains the differences of men and women basically (7/10)
4) You're Sent From Heaven - i think this song's pretty lovely =) (8/10)
5) Dirty Thoughts - one of my favorites..i especially like the acoustic guitar in this song (9/10)
6) He - for some reason..i didn't like this one very much..especially the intro =/ (4/10)
7) Sex without Sex - its an awesome song, that's all there is to say =) (9/10)
8) Sex in the City - pretty pop-ish to me, but it's still decent (7/10)
9) Don't Say Goodbye - beautiful song. the piano makes it even more beautiful =) (8/10)
10) Heavenly Proximity - same as previous track, but i don't really like the vocals as much in this one (7.75/10)
11) If There Would Be No Tomorrow - it's got a good message (8/10)
12) Love On You - didn't like this one very much either (6/10)
13) Sexual (Li Da Di) (Afterlife Chillout Remix) - sexual is one of my favorite songs of all time, actually i like all the remixes. but i think this sounds really nice, and you could relax to it =) (10/10)
14) Smile of My Child - i think this is the worst song on this album..the la la la la sounded kinda freaky to me (3/10)
15) The Need To Be Naked - honestly, this is the best Thunderpuss remix i have ever heard. most of them have overpowering beats that wash out the vocals, but this ones perfect! its very energetic and you can definitely dance to it! (10/10)

Although not nearly as good as her most recent release My Kind of World, Amber's third album Naked has a style and attitude worth exploring. In general, the album is very laid back and modern. The most prominent characteristic of this album is the sensuality it emits. From the album cover to nearly half the songs, this is a passionate and lustful album with simple but powerful lyrics.

For the first time, Amber opens an album with a mood setting song, titled Yes. Radio stations made the mistake of not playing this song; it could have easily catapulted Amber to superstar status. There's a haunting quality about it; almost as if Amber herself is in a dream. Full of sweeping chords and syncopated backing rhythms, this song is one of my personal favorites of the album.

The club hit The Need To Be Naked is the second track; this is the song that got me interested in Amber. Lyrically, there's nothing too innovative about this song. The lyrics are simple and easy to comprehend, and the title pretty much sums up the entire song. Needless to say, there's something special about this track that almost seduces you. Amber's breathy vocals in the chorus are a real tease, and I'm sure any male would love this song. (Personally, I think the Guido Osorio's Virgin Mix from the remix single of The Need To Be Naked is actually a better version than this one, although it's quite long)

The third track Anyway (Men Are From Mars) is one of my favorites, and somehow in its simplicity you'll find yourself bobbing your head. It's a very cute track, almost melancholy in a way. The song is very catchy, and Amber does an excellent job of blending the vocal and instrumental arrangements for a complimenting effect.

Though the fourth track You're Sent From Heaven is a beautiful song, I don't feel that Amber's vocal talent is best displayed here. There are moments of vocal greatness, but in general, she sounds slightly uncomfortable. Despite that, she still has the same conviction and emotion that you would expect from her when she sings. The end of this track is truly spectacular however, with a choir accompanying Amber on her ad-libbed vocals.

Dirty Thoughts, the fifth track, is a song full of guilt, remorse and grief. Amber sounds much more at home here than on the previous track. The lyrics are beautifully written and the acoustic guitar arrangement is dazzling. This is probably the most heartfelt song on the album; the most sensitive song. The strings balance the ballad wonderfully.

I applaud Amber for the sixth track He, although it feels somewhat out of place on such a sensual album. Quite simply, it's a song about God guiding her through her life. Such content brought criticism from many of her fans. Clearly, Amber took a risk including this song, however I admire her for it. As far as the musical arrangement of the song goes, it's a very well done dance number. With syncopated echoing keyboards and a jazzy baseline, Amber's vocals shine.

The seventh track is yet another sensual anthem called Sex Without Sex. A tender and emotional song, the content could have easily been ruined had it not been written well. But Amber successfully took the idea of being totally in tune with someone's thoughts, feelings, wants and desires and transformed them it into a well written piece. She sounds whimsical in this tune, with very breathy vocals and an easy-going singing style.

Love On You, the eighth track, is a little more innocent, but still a very sexy song. Lyrically, the verses are very generic and a little rugged when thrown together, although they still make plenty sense. Listening to this, especially if you have someone special next to you, you really will want to ditch work and `stay home for one day'. More laid back and slower than the previous track, there's plenty of lush chords backing Amber's once again breathy singing.

The ninth track will remind older fans of Amber's previous work, and it's titled If There Would Be No Tomorrow. Going back to her more classic dance roots, Amber's vocals stand out in this song as the foundation of a very lively track. She has some fun with her singing, and the balance of strings and rock guitar make this one of the most memorable tracks on the album. This would have made a great single, however it was never remixed.

At first listen, the tenth track Heavenly Proximity didn't have any special qualities. However, after listening to it several times, you begin to notice the delicate balance of the beautiful piano, strings, soft keyboard loops and deep bass that make this an inspiring song. In particular, the bridge portion of the song, which builds in volume and intensity, is gorgeous. Unfortunately, the musical descent after the buildup is a bit of a letdown, leaving the listener feeling a little incomplete.

Although the title suggests another sensual tune, track eleven, Sex In the City, is a disco dance fest in which Amber vents about the stresses of constant changing relationships. Personally, this song doesn't appeal to me as much as the first two tracks of the album do, but it is very catchy and you'll find yourself humming it for hours. With surprising drum hits and many different types of percussion, this is primarily a drum loop song. The brass in the chorus is refreshing to hear.

On track twelve, titled Don't Say Goodbye, Amber puts all her efforts into singing a beautiful slow ballad. As with previous slow tunes, while she never lacks for emotion, she just doesn't sound her best here. The song is still beautiful, with very intense chords and simple but heartfelt lyrics. While it's not one of her finest moments, it's still a very well done song.

Track thirteen is the Sexual Afterlife Chillout Remix. This remix was the first version of Sexual I had ever heard, and it's a great warm version; initially I couldn't tell it was a remix. After hearing the original dance version of the song, I still don't prefer one or the other. This remix is very slow and subdued, with no percussion except a light hand drum loop. The lyrics flow smoothly with the sweeping keyboard effects; this song reminds me of something you might hear in an expensive massage parlor.

Track fourteen, which is the last official song of the album, titled The Smile of My Child, is very cute in it's own way. Unfortunately, it doesn't sum up the album well, and it sounds like a song from a Broadway stage play. The song itself is nice, with all its live strings and glockenspiel toward the end; the child singing in the beginning and the end (I think it's actually Amber's son) is rather cute as well. The concept of the song is a sweet one and it's very heartfelt, but again, it's one of those songs that doesn't seem to fit with either Amber's voice or the rest of the album.

The Thunderpuss remix of The Need To Be Naked is the fifteenth track, and it's a good thing she threw this in at the end, otherwise the album would not have been concluded well. As with all Thunderpuss remixes, it's very danceable, lively and full of impact.

After hearing Amber's more recent work, you may notice that she sounds almost muted or timid in many of the songs included on this album. There are many great songs here, but too many experimental tracks that didn't allow Amber to show her true talent. In my opinion, the best songs on Naked are Yes, The Need To Be Naked, Anyway, He, Sex Without Sex and the Sexual remix. I suggest purchasing the remix singles for Yes, The Need To Be Naked and Anyway (Men Are From Mars), as they all have at least one great remix on them. And more than anything, I recommend Amber's newest release, My Kind of World; it's her best work yet!

I was a big Amber fan with THIS IS YOUR NIGHT and AMBER albums.This CD definetly doesnt have the quality she showed us in the past.There are a few songs that are OK."Yes" was not her best single by any means and I didn't care for it too much but at least it had energy."the need to be naked" is just OK. A little cheesy but it has a little energy too.The only problem is it seems like bad teen pop. The only other song worth mentioning is "Sex without sex". It is ok. Maybe if a remixed version were made it could have done well but still a little blah in its original.The other songs are boring and a waste of time. Dont waste your money on this. If you want dance music look somewhere else.A few of the songs will give you a giggle and make you wonder what she was thinking."The smile of my child" is one them.Horrible with quite a humorous sounding "LAH LAH LAH LAH LAH" that starts the song off.

Amber combines trance, dance, pop, soul, and styles that are her own - and this shows more than ever in this album. Dance fans won't be disappointed with "Yes" and the "Need to be Naked" as well as most other tracks.

But Amber has always also sung with a soul-filled power - in fact some of my friends can always thought she was a black singer! Attitude filled and energy giving vocals like these really make this more than just a dance album.

Finally, Amber is also a great songwriter, at least cowriting most all her material. Her song "Love One Another" as covered by Cher has been nominated for a Grammy! Her writing skills also make this album more than just a "dance album."

If you are looking for strictly a club dance sound, you will probably be a little let down - she also has a mainstream popular feel. But if you are looking for a pop album, you will also be let down - this album is somewhere in between, and something only Amber's style.