Ciara Channels "Goodies" On Next Album

To let SoundScan tell it, Ciara's 2009 album, Fantasy Ride, was more like a kiddie coaster. The singer is already on to the next one, though, working exclusively with Tricky Stewart and The-Dream on her as-yet-untitled follow-up.

There's no release date yet, but Stewart-who's executive producing-tells VIBE that recording is "going really well" and "getting close to the point where it's done."

The sound they're going for, he adds, is along the lines of "Goodies" and "1, 2 Step," the hit singles off Ciara's 2004 debut, Goodies. "I really felt like Ciara's first album was a classic. I just wanted to make sure that the people that loved that first album would love this album," says Stewart. "I wanted to make sure that it kinda had that hood around-the-way feel to it again."

For fans, that means more uptempo dance tracks than slow burners. "We're definitely making sure when people put this album on they're like, 'I got my money's worth. It's a great album'," says Stewart.

Speaking of great albums, the producer recently missed the boat on one of his dream collaborators, Alicia Keys, whose new album The Element of Freedom has been earning stellar feedback.

"Alicia Keys is the one I'm waiting on. It almost happened this time," he says. "We kinda played phone tag. She called and said that she was finishing up her record, but I didn't realize how quickly she was coming out 'cause I kind of had my head buried in the sand in my own projects."

Maybe next time. --Clover Hope