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Nait Phoenix's Top 23 of 2012 | FINISHED!
Member Since: 10/18/2010
Posts: 29,224
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#19 - Woman to Woman (Keyshia Cole)
Keyshia Cole has always been a favorite artist of mine. She lost me last album, but she brought me back with this album. Now, while many will see her as a rehashed version of Mary J. Blige, Cole always has been able to stick to her own style while paying tribute to those who came before. Unlike other current and popular R&B artists, Keyshia sticks to her “hip-hop and R&B” roots throughout the entire album. By far, one of my favorite songs this year is “Trust and Believe”, her second single; when Keyshia sings, she SANGS, and I have been blown away every single time she performs this song live. And her two duets, “Woman to Woman” with Ashanti, and “Wonderland” with Elijah Blake are not only the highlights of this album, they may be some of the best R&B songs I’ve heard in a LONG time. This is a great album from start to finish.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 12/7/2008
Posts: 87,284
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Really love that Keyshia COle album! Im really surprised she had a HIDDEN CLUB BANGER at the Bonus tracks
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Member Since: 4/7/2009
Posts: 34,961
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Great Keyshia writeup. The album grew on me, it's nice.
"Wonderland" yes!
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Member Since: 4/24/2004
Posts: 7,295
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Not a big fan of this one. But let's see the next set.
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Member Since: 10/18/2010
Posts: 29,224
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Quote:
Originally posted by Delta
Not a big fan of this one. But let's see the next set.
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Actually, I'mma do a double write-up tomorrow... One early in the morning, and then one at my regular time; just to see if I can catch anymore eyes... So, hopefully you can wait till tomorrow...
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Member Since: 5/23/2007
Posts: 65,087
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Need to listen to her
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Member Since: 9/16/2004
Posts: 34,379
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Member Since: 10/18/2010
Posts: 29,224
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#18 - Kaleidoscope Dream (Miguel)
I know I’m not the only one who’s thinking, “where the hell did this come from?” I mean there’s evolution and then there’s just a full-blown transformation; seriously, is this the same dude who was talking about being bummed not being able to play “connect four” with a woman (I know it’s not the “Connect-4” we know...)? On this album, every song was definitely different than any song I’ve ever heard. “Adorn” is by far the best R&B single of this year. And every song was perfectly tailored so that they blended well and the entire album sounds cohesive. I mean, if Keyshia is the MJB of our generation, Miguel is the Prince. Maybe he’ll try for “King” next time around...
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Member Since: 7/22/2009
Posts: 13,429
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I kinda like Adorn
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 12/7/2008
Posts: 87,284
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WOW these albums! MIguel was just on my list as well
Love ur taste!
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Member Since: 4/7/2009
Posts: 34,961
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Quote:
And every song was perfectly tailored so that they blended well and the entire album sounds cohesive. I mean, if Keyshia is the MJB of our generation, Miguel is the Prince
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****ing love you! Preach!
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Member Since: 10/18/2010
Posts: 29,224
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#17 - Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 (Lupe Fiasco)
First off, I like Lupe, but this album name is going too far. He never really seemed like the cocky or egotistical type, ‘cause this album is definitely not the “Great American Rap Album”. But, as for rap, it was my favorite album this year; especially, considering every other rap album this year sounded no different from each other... Why I like Lupe and all his albums: he’s not afraid to speak his mind, he’s not afraid to talk about what needs to be mentioned, and he’s also not afraid to be outspoken about every issue in America. If you don’t understand his genre, conscious hip-hop, listen to songs like “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free)”, “Lamborghini Angels”, and “Form Follows Function” to not only better your understanding, but better yourself; Lupe is that kind of artist, and no other is like him.
Quote:
“Don’t Tip the Damn Boat Over, Now...”
Sometimes an artist gets that hit record and rides off it till they feel they can’t anymore, then start to go more in-depth to their style and make more existential and/or extrovert music, solely for the sake of music. And sometimes an artist gets that hit record and rides it to the ground to the point it takes over their next album, solely for top-charters and hit records. I’m talking, of course, about artists like Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera. We all know Levine & Aguilera’s #1 smash hit last year, “Moves Like Jagger” was not only a global hit, it was the beginning of a resurrection for them. With them both being judges on the NBC hit show, The Voice, and both being worldwide superstars, it was easy to see that this could be the start of something new for both artists; turns out, the something new was just something old redone over again.
Overexposed and Lotus have to be, without a doubt, the worst albums I’ve ever heard from these two. Let me explain: I am, in no way, a Christina Aguilera or Maroon 5 hater; in fact, I actually love their music, usually. But, to call these two albums “good” is not only an overstatement, it’s a downright lie; at least, for me it is. There are plenty of fans who will praise these albums like they’re Jesus or Buddha or whoever you worship and I’m not gonna slam them for that. But, if those fans want to be honest with themselves and to others, they have to admit there is nothing wholly salvageable in either album when adding the songs to the artists’ repertoire unless the artists’ are completely changing their styles and their focus.
This is not to say that I won’t listen to them from time to time if they come out with something new. I just can’t put these albums on my music player knowing I will never give them the time of day. Aguilera continuously wants to prove that she is a strong singer, to the point where it’s exhausting her voice and her music (“Sing For Me” / “Light Up the Sky”) while Maroon 5 looks for the catchiest melodies & lyrics and most obvious drum patterns and guitar riffs (if there are even guitars in there anymore) to the point where it’s downright predictable (“Payphone” / “Lucky Strike”). It’s really a shame to say that I’ve fallen out of love with these two; these are not the same artists who had songs like “She Will Be Loved” (Maroon 5) and “Impossible” (Aguilera), and I’m not afraid to admit that.
But they aren’t the only perpetrators. Madonna, by far, is the last person I’d expect to not bring anything new to the table. Truthfully, she’d be the one to start a trend, but it seems that the electro-dance vibe caught onto her and she couldn’t pass up a chance to make it her own. Well, in MDNA, she doesn’t. Actually, this is a worse crime to making a trend their own than Britney Spears’ last album. It’s almost sickening to think that artists like Madonna, Maroon 5, and Christina Aguilera are no longer the leaders of trendsetting like they used to be; almost like the fuse they had to light up the hearts of new fans has burned out.
But, I pray this will not be the end of them. In fact, judging by the charts and their overall stardom, it will definitely not be the end of them. But if they want to keep music listeners like me, who actually take to heart the words in music and how they are portrayed in the instruments, they need to stop focusing on the straightforward pop hit and work on the rest of their album. Then maybe, just maybe, they’ll get metacritic scores above the sixties again and less tag-a-long fans.
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Member Since: 3/22/2011
Posts: 26,525
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Keyshia & Miguel
I keep on forgetting to listen to Lupe's new album.
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Member Since: 5/23/2007
Posts: 65,087
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Miguel & Lupe Fiasco
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Member Since: 2/11/2008
Posts: 10,964
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I've heard about Miguel but haven't really listened to his music.
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Member Since: 11/27/2011
Posts: 12,312
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I love Miguel's song "Adorn" It is amazing!
I've been a fan of Keyshia! but I might check out the album.
And good article. You're so right. Maroon 5 is predictable. I feel like it's the end for Christina.
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Member Since: 10/18/2010
Posts: 29,224
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#16 - Two Eleven (Brandy)
If you’re wondering why one of my favorite artists’ album is so low, you can put the blame on the one-trick producer that is Bangladesh and his repetitive additions to this album. If those songs were non-existent, this album could’ve probably been close to number one. But aside from the horridness that is “Let Me Go” and “Put It Down”, this is the best I’ve heard Brandy in a long while. This album brings me back to Full Moon / Never Say Never Brandy. And by far my favorite songs ever from Brandy are in this album; “Wish Your Love Away” and “Do You Know What You Have?” are like the breaths of fresh air I’ve been craving from 2012. And “Slower” is like the song I’ve been waiting for from Brandy: something fast, but still classic; it’s almost hard to believe Chris Brown co-wrote that. Again, erasing the horrible “A Milli” wannabes, Two Eleven is a great record.
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Member Since: 4/24/2004
Posts: 7,295
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Kaleidoscope Dream
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Member Since: 5/23/2007
Posts: 65,087
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Haven't heard much of Brandy
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Member Since: 9/16/2004
Posts: 34,379
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Haven't heard Brandy's album but her song with Chris Brown is ok.
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