I, like most people are against young stars releasing Greatest Hits albums, just because they are too lazy to sing and write (on the rare occasion) new songs for people to enjoy and listen to. But it really isn't until you look back at all of Brandy Norwood's hits that you realise how long she has been around in the music industry. At the tender age of 15 she burst into the American R'n'B with her self titled debut album 'Brandy' which managed to reach gold status in less than two months, and quadruple platinum status soon after. It was the surprise hit of 1994, and topped the seven million mark for units sold. This album gained her two Grammy nominations and various other awards, she was well and truly America's hot new star. After another Grammy nomination for a single Brandy followed up her massively successful first album with Never S-A-Y Never which gathered her much critical acclaim and album sales of over 5 million copies in the US alone, and 14 million worldwide, she was here and making it quite clear that she wasn't planning on going anywhere…..
Full Moon, was not that big a success compared to her previous outings, music critics liked it enough, but it only shifted 7 million units worldwide (a large number for most artists, but not of Brandy's calibre) but she gained another flurry of award nominations and concentrated on her home life as her first child had just recently been born. But bounding back from a temporary hiatus, Ms Norwood came back with Aphrodisiac, perhaps her most accomplished album of all, full of slow but deep and meaningful songs that compliment her smooth and interesting voice perfectly. Aphrodisiac has so far reached Gold status. But earlier this year she asked and was allowed a release from Atlantic Records to get a new contract with a company that will help her advance and mature more. Also, please do not forget that whilst having all these massive albums, she starred in the hugely successful sitcom Moesha that ran for six seasons and itself managed to make a spin off show, as well as starring in the moderate hit sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer and Cinderella a made for television movie co starring Whitney Houston that was a ratings smash. Here is 'The Best of Brandy' an album chronicling
her amazing journey with her former record company……. *****************************======Track List and Brief Comments!============
Baby: As it is one of Brandy's first ever singles, it has a more poppy edge than much of her other stuff, and I don't feel that she has truly found her voice yet, but it is a fairly mature pop record, Brandy's voice is more than impressive for a fourteen year old and it is alright just to relax back to. Not my favourite on the whole album, but enjoyable enough 7/10
Best Friend: Is a song that I quite like, it is about the relationship between best friends and how they evolve and change our lives.. The vocals are very soulful and smooth and the lyrics have at least a smigen of depth. The opening is jazzy and funky and the whole of the backing track is quite lively, which helps compliment Brandy's rich tones. A fun one, but only average for Brandy 7/10
Wanna Be Down: Is another early rack from her self titled debut album, and it allows her to flex some muscle as a mature singer, even though she was only 14. Still, her voice hasn't grown to the amazing heights of her Aphrodisiac days, but she holds all the notes pretty well, the lyrics are about love (as most of them are and the backing track is poppy, but not to so. A fairly good ballad song. 8/10
Broken-hearted: Does a very good, slow and sophisticated tune about growing apart and ultimately have to break up. Brandy's vocals are very pleasing, even if they haven't yet fully developed and she is given things to bounce of with the male whole also sings in the song. The lyrics are okay, but again not to Aphrodisiac standards and the backing track consists of mainly a piano and that kind of hippy dippy mix of flutes and synthetics that makes for a nice background to work off. Not the best, but still great 8/10
Angel In Disguise: Is an angry, more funky tune than previously, it has strong, empowering lyrics and a beat that is the driving force of the song. There is more of an emphasis on Brandy's rapping abilities in this one and I think she pulls it off with her credibility and dignity intact. Still, were not at her best tracks, but this is certainly a build up! 7/10
Boy Is Mine: Is the massive hit single that Brandy recorded with Monica and both their voices mix to make a more than pleasant tune that has an impressive re listen factor. The lyrics are a tad bit samey and it isn't the most original of songs, but I like it for the breathy backing track and nice mix of vocals. Fairly good collaboration that was a massive hit in America 6/10.
Almost Doesn't Count: Sounds very much like her later work on Full Moon (the album that famously changed her style from mainly R'n'B poppy tunes, to ballad queen and then into the raging princess of revenge funk) it is slow, has gorgeous vocals and fairly interesting/relevant lyrics. A nice departure from the earlier more pop orientated tunes 7/10
On Top Of The World: Is a duet with Mase and it is again, another relaxing, chilled out tune, with a slightly more rappy edge than the others, it is a ballad in a sense, but has a fun loving and dancy sense as well. Again still not some of Brandy's best work, but we are getting there! 6/10
You Don't Know Me: Is a nice mix between rap vocals and more smooth ones. It is a strong backing track, that helps the songs pace become brisk and the lyrics are about growing apart from one another and then trying to start back up a relationship, and how you have to learn everything about that person all over again. A fun, spiky track which mixes rap and balladry well 7/10
Have You Ever?: Sees Brandy's vocal talent really sore to new unexplored heights, her voice is layered, with a new found maturity that must come with age, and the song is thought provoking and interesting all at the same time. A nice and slow backing track help you concentrate only on Brandy's, new and most defiantly improved voice, a joy to listen to 9/10
Full Moon: Is a really hip, but smooth ballad, that shows Brandy's astounding vocals off in an amazing light. Meaningful lyrics bounce with the audience friendly backing tracks to make a truly amazing pop record, which notches up a surprisingly high replay quota. A contempory R'n'B classic another 9/10
What About Us: A strong, gutsy and anger filled hit, that also came from the Full Moon album, it is filled with lyrics that actually mean something and show more sophistication and maturity than some of her other, more poppy hits. A hip, strong and driving main beat run throughout the whole song complimenting Brandy's strong vocals perfectly, overall a fun dance hit that is hip funky and fresh, a definite winner! 9/10
He Is: Isn't my favourite tune from this album, as it has a slow start and a slightly too long running time, but when the song gets running it gathers momentum, with a slightly better chorus. Brandy's vocals are amazing as always, but this could have been much better. The lyrics are about meeting the person you love and just knowing that you are going to spend your life with that person forever. Not the best, but still far above average 6/10
Aphrodisiac: Has to be one of Brandy's best ever singles (and there have been a lot of them) it is hip, catchy, startling and mature, truly adult pop! The album that it emerged from showed a new more sophisticated side to the R'n'B princess and this is a perfect example of that. It has fun, but relevant lyrics blended with some of the most dance friendly backing tunes I have ever heard! Brandy's husky voice takes on new depth and the video was brilliant! Amazing 10/10
Who Is She 2 U?: Is Brandy's duet with Usher and the two pop royalties vocals have a balance, this is a slightly more chilled out single than Aphrodisiac, but it still has a dancy atmosphere, with strong, modern beats and lyrics that everyone can quite easily relate to. A fun, adult R'n'B tunes featuring two of the hottest people in the music business 8/10
Rock With You: Is a tune that has a lot of emphasis on the rap edge of Brandy's career, her vocals bounce perfectly off those of Quincy Jones and Heavy D, it is a nice, upbeat tune about romance that is easy to listen to without being poppy or to stupid to listen to. I personally enjoyed the mix of vocal styles 8/10
Another Day In Paradise: Is a beautiful, poignant and very appealing track, that is not to lively, but has a really great message and some amazing vocals from Brandy. The backing track is light and not too fussy (allowing Brandy's vocals to really shine) and the lyrics are really great, there subject matter: people without homes, it is not too harsh and not at all preachy, just thought provoking. A great, easy to listen to track! 10/10 *****************************======Is There Anything Wrong With This Album?============
Well actually yes, I am a bit puzzled as to why The Best Of Brandy doesn't have some of her biggest hits on it, like Sitting Up In My Room, just to name one! In America it was number 1 for thirteen weeks and became the leading single on the soundtrack to Waiting To Exhale. It is one of the best songs she recorded as a teenager and certainly the most successful, so why not include it? Because this album stinks of rushtness, Brandy wanted to leave Atlantic records, and this was just a quick way of making money from her lucrative run with them. Even the presentation (A thing brandy is highly regarded for putting a lot of effort into) is uninspiring, and ordinary, therefore, not doing Brandy's extraordinary career justice. *****************************======Enough About The Bad, What About The Great!============
Well, what I find most fascinating about this album, is the way you can hear Brandy's voice and subsequently her music change through the years and it is quite shocking. The Brandy album, although great was much less mature than the later albums and her voice had yet to develop into the rich, husky and layered one we are now accustomed to. You gradually get to see her music transform throughout the songs, making the second half, considerably more enjoyable than the first.
It is pretty amazing really, to think that Brandy has survived for over ten years in an industry that is hardly ever interested after just a few. She has gone through both the good and bad times with dignity in the press and continues to produce amazing and very enjoyable albums, each one getting better. It is amazing, she has managed to succeed in acting and her musical work. I love her. *****************************====And Overall?============
Overall, I think this is a fine album chronicling a young teenagers rise to fame and her strong attempts at staying in the business through thick and thin, but I do just really wish that Atlantic Records would of treated it less like a cash cow and done some research into what songs to include ad which to take out. I was also disappointed with the presentation, but really the music is amazing. *****************************======Where Can I Buy It============
Amazon.co.uk for; £9.99 ASIN: B0007WQAGY
Thankyou all loads for reading and rating, much, much appreciated : ) Jay
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Excellent review - you clearly know your stuff on Brancy and have scared me away from ever reviewing any of her stuff for fear of you picking me up on errors ha
Brandy is a class act tho...
TomlinsonSE 12.05.2005 19:26
Great review. Sue
sar80 10.05.2005 00:47
I used to like Brandy but then she disappeared for a few years. Great review.
The Boy Is Mine (Brandy) (Monica) Top Of The World (Brandy) (Mase) Another Day In Paradise ... more
(Brandy) (Ray J) Who Is She 2 U (Brandy) Afrodisiac (Brandy) Never Say Never (Brandy) I Wanna Be Down (Brandy) (MC Lyte) (Queen Latifah) (Yoyo) Sittin' Up In My ...
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