14-6-09 Can't believe I haven't written a review for the whole of 2009, watch this space...
14-6-09 Can't believe I haven't written a review for the whole of 2009, watch this space...
Member since:02.06.2007
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When I reviewed Chris Brown's second studio album, 'Exclusive', at the end of last year I was a bit quick of the mark to mention how his relationship with Rihanna was one of a few factors that are contributing to his new popularity. And I'm going to do exactly that again, by including after the jump the recent pictures that reverse their claims that they're not together, as they canoodle together in KFC (not sure what the kernel would make of that). Christopher was even preparing for his 19th birthday by making one of the biggest performances of his career thus far, when he joined 20-year old Rihanna on stage at Madison Square Garden to make a surprise duet. Along way from that 16 year-old that we heard singing 'Run It' a few years back, a now taller Chris Brown hasn't even waited the twelve months that his missus did to re-release his most successful album to date, 'Exclusive: The Forever Edition'.
Should we take that to mean Chris Brown is staying around forever?
Whilst his self-titled debut album, 'Chris Brown', topped the 3 million sales mark in a couple of years -- a remarkable achievement for such a young artist -- 'Exclusive' has nearly equalled that record in a matter of months. A dancing ability worthy of comparisons surpassing Michael Jackson, we are still waiting on that song that changes him from just a background artist to someone with the well-rounded popularity of a Justin Timberlake. Lets see how the now dated tracks hold up on this re-release, as well as what improvements have been made to those thinking of picking up the album with new artwork.
"Girl, I'm the King so that means I'm fly."
01, Throwed (3.01), 4*
02, Kiss Kiss ft. T-Pain (4.10), 5*
I think anyone who had been following Chris Brown's career were thinking it would take a lot for him to be able to keep his popularity going, and considering he doesn't exactly have the strongest voice I doubt many thought he had the talent either. What Chris lacks in being able to hit the right notes he gains with his distinctive voice, and 'Throwed' literally throws you right into remembering everything that you ever enjoyed about Chris Brown before now. For the first track to be such a good quality,
and not to be the namesake of the album or a single is an accomplishment in its own, as so many smaller artists would throw their big guns in at the beginning. 'Kiss Kiss' on the other hand is a Grammy-nominated track, and I can't believe I ever had my doubts about it because even when you take out T-Pain it rightly deserves to be his second US Billboard #1 of his career. "It ain't my first time but baby we can pretend."
03, Take You Down (4.05), 3*
04, With You (4.12), 5*
Undeniably Chris' core fanbase is going to be the female population, and that is why a lot of themes on his tracks are 'lovey dovey'. 'Take You Down' is a lovemaking track for and does what it says on the tin, sadly it goes a bit long at the end and that's what puts down its star rating a notch. 'With You' on the otherhand suitably comes as the track afterwards, and is his biggest ballad to date. It would also be fair to say that 'With You' comes as his biggest worldwide success, because whilst previous singles have topped the charts in some parts of the world but not even charted in others, 'With You' has cracked the top 10 practically everywhere. Using the word 'boo', you can tell by this track that Chris Brown is destined to be the next Usher -- and a track that takes infulences from 'Irreplaceable' and 'Hate That I Love You' is always going to have huge popularity, even a finalist sang it on American Idol. "But baby if I'm your man, I guess I gotta be a man."
05, Picture Perfect ft. Will.i.am (4.12), 2*
06, Hold Up ft. Big Boi (3.48), 4*
07, You (3.22), 1*
There's something I'm unsure of when it comes to Will.i.am tracks, they seem to be popular for a while then they just die out. I mean I'm feeling his track with Cheryl Cole at the moment, but that's mainly down to just how damning it is towards Ashley Cole. 'Picture Perfect' was expected to be a single release, although with the extended success of 'With You' obviously these plans were changed. The premise behind the song is a girl being the picture of beauty. Big Boi represents Outkast as he features on 'Hold Up', that has that clunky friendly feel of many Outkast tracks. It's just a lot of fun. 'You' on the other hand is not fun, and its empty sound will almost make you unwilling to give it a chance. "Cause I did you wrong, now look at the damage."
08, Damage (4.16), 5*
09, Wall to Wall (3.43), 4*
I have no idea why, but when I hear 'Damage' is gives me a vision of sandy deserts, and at points the beat almost sounds so tragic its giving you thoughts of destroyed landscapes. Why on earth it does that I don't know, when the damage is referring to a destroyed relationship. A great example of Chris Brown's distinctive vocals however. 'Wall to Wall' is not a great advert for this album, as it sounds too much like something that would have been on his first project, and I think the fact this single wasn't very successful probably made Chris Brown pull his socks up and return his team to the studio to create some more grown-up tracks. The video on the other hand did show off his dancing ability, but with it being an immitation of the movie 'Blade' it wasn't exactly adult and in line with the audiance growing up with him.
10, Help Me (3.17), 3*
11, I Wanna Be (3.46), 4*
12, Gimme Whatcha Got ft. Lil Wayne (3.48), 4*
At this point 'Exclusive' is slightly leaning towards the more childish element of Chris Brown's persona, the one that has made appearances alongside Elmo on 'Seaseme Street'. Considering just how lenghty the album is, this isn't exactly a bad point and a good rest-period. 'Help Me' is another Outkast-feeling fun track, whilst 'I Wanna Be' turns the lights down to sing about being your girls soldier. Lil Wayne is currently trying to become as big to the UK audiances as he is to the US R&B, and to push his publicity they've released 'Lollipop' and referring to him as one of the most controversial characters in the States. Unfortunately, 'Whatcha Got', isn't representative of any controversy that may surround Lil Wayne, but does show Chris Brown fans another artist with a voice that stands out. The track sounds so happy you'll be forgiven for missing it's actually inviting you for backseat sex.
13, I'll Call Ya (3.53), 1*
14, Lottery (3.41), 2*
15,
Pictures of Exclusive: The Forever Edition - Chris Brown
'I'll Call Ya' and 'Lottery' come across as filler tracks before the next two huge featured artists, with 'Lottery' being the pick of the two as he relates getting a girls number to winning the lottery. 'Nice' sees more of an edge to the usual Chris Brown, and this probably stems from the fact that former G-Unit member, The Game, features. 'Down' features the biggest featured artist of the entire album in Kanye West, and the track is a lot more rock and roll than we've ever heard Chris Brown -- and by that I mean it has guitars in the background. Nothing major. Clearly both these featured artists have had busy schedules, because there is no other excuse for these last two tracks on the original 'Exclusive' not to be singles. "For this one night it's gon be me, you and the dancefloor."
17, Forever (4.39), 4*
18, Super Human ft. Keri Hilson (3.39), 5*
'Exclusive' certainly climaxed with two incredibly grown-up tracks, that showed Chris Brown attempting a few new tricks to his music. 'The Forever Edition' begins with the first single off the re-release, 'Forever', coincidently. The track is probably Chris Brown's biggest dance track to date, although it feels as though it is slightly cheap promotion for the album. Despite still being incredibly new, the track has already reached #9 on the US Billboard and became his fourth #1 in New Zealand (the most success he's had in any country) -- I have no idea why New Zealand are such huge fans. Upon promoting the new track he has also stated to MTV Base that he felt very fortunate he had been asked to repackage the album, and that he is constantly recording new material in the studio. Just as Rihanna has done with her re-release of 'Good Girl Gone Bad', Chris Brown and his label have recruited a featured artist for the new tracks. Keri Hilson is recently well known for her work with Timbaland on 'Way I Are'. With 'Super Human' I was expecting nothing more than another soppy ballad, and on second listen I had completely reversed my opinion. 'Super Human' is one of Chris Brown's best productions to date, and wouldn't look out of place on his third studio album.
19, Heart Ain't a Brain (), 2*
20, Picture Perfect (Remix) ft. Bow Wow and Hurricane Chris (), ?*
'Heart Ain't a Brain' is almost the opposite of 'Super Human', in that it seems to be Chris sitting back into concepts for songs that are better suited to boybands rather than an up and coming R&B act. 'Picture Perfect (Remix)' is also a questionable pick considering the original isn't that good in the first place, and Bow Wow is a poor-mans Chris Brown. I gave the original 'Exclusive' four-stars, and my opinion hasn't really changed. The new editions to the album keep the longevity of his second project going, and give hope to a third project, although I think it is important that he takes some time out and finds where he's going next. Unfortunately I can't see Chris Brown taking time out soon, and he seems to have characteristics of someone like Beyonce and Ne-Yo who never seem to leave the studio. Afterall, his recent work with Jordin Sparks and Lil Mama are just a couple of examples of the featured appearances he has been making.
'Exclusive: The Forever Edition' shows the type of people that want to work with Chris -- writers that have penned tracks for Britney Spears, and Scott Storch who has produced tracks for everyone. Whilst the re-release doesn't exactly tell us anything new about who wants to work with him next, Keri Hilson is a step in the right direction to a Timbaland production. And with Timbaland comes the names like Justin Timberlake, 50 Cent.. but I wouldn't want to get ahead of myself. 'Take You Down' has recently been announced as a single, and to accompy it is a video that shows Chris shirtless on tour and simulating sex on stage, making it his riskiest release to date. Fortunately for him if the track is panned, then he can put it down to a lack of promotion as he is currently concentrating more on 'Forever'. There is a lot of great tracks on this album, probably more than is on 'Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded' but whilst Rihanna feels as though she's peaking, Chris Brown feels as though he's just beginning.
Released: June 3rd, 2008.
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May 20th, 2008
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