House, R&B, Soul & Rap > Contemporary R&B House, R&B, Soul & Rap > Pop R&B > EMI

Advantages: Some big hits
Disadvantages: Some lesser songs which may not appeal to some people

...This album is a new Greatest Hits collection as you can tell from the not very imaginative title. It's about 9 or 10 years since the last "Best of" was released. Alex has been better received in the UK than anywhere else and more or less lives here now. The album cover shows a rather suave looking Alex. Here's a track listing. 1. Never Knew Love Like This 2. Innocent/Alex 9000/Innocent II 3. Fake 4. All True Man 5. Criticise 6. Saturday Love ...
...9. (What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me 10. The Lovers 11. What's Missing 12. A Broken Heart Can Mend 13. What Is This Thing Called Love? 14. You Were Meant To Be My Lady (Not My Girl) 15. Love Makes No Sense I won't give a track-by-track long description but I will discuss my favourite songs. The opening track sets the tone for the whole album. This is a smooth, sexy soul collection and the songs are either slow soul or funky soul. The first ... Read review

Advantages: Professional, slick and easy going.
Disadvantages: A few unmemorable tracks.

...melodies and sensual vocals "The First Lady" is Faith's best effort to date. Finally we are privilaged to experience an album that was decades in the making. There is a personal touch to this album that her previous efforts lacked. Faith is now feeling better and looking better than ever and it really shows. Seemingly unaffected by the shift in the R&B market of today Faith settles for smooth yet slick. Faith seems aware she's a little older and ...
...and establishes herself as the first lady. Typical chart topper but infectious. Perhaps the chorus could've done with a little more inspiration. "Again" is the lead single and a fine tune to cruise along to. It tells of Faith's struggles and addictions whilst remaining positive and strong. Bit of an old-school flavour - a definate contender for the best song on the album. "I Don't Need It" and "Stop N Go" have a unique feel that translates well. ... Read review

Advantages: Contains 5 U.K Top 40 hits
Disadvantages: Not enough up-tempo numbers

...for love ballads on The Force Behind The Power album which saw Diana Ross zoom back into the Top 10 charts in the U.K and catapulted her back into view with the media. There were 5 U.K Top 40 entries, two of those going Top 10. The album would be variably produced by James Anthony Carmichael, Stevie Wonder and Diana herself. Apparently she turned to old Motown stable mates Smokey Robinson and the record labels founder, Berry Gordy for inspiration ...
...what I sing well". The Force Behind The Power was carefully conceived and stands as one of her most timeless collaborations in the latter-day Ross catlogue. The breathtakingly beautiful ballad, When You Tell Me That You Love Me was once said by Diana to be a definitive record she would like to be remembered by. Tugging emotivley with the lyrics and the sparse, vibrant orchestrations makes this one of her all-time great ballads. Dianas performance ... Read review

Advantages: The urban R&B material
Disadvantages: Some of the ballads are just routine

...to be credited on the Take Me Higher album. These include Diana Ross herself, The Boom Brothers (a U.S Rap Group), Naranda Michael Walden (who also produced various work for another soul diva Whitney Houston), Rick Martinelli and Jon-John. Renowned producer Babyface puts his excellent production skills into full use on the more urban R&B/Hip Hop offerings (Swing It and Keep It Right There). Diana Ross obviously was wanting to hit the charts again ...
...The rip-roaring title track, Take Me Higher was inevitably lifted as the projects debut single. This fun, bouncy number was neatly blended into a striking transistion of Dance/R&B and Diana sounds utterly fantastic. The song is bursting out with energy and this proves to be the perfect vehicle for the modern-day Diana Ross sound. She had modernised her vocal approach and whilst not losing its original qualities, Diana does sound more hip and like ... Read review

Advantages: Lots of variety
Disadvantages: A few weaker tracks

"Certified" is the fourth album from the Mississippi rapper David Banner. I thought that I had to go back seeing that I enjoyed his latest 2008 release, "The Greatest Story Ever Told" so much, so I thought that I would see similar quality from this 2005 piece, which has him do both the rapping and a fair proportion of the production. 1. "Lost Souls" To get things going we drive straight into some straight Dirty South rap. I found that he was effective ...
...wislt managing ito integrate his influences of Rock into things with some guitar work too. **Three Stars** 2. "Treat Me Like A" (feat. Jadakiss) I still don't get how Jadakiss keeps thinking he can on some Crunk beats, but he does it once again as Lil' Jon does the production, and aside the parts which Jada takes up, it is a strong Hip Hop cut for the clubs. **Four Stars** 3. "Gangsta Walk" (feat. Three 6 Mafia, Marcus, 8Ball & MJG) On this one ... Read review