Brandy - Full Moon

-REVIEW INTRO-

Brandy Norwood, a young lady that took the music industry by storm a few years back with her self titled debut, and her even better sophomoric effort "Never Say Never". It appeared Brandy was a name that was going to be fixed into the mind of r&b and hip hop with hits like "Sittin up in my room", "That Boy is Mine", and "Never Say Never". Unfortunately, Brandy decided to explore other parts of her talent and went into acting. She has been busy on the long running "Moesha" on UPN, and in a few movies that sucked ass like "I still know what you did last summer", and the made for tv musical "Cinderella". So, now Brandy tries to go back to do what she did best. Has she been away from the game to long?

-TRACK RUN-DOWN-

1. B Rocka Intro – I already see that this is going to be one of the longest cd's I've ever had to listen to. On this wack as intro, Darkchild (Rodnery Jerkins) beat comes through sounding like the god awful creation on Brandy's first single from this album. Brandy then says she's not playing, and this is serious. Judging by the sound of this track, its not really that serious.

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2. Full Moon – On this track, Brandy says that when a guy walked up in the club, she's been giving him the eye. It must be one of 'those' nights, and it must be a full moon. I know Brandy's voice isn't all that strong, but I don't recall her relying on computer engineering so much on the last album to make a track. If it wasn't for this rapid fire delivery of the hook, this song would be pretty hard to listen to with another convoluted beat that makes the listener feel like they have to work to enjoy it.

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3. I Thought – Another fast paced Darkchild track, and like the current feel of the album. Its not working out too well. On this track, Brandy claims how she really liked some guy and thought that they would be...but he made a fool of her. So far, this is the best track on the album..and its not really easy on the ear itself.

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4. When You Touch Me – I'm really glad Brandy decides to slow it down to mid-tempo, as I was seriously beginning to think my head was going to explode thanks to this god awful beats. On this track, Brandy decides that this is the night she wants to give back to her boyfriend. Its a solid little song, but with her current selection of tracks to release as singles. I don't see this song getting the light of day.

$1.10

5. Like This – The use of Organs and the seductive/sweet content of this song make this song tolerable. Unfortunately, Brandy knows what the song is about...and changes/alters her voice to fit the context. DON'T DO THAT! Its basically telling me what I need to feel. Sing the damn song normally, and I will. Anyway, aside from that...I think this song is cool.

$1.00

"Please touch me like this, please hold me like this. Please love me like this. I need you like this." - Brandy

6. All In Me – This song has a magical/dream beat going on at the start that gives me one feel, and then another beat comes in under that to kind of fuck that up. GOD DAMN. Not every producer has to have beats as complicated as Timbaland and Dre, do what you can do. Towards the end of this song, Brandy starts talking in double time. Not only making the song go further to shit, but causes the mish mash of a beat to speed up causing more brain pains. Atlantic is actually planning to release this? Man, times must be hard.

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7. Apart – This song goes on some jungle type of vibe, with Brandy once again relying on electronics to get her voice across. Another song that has too much going on for its own good. On this song Brandy talks about a man who's always complaining in the relationship, so maybe he'll appreciate her more when she leaves him. Anyone got that Ray J album around?

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8. Can We – Brandy talks over a futuristic beat, where she asks her man if they can work through the problems they are having in the relationship. Had this beat been 50 times slower, and was actually sung. This song could be hot....unfortunately its not.

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9. What About Us? - First single, and I'm sorry this song sound like Rodney Jerkins took a bunch of beats and threw them all together for one song. This track is wack....the pure definition of it. Lyrics, singing, and beat. Shit on me for even talking this long about it.

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10. Anybody – Another song featuring a muffled voiced Brandy. I'm starting to notice a problem. Luckily the beat, and the style that Brandy uses to spit on the chorus and match the beat make this one of the better tracks on the album. All I need is for her to speak the fuck up, so someone could understand her. On this track, Brandy speaks on those relationships where what they do when they are alone, she doesn't want anybody to know.

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11. Nothing – An actual ballad? Can that happen on this cd?!? Brandy sings about how nobody knows how she feels now that she's away from her former lover. Brandy has never been the most blessed person vocally, but she always managed to work her ass off with what she had. She does what she can with a track that a lot of people will be able to relate to.

$2.00

12. It's Not Worth It – On this song, Brandy says that she didn't mean to make her man cry and that its not worth it to end what they had over what happened. A mid tempo ballad that works very well, and makes me question what idiot picked "What about us?" as the lead off single. Also, I may be losing my mind, but I can swear I hear Michael Jackson's voice in the background...and using him is just an added bonus to this solid song.

$2.50

"Don't tell me you want out of this. Don't say its time for us to quit. Don't say goodbye, cause this can't be it. Baby please, cause it's not worth it." - Brandy

13. He Is – Brandy sings about all the thing that her man 'is' on this slow paced, piano chorded ballad. Not really feeling this track, but the lyrics are nice.

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14. Come a little closer – Ok, I'm giving a little notice to Atlantic here. Before this album is released. YOu need to do a little re-ordering of this cd. To have all the crappy fast paced tracks at the beginning of the album, and then all the slow paced track at the end make the cd very un-even. Anyway, on this track Brandy sings about how she wants her man to come a little bit closer and that she wants to hold him and how she will be good to him. I think this song is in the hands of the wrong person, but in the hands of say..Deborah Cox or Mariah Carey..this shit would be dangerous.

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15. Love Wouldn't Count Me Out – Go ahead...guess. Yep, you're right. Another ballad. Here Brandy sings about how her man said that she couldn't live without her, but now wants to be apart from her. I think I have my favorite song on the album.

$3.50

"It used to be that you couldn't live without me. But now you think you're better without me. So, now its over. I guess it wasn't true when you said I love you. Cause love just wouldn't count me out." - Brandy

16. Wow – Ballad central continues, but it goes really corny here. On this track Brandy sings 'Wow' about how much better her life is with her new man compared to her old one. Wow, I can't believe someone wrote this.

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17. Another Day In Paradise (ft. Ray J) – Just when you thought it was clear that Ray J wouldn't be on this album. Anyway, Brandy and Ray J tell a story about how people need to think twice about being mean and honary to people, because you've been granted another day in paradise. Nice concept, but Ray J.?

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