Brandy is Human

Monday, 29 December 2008 in Music
Tags: album reviews, brandy, Camouflage, darkchild, Fall, human, long distance, music reviews, right here (departed), rodney jenkins, the definition

Since the last Brandy album i had purchased was her 1998’s Never Say Never, it would be unfair for me to do an honest review by comparing her new album, Human, to the one from a whopping decade ago.

But to be perfectly honest, the reason why i even picked up this album wasn’t because of any advertisements or from hearing her on the radio. In fact, this album release flew under the radar as most radio stations and media outlets had likely labelled her as a has-been. She’s no longer sittin’ on top of the world, top of the world, Top of the World; where she was once the R&B princess is now surrounded by the fierce competition of Beyonce, Rihanna or even Jennifer Hudson.

Yet there is something different about her. Call it nostalgia, call it old skool, but the second she sang the first note in The Definition and her voice had me transported back to my teenage years. I was surprised by her improvements in singing; her signature raspy voice has gotten increasingly more control and range over the years, and vocally speaking Human may be her best yet.

When your tears have dried from cryin’,
And the world has turned to silent,
When the clouds above have all departed,
You’ll be right here with me

In this album she has reconciled with her old anchor that is Rodney “Darkchild” Jenkins, and it is perhaps another hit of nostalgia that made the songs in this album work. The Angel in Disguise reference in the title track was also cute.

But that’s the problem. The songs in this album, consisted mostly of ballads, still sounded like they were from the late 90s. According to Wikipedia, Timbaland produced a few tracks but didn’t make it to the final cut. I gave this album two weeks to grow on me, but even then the rest of album beyond the first few tracks became homogeneous, to the point where I had to repeatedly check the track listing to see when the more-of-the-same buffet would be over. Some diversity in the songs would be very welcomed, if not required.

But make no mistake, the good tracks in the album are all very solid. I especially love The Definition as well as Right here (Departed). Warm It Up (With love) is addictive, which if not for an annoying loop in the background i wouldn’t mind recommending, while Fall, co-wrote by Natasha Bedingfield, makes a solid wrap-up for the album. It’s refreshing to listen to the Brandy that has moved on from all the anger and unhappiness and is fully embracing on being strong and independent. Overall, the notion is that unless you’re a diehard Brandy fan, otherwise purchase by tracks only.

Check out The Definition below and the track listing with the recommended ones marked with an asterisk*:

1. Human Intro
2. The Definition*
3. Warm It Up (With Love)* ^{(very skeptically)}
4. Right Here (Departed)*
5. Piano Man*
6. Long Distance Interlude
7. Long Distance
8. Camouflage*
9. Torn Down
10. Human
11. Shattered Heart
12. True
13. A Capella (Something’s Missing)
14. 1st & Love
15. Fall*
16. Gonna Find My Love (Bonus Track)