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| Title: | "Anytime" |
| Artist: | Brian Mc Knight |
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"Anytime" is the third album from Mercury Records
for "Brian McKnight." His previous albums have currently
sold in excess of 2,000,000 units total, laying a foundation
for "Anytime" to lead him to multi-platinum status. Brian has established himself as a musician with multiple talents. He has maintained an artistic excellence, creating music for everyone from Quincy Jones to Boyz II Men. With "Anytime," he wanted to stretch out and try something different, so he reached out to other songwriters. For McKnight, who is used to producing all his own material, giving up the production reins proved challenging. "It was a double-edge sword," he said, "I found it very different to be recording and having other people tell me what they wanted. At the same time, hearing what they laid down really made me step up what I did on my own." Brian join forces with some unlikely but ultimately very compatible partners. He wrote 9 out of this album's 12 tracks but "Anytime" showcases material written and/or produced by other primetime players such as Mary J. Blige, Diane Warren (whose numerous hits includes "Unbreak My Heart"), Trackmasterz, Keith Thomas, and Sean 'Puffy' Combs. With this rich combination, the album becomes the greatest that Brian has ever recorded. Raised in a musical family, Brian grew up knowing that making music would be his life. The youngest of five brothers, Brian sang gospel as a child and eventually turned his music sights to jazz. Heavily influenced by both Stevie Wonder and Wynton Marsalis, Brian formed a jazz-fusion group at the age of 17. In 1989, Brian spent most of his free time at a local studio, Sound Cell. There he cranked out songs, sometimes upward of three a day. By the end of the summer, Brian had aggregated 65 songs. "I couldn't be stopped," Brian recalls, "now I had to convince some record exec that I had the goods." Mercury records was so highly impressed, they signed Brian when he was just 19. The first cut on this album is also called "Anytime" - a rich mellow blend of harmony. Brian's soft voice dances tenderly through your soul. A beautifully done piece that deals with the hopefully reminiscent state of someone who is missing that lost love. The combination of piano and Brian's vocals is enough to make you choke back the tears. Following is another romantic song, "Could." "I'm alone at nights/ I don't know what I'm gonna do/ Trying to figure out if this is it, this time/ Just can't stop thinking/ Just the way you make me feel inside/ I can't get you off my mind/ No matter how hard I try/ Could you be the one for me/ Could we dance the night away/ I want to give you everything/ Though I don't have much/ Could you fall in love with me/ Could you love me the rest of my life/ Could you forever be the one for me, this time." A very romantic song that would set the mood, on any given quixotic evening. Brian hooks up with Sean 'Puffy' Combs and produces "You Should Be Mine (don't waste your time)," the first hit single off of this album, teaming up with rapper MASE on vocals The combination of these three major talents is electrifying. Brian and Mace compliment each other in this radio friendly, dynamic blend resulting in one hot track. Another beautiful song is written by Diane Warren, who has written #1 songs for Celine Dion and Toni Braxton, "Show Me the Way Back to Your Heart." Listening to this song, Brian is exquisite. Very moving and very emotional. Looks like both Brian and Diane have another #1 hit song here. "The Only One For Me" blends a meek backgound track with exhilarating vocals that embrace the fulfillment of finding true love. "Till I Get Over You" blends in a little "fairy tale" musical touch to help emphasize the heart of the song. The guitar and the percussion on "I Belong To You" originate a rhythmicality that Brian uses masterfully. "Jam Jock" continues the party flavor that Brian and Mase started earlier. Which brings us to the the album's elevating closer "When The Chariot Comes." Brian has a unique, indicative style, that embraces beauty, sincerity, and the loveliest, romantic dreams ever. I highly recommend this album, especially for those special evenings. |
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| Title: | "STACKIN' CHIPS" |
| Artist: | 3 X KRAZY |
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"3 X Krazy," or Three Times Krazy, depending on
whether you're reading the band's bio drawn up by their record
label, or their album cover, is comprised of members Bart, Keek
the Sneek, and Agerman. "Stackin ' Chips" is their
first Noo Trybe/Virgin release. The story of the birth of the
band goes like this: "Me and Bart, we been in the group
since '92. We had a group called "Too Raw" in Junior
High. . .actually I was solo and I just knew Agerman, he was
always my partner. . ." Keek says. "I was luffin' hella
schools," Bart adds. "I knew Bart all my life, and
then one day I seen him and I was like, 'what you doin?' And
he was like, 'I'm rappin'. . ." I kicked him a tape of me
and Keek in the cut and we just started vibing after that,"
Agerman says. Make of that what you will. Noo Trybe/Virgin heads the band's bio with the description "A new level of Oakland sound." Adds Agerman, "We starting a whole new level of Oakland Sound, lettin' 'em know it ain't just (Too) $hort, it's not just The Luniz, it's a gang of flavor." Okay. so, does the album live up to this portrayal of nothing old, something new, etc? Is this album a collection of innovative styles and sounds destined to set it apart from and above countless other like-styled albums being released into the urban/rap market each year? If the rating above hasn't given it away yet, the answer is no. Truth is, dear readers, I've heard it done before, and done much better. For whatever reason, the promise of a "new sound" is nowhere to be found on this album. While the musicianship is competent, and the production and special-effects are quite good on some tracks, I couldn't help but feel that the material itself was limp and stale, like a Caesar salad that has been left on the kitchen counter overnight. You know - no flavor, no body, just a combination of average, run-of-the-mill elements that have all been tossed together, over and over and over again, until it's nothing more than an indistinct-sounding mess just waiting for someone to come along and throw it out. I guess when I'm promised something new, I expect just that; and I can't help but feel sorely disappointed, even a bit crooked, if I find that what's inside the package doesn't match what it promises on the outside. "Stackin' Chips" is an album echoing the Oakland Sound, a musical style made popular by artists like MC Pooh, Too $hort, Richie Rich, The Luniz, and Dru Down. The album is compiled of mainly hardcore compositions, with lyrics that reflect life in the streets of East Oakland; and relate tales of the harsh realities of ghetto life - a reality awash in drugs, guns, hustlers and wholesale violence. There is a Parental Advisory for explicit content stamped on the cover, so parents, take note. As for the album itself - if you can't seem to get enough of turf-style rap, and don't mind the monotony of what is fast becoming a generic sound, then "Stackin' Chips" may well be the album of your dreams. Otherwise, don't bother. |
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| Title: | "RATED NEXT" |
| Artist: | NEXT |
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Two short years ago, R.L. (20), Tweety (21) and T-Low (23),
members of the Twin Cities-based trio "Next" were self-described
"ghetto celebrities," singing at every club in the
Minneapolis/St. Paul area. From Sabathani Community Center, where
the young men performed regularly, to Arnelia's, where the group
had to win talent competitions for four weeks straight in order
to pick up the $400 grand prize, "Next" made a name
for themselves in a metropolis that has produced such talent
as the Artist formerly known as Prince, the Time, and hit makers
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. With the release of their debut album,
"Rated Next," the trio is set to become not only the
Twin Cities' latest contribution to Pop/R&B music, but also the
first group to be released through Kay Gee's (Naughty By Nature)
Divine Mill/AristaRecords label imprint. "Next," who are managed by Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit Management, hooked up in 1992 when brothers T-Low and Tweety decided to form a group. The two had previously met R.L. through their uncle, who was director of a local gospel choir. T-Low remembered R.L.'s voice and style, and thought that their sound would blend nicely. The trio began rehearsing together in the home of T-Low's godmother, Sounds of Blackness lead vocalist Ann Nesby, who trained and managed the group for a while. The young men quickly moved to performing club dates and showcases together. In fact, one showcase led to a major label offering R.L. a recording contract. But the group felt strongly about sticking together. In 1994, at a performance for Minneapolis' popular June Tenth Celebration, "Next met Low-Key's Prof T and Lance. "They saw us perform a ballad that Tweety wrote called "Slow Down," says R.L. "They came backstage afterwards and said they wanted to work with us on some production. They began taking us around to (Jam & Lewis') Flyte Tyme and cutting demos with us." Some of the songs from that session, the filthy "Sextude" and erotic "Phone Sex," ended up on "Rated Next." In the summer of 1995, "Next" got a copy of their demo into the hands of KayGee, who was in Minneapolis on tour with Naughty By Nature. "We weren't supposed to give out any of the music, but when you're hungry you take chances," admits Tweety. A few weeks later, Kay Gee invited the trio to visit him in New Jersey to talk about a deal. "We were really excited but we knew there was a chance that things wouldn't work out the way we thought they would," says R.L. But the group realized things were serious, when during their visit, they went to see Naughty By Nature perform at the Apollo Theater and came across a souvenir fan that listed them as a part of the group's new stable of acts. But while "Next" was ready to move forward with recording their debut album, KayGee was still working out the details of his Divine Mill label imprint. In the interim, the trio returned to Minneapolis to continue working with Prof T and Lance. "Waiting was difficult, but Kay Gee kept telling us to be patient and that he was definitely going to take care of us," says T-Low. "It was hard explaining to our family and friends why we were making so many sacrifices for something that wasn't 100 percent, but we kept with the faith and it all paid off in the end." The introduction to "Rated Next" is quite a teaser. With warnings of inappropriate conversation, just like you'd hear on cable TV with a rated "R" program. This is some incredibly sexy and relaxing music. Just the thing to put a first date at ease, or on their toes. The album features songs such as "Sextude," and the erotic song "Phone Sex." Quite a surprise from this trio that has gospel ties. "Cozy" will definitely put you in the mood, or at least make you feel comfortable if you are uptight. This album is full of sex, romance and wonderful style and sound. "Penetration" has a slight hint of rap, but not too much so for my taste. Whatever "Next" was trying to achieve with this album, they have achieved it, in my opinion. It's a keeper. |
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