Zinc.
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Post by Zinc. on Jul 31, 2020 20:39:09 GMT -5
Got mines but haven't listened yet.
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babygirl
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Post by babygirl on Jul 31, 2020 20:41:31 GMT -5
Y'all too much lol
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babygirl
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Post by babygirl on Jul 31, 2020 20:46:43 GMT -5
Honestly from what I read on Twitter, I think Brandy is a very easy target for judgments, I have my doubts if this album were from another artist they would be receiving a certain type of criticism like its receiving right now
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Active Aggressive
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Post by Active Aggressive on Jul 31, 2020 20:56:59 GMT -5
Excited to listen in full. My CD arrives tomorrow.
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Post by B****BetterGetNOSL333P on Jul 31, 2020 21:05:21 GMT -5
The album has no melodies, what is she doing? SERIOUSLY.
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Relaxing Cup
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Post by Relaxing Cup on Jul 31, 2020 22:12:35 GMT -5
So bad I barfed 🤮
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mrricx
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Post by mrricx on Jul 31, 2020 22:15:11 GMT -5
I think y'all are definitely overreacting. That's a good album, and Rather Be is one of her best tracks in ages.
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babygirl
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Post by babygirl on Jul 31, 2020 22:19:38 GMT -5
I think y'all are definitely overreacting. That's a good album, and Rather Be is one of her best tracks in ages. facts...theres A LOT of overreaction on this topic lol
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mrricx
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Post by mrricx on Jul 31, 2020 22:21:39 GMT -5
I mean, it's not a great record, for sure, but not the mess they're painting either lol
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iHype.
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Post by iHype. on Jul 31, 2020 22:49:48 GMT -5
Honestly from what I read on Twitter, I think Brandy is a very easy target for judgments, I have my doubts if this album were from another artist they would be receiving a certain type of criticism like its receiving right now Honestly when I heard it and was surprised by how weak it was, I came in here expected it to still be praised regardless. Usually when a veteran who’s already proved themselves releases an album people tend to be nicer to them even if it weak compared to a new artist/artist at their peak. But yeah, for it to be getting such bad reception all around shows that there truly wasn’t much notable from this to the majority.
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Mazo
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Post by Mazo on Jul 31, 2020 23:59:40 GMT -5
Actually, the album sounds like the worst of 2/11 and Human with specks of Full Moon.
It has grown on me, but the album will be forgotten.
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Mazo
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Post by Mazo on Aug 1, 2020 0:06:07 GMT -5
Brandy, Monica, and Mya are artists that need a label. All three have proven they were a factor in ther downfalls. Yeah, Committment was nice and Mya has had cute songs, but it is the same redundant sound and lacklackuster material.
Brandy and Monica have always been studio singers meanng they just show up and sing was is given to them and aren’t artists.
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babygirl
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Post by babygirl on Aug 1, 2020 0:40:01 GMT -5
Honestly from what I read on Twitter, I think Brandy is a very easy target for judgments, I have my doubts if this album were from another artist they would be receiving a certain type of criticism like its receiving right now Honestly when I heard it and was surprised by how weak it was, I came in here expected it to still be praised regardless. Usually when a veteran who’s already proved themselves releases an album people tend to be nicer to them even if it weak compared to a new artist/artist at their peak. But yeah, for it to be getting such bad reception all around shows that there truly wasn’t much notable from this to the majority. Out forums I feel that ppl are feeling mixed about it but I see a lot os praise too, well...its impossible to please everyone that's a fact
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babygirl
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Post by babygirl on Aug 1, 2020 0:42:24 GMT -5
I must confess I first felt the album when I listened for the third time, the first hearing was like "okay?? what we got here?"
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Caviar
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Post by Caviar on Aug 1, 2020 0:46:48 GMT -5
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Caviar
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Post by Caviar on Aug 1, 2020 0:47:08 GMT -5
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joeymoon
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Post by joeymoon on Aug 1, 2020 1:09:45 GMT -5
Some of the criticism is a bit off base imo, hinging on sheer discontent, or what certain people expect from Brandy musically. Truth be told, Brandy honestly stopped being a simple “sing along” singer after Never Say Never, which is where some seem to want to keep her. Her music was a bit more cookie-cutter back then. I think the unconventional song structure and production/mixing is throwing people off. Brandy has a woodwind type of voice, so finding the right balance that highlights that rather than competes with it can be tricky. Brandy just doesn’t make flat out “bad” albums to me lol, all of them have replay value from the vocal content alone. She continues that pattern on this project. It’s too premature to say this is getting bad reception all around, it’s only been a day. I saw a lot of good feedback online.
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babygirl
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Post by babygirl on Aug 1, 2020 1:16:17 GMT -5
Some of the criticism is a bit off base imo, hinging on sheer discontent, or what certain people expect from Brandy musically. Truth be told, Brandy honestly stopped being a simple “sing along” singer after Never Say Never, which is where some seem to want to keep her. Her music was a bit more cookie-cutter back then. I think the unconventional song structure and production/mixing is throwing people off. Brandy has a woodwind type of voice, so finding the right balance that highlights that rather than competes with it can be tricky. Brandy just doesn’t make flat out “bad” albums to me lol, all of them have replay value from the vocal content alone. She continues that pattern on this project. It’s too premature to say this is getting bad reception all around, it’s only been a day. I saw a lot of good feedback online. The facts, now I get the box that she speaks, people are always trying to put her in!!! Well, for me issa yes
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SHOOTER
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Post by SHOOTER on Aug 1, 2020 2:29:55 GMT -5
Rather Be Say Something Love Again Bye Bipolar
I’m a Brandy diehard since 1994 and own every album, know most of them backwards and forwards, have seen her live several times and continued to support her in spite of her shitty attitude. She finally decided to embrace her “vocal Bible” title and sadly believed the hype to the detriment of this album. I’ve listened to on Bluetooth, with headphones and on my surround system and ain’t nobody convincing me a whole album of her whispering haikus and harmonizing in a tunnel is some kind of masterpiece. This. Ain’t. It.
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Ling-Ling
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Post by Ling-Ling on Aug 1, 2020 8:57:50 GMT -5
So what we're not going to do, is come into a Brandy thread and tell a bunch of Brandy diedhards how they should feel about this album and make up a bunch of lame excuses as to why they really don't like it. Everyone who has issues with this album has stated explicitly why they don't like it.
It has nothing to do with us wanting cookie-cutter from her, it has nothing to do with us wanting another NSN, it has nothing to do with the fact that we didn't listen with headphones and it especially has nothing to with the fact that we don't like it simply because it's Brandy (not sure how that even makes sense).
If you like the album, then by all means, like it. I'm glad somebody does. But stop trying to invalidate or explain away other people's opinions.
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Post by Sounds from the Other Side on Aug 1, 2020 9:05:34 GMT -5
I'm disappointed by the album. It's a decent effort but I was hoping for a stronger album.
The first two tracks are terrible, I was scared to continue the listening of the album but the rest is not as bad.
I agree that the album is not very melodic. It's definitely my least favorite album of hers, it's kind of boring.
Songs I love :
Borderline Love Again (this song has grown on me a lot ! It's my favorite song on the album along with "Borderline") Baby Mama Say Something
Songs I like :
Rather Be I Am More No Tomorrow
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Post by Live Your Life on Aug 1, 2020 12:43:23 GMT -5
I hope no one showed her this....
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Caviar
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Post by Caviar on Aug 1, 2020 13:37:08 GMT -5
Im glad he’s promoting. I hate they broke up.
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joeymoon
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Post by joeymoon on Aug 1, 2020 15:22:48 GMT -5
So what we're not going to do, is come into a Brandy thread and tell a bunch of Brandy diedhards how they should feel about this album and make up a bunch of lame excuses as to why they really don't like it. Everyone who has issues with this album has stated explicitly why they don't like it. It has nothing to do with us wanting cookie-cutter from her, it has nothing to do with us wanting another NSN, it has nothing to do with the fact that we didn't listen with headphones and it especially has nothing to with the fact that we don't like it simply because it's Brandy (not sure how that even makes sense). If you like the album, then by all means, like it. I'm glad somebody does. But stop trying to invalidate or explain away other people's opinions. If you somehow felt that what I said was an attempt to “invalidate” yours or anyone else’s opinions, that’s on you. You took offense. Not my problem, not my concern. I was only trying to offer a different perspective. I’m not sure why that’s such a huge point of contention with you. If hating this gives you the validation you’re looking for, then by all means, have at it. You won’t do it at my expense ✌🏾
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🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲
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Post by 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 on Aug 1, 2020 16:51:24 GMT -5
Rather Be Say Something Love Again Bye BipolarI’m a Brandy diehard since 1994 and own every album, know most of them backwards and forwards, have seen her live several times and continued to support her in spite of her s**tty attitude. She finally decided to embrace her “vocal Bible” title and sadly believed the hype to the detriment of this album. I’ve listened to on Bluetooth, with headphones and on my surround system and ain’t nobody convincing me a whole album of her whispering haikus and harmonizing in a tunnel is some kind of masterpiece. This. Ain’t. It. :kii:
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bat1990
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Post by bat1990 on Aug 1, 2020 20:20:28 GMT -5
I don't think it's her worst album, but I also don't know if I want to listen to it again.
The vocals and the vibe were fantastic and it sounded like REAL FUCKING R&B and sonically a nice blend of Full Moon and Afrodisiac, BUT...
I agree with several in this thread that none of the songs, other than "Baby Mama" and a few others, really stand out.
Also her use of "r****d" and "sch***o" really turned me off, especially knowing she wrote the material herself. I would be more forgiving about those words being on the album if this were the follow-up to Afrodisiac in 2006/7, but not in 2020.
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Active Aggressive
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Post by Active Aggressive on Aug 1, 2020 22:07:01 GMT -5
This album is...weird. I've never been into the stream-of-consciousness freeform poetry that some of these new R&B girls are doing. Even at her previous worst (Human), Brandy has at least had hooks and melodies. Not a complete waste, but I definitely feel it's her worst. She sounds great though, but I expected that much. The way she has been going on about this album, I actually expected a masterpiece, but I should have remembered who were are dealing with. Anyway, I'm not mad because I used Amazon points I had stored up and they actually gave me a dollar back today LOL.
Love Again (glad she included this because it's the best song on the album by FAR and has a hook!) Say Something (this is legit great) I Am More (HATE that R-word use, but this is still one of the strongest songs on the album) Rather Be Borderline No Tomorrow Baby Mama (this is much better in context of the album) High Heels (I can't tell the difference between her daughter and her) Unconditional Oceans Bye Bipolar Lucid Dreams Saving All My Love (I was hoping this would be a Whitney cover...)
The All My Life interludes add absolutely NOTHING.
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$uperb@tDuDe
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Post by $uperb@tDuDe on Aug 1, 2020 22:59:57 GMT -5
Brandy and Monica have always been studio singers meanng they just show up and sing was is given to them and aren’t artists. This isn't even remotely true in Brandy's case, she has plenty of song writing and producing credits on her older albums. She produces a lot of her vocals as well, all those harmonies and riffs are her creations.
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🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲
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Post by 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 on Aug 1, 2020 23:07:06 GMT -5
This album is...weird. I've never been into the stream-of-consciousness freeform poetry that some of these new R&B girls are doing. Even at her previous worst (Human), Brandy has at least had hooks and melodies. Not a complete waste, but I definitely feel it's her worst. She sounds great though, but I expected that much. The way she has been going on about this album, I actually expected a masterpiece, but I should have remembered who were are dealing with. Anyway, I'm not mad because I used Amazon points I had stored up and they actually gave me a dollar back today LOL. Love Again (glad she included this because it's the best song on the album by FAR and has a hook!) Say Something (this is legit great) I Am More (HATE that R-word use, but this is still one of the strongest songs on the album) Rather Be Borderline No Tomorrow Baby Mama (this is much better in context of the album) High Heels (I can't tell the difference between her daughter and her)Unconditional Oceans Bye Bipolar Lucid Dreams Saving All My Love (I was hoping this would be a Whitney cover...) The All My Life interludes add absolutely NOTHING. So true. Wasn't what I had expected at all. I thought it would be a full on duet more in the same vein as Whitney and her mother's collab on the "Whitney" album. This duet felt so half-assed. It hardly ever felt her daughter was on it.
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🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲
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Post by 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 on Aug 1, 2020 23:14:36 GMT -5
Welp, the reviews are in. So far.....the album has an average rating of 75/100 from "Album of the Year" site.
Here are some of them...
Clash editor Robin Murray called the album "a triumph. A record worth savouring, it sits alongside NewGen R&B talent [...] while retaining that classic touch. A master of the form, it’s a joy to have Brandy back in our lives."
Teodor Zetko, writing for Exclaim!, found that with B7 "Brandy has returned to her roots and the aesthetics that helped popularize her [...]. Authenticity is present on this album; she confidently steers her own ship by taking a new approach by writing every song on the album to create something personal [...] She was the moment in the '90s, and now she is the moment in 2020."
Chicago Defender journalist Kimberly M. Dobine felt that "there are parts of the album that I wish were a bit more elaborate and developed from a lyrical standpoint, but overall, I have a strong appreciation for the album [...] It’s cohesive, and the most honest reflection of who she is as an artist today. She is back and better than ever."
Michigan Chronicle critic Ashley Stevenson wrote that "throughout the album, Brandy toys with techno undertones without losing her iconic sultriness bending her voice to each track, even doing some rapping. Although the album is met with mild moments of mediocrity, it never lacks enticement." Stevenson added: "B7 is a vibe, a Saturday morning groove that you can burn candles or sage to. A nod that it is never too late to elevate and evolve; time is a construct and true artistry is never elusive."
Mike Weiss from Idolator wrote that "this project shows new facets of her wonderful instrument as she muses on matters of the heart over multi-layered, often mid-tempo production. In short, B7 is a mood. This is the kind of album that needs to be listened to from beginning to end (a couple of times), in order to fully appreciate the very personal journey that Brandy takes us on."
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