stunnedout
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Post by stunnedout on Apr 6, 2018 0:05:26 GMT -5
I’m mad they are still working with Foster & McElroy.
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Zinc.
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Post by Zinc. on Apr 6, 2018 0:17:03 GMT -5
It's great album, much better than TLC's last effort. Love the hint of EDM on some tracks. The album flows nicely. The album's production is stellar as well, surprisingly for an e-One release.
Blue Skies Rocket Life Love The Way Ocean Deeps I'm Good So Serious
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stunnedout
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Post by stunnedout on Apr 6, 2018 0:22:03 GMT -5
Great interview. That medley was a bit off, and I still want Dawn and Max back. LOL
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Zinc.
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Post by Zinc. on Apr 6, 2018 11:28:21 GMT -5
AllMusic
3.5/5
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SHOOTER
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Post by SHOOTER on Apr 6, 2018 11:35:32 GMT -5
#5 on iTunes R&B and #52 on the main chart. They better sell enough to chart for a week at least!
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Zinc.
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Post by Zinc. on Apr 6, 2018 12:04:24 GMT -5
I'm worried even Kylie Minogue doing better.
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Nick
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Post by Nick on Apr 6, 2018 19:43:42 GMT -5
At their best.
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SHOOTER
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Post by SHOOTER on Apr 6, 2018 21:50:37 GMT -5
Déjà Vu Rocket Reach 4 Me Oceans Deep Have a Seat I’m Good
Their voices are pristine but I don’t love this as much as I wanted to. Foster & McElroy are definitely the weak link of the album (DJ aside) because the electronic flourishes they added to the productions sound cheap and/or dated while the rest of the producers contributed some contemporary flavor to the album without trend chasing or trying too hard.
That said, I hope this being released via En Vogue Records and eOne distributing means there will be another single because Urban AC deserves Reach 4 Me.
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stunnedout
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Post by stunnedout on Apr 6, 2018 23:12:52 GMT -5
After listening in full., this is hands down their worst album. Soul flower was much better than this. Foster/McElroy are trash. I don’t know how they produced the first two albums so well and everything since has been trash.
Dem Jointz did a good job on his 2 tracks. Reach 4 Me sounds like the only single left.
I will say the song Electric Cafe is a guilty pleasure. It’s really different and gives me some old Prince with the 80s feel. That track is a fun listen, but I have no idea what it’s about.
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SHOOTER
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Post by SHOOTER on Apr 7, 2018 3:40:38 GMT -5
Maybe just because it’s fresher but I’ll still probably revisit this more than Masterpiece Theatre. That’s their one album I’ve never cared for.
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Ty
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Post by Ty on Apr 7, 2018 14:00:58 GMT -5
I'm not familiar with their catalog at all, but dang, this is a pretty strong album! "Electric Cafe" and "Reach 4 Me" are my favorites apart from the singles.
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bat1990
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Post by bat1990 on Apr 7, 2018 14:59:04 GMT -5
This exceeded my expectations!! My only critiques after three listens are that the title track is a little boring and same-y and the "bonus track" of Have a Seat w/o Snoop feels redundant. Otherwise, I am extremely pleased with the results. I hope they don't take nearly so long for the next one.
Also, "I'm Good" is one of the weakest songs so I don't know what they were thinking releasing it as a single.
EDIT: I take it back. "Electric Cafe" the song is a Pointer Sisters-inspired bop that my roommate and I just danced around the kitchen to. "I'm Good" is the only song I started skipping after five listens.
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stunnedout
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Post by stunnedout on Apr 7, 2018 23:33:04 GMT -5
Maybe just because it’s fresher but I’ll still probably revisit this more than Masterpiece Theatre. That’s their one album I’ve never cared for. I love Masterpiece Theater! No no no cant come back, love u crazy, fallin in love, love wont take me out, sad but true, beat of love, those dogs, number one man. It took me years to love that album because it wasn't the EnVogue i wanted, but its a great cohesive album.
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SHOOTER
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Post by SHOOTER on Apr 8, 2018 1:18:38 GMT -5
Was supposed to be included on the album but I assume they couldn’t clear whatever sample Dem Jointz used.
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bat1990
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Post by bat1990 on Apr 8, 2018 21:21:08 GMT -5
I can't stop listening to this! It's sequenced so well. "Oceans Deep" must be a Rhona jam because she has lead through most of it. I love how many styles and genres are explored and there's not too much of any one sound.
I wonder if Dawn and Max listened to the album in private. They'll probably never tell....
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Ling-Ling
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Post by Ling-Ling on Apr 9, 2018 8:00:10 GMT -5
It's pretty good. I can't remember a single song on Soul Flower, I probably need to revisit, but this is on par with Masterpiece Theater IMO (actually more consistent). Some interesting production choices, some of them work, some of them don't. And the vocal mixing on some tracks could be better. This is En Vogue, I want those vocals crystal f**king clear. "Reach 4 Me," "Rocket," and the Snoopless "Have A Seat" (what kind of throwback bop? your granny is going to live) are my favs. That little dancier streak of songs from "Electric Café" to "Oceans Deep" is borderline cheesy (the title song especially), but super fun. And "I'm Good," "Deja Vu," "So Serious," and "Blue Skies" are all solid.
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newpower
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Post by newpower on Apr 9, 2018 9:25:57 GMT -5
This ended up being better than I expected. A little disappointed about I’m Good, I was expecting more from Raphael Saadiq but in general and enjoyed the album and will be coming back to it.
My expectaction were low given the quality that we are getting from 90s acts trying to make a comeback (think Jodeci, Silk, 112, Jagged Edge, TLC and a few more that I can’t remember)... It seems the best they can do it’s just OK or worst.
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bat1990
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Post by bat1990 on Apr 9, 2018 12:02:08 GMT -5
I want to rank this amongst their albums, but I need to see how it holds up with time. Soul Flower holds a special place in my heart even though it was a huge flop but EV3 and Masterpiece Theater were just lacking for me.
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George
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Post by George on Apr 12, 2018 17:12:06 GMT -5
With 73% of the sales in, HDD has the album at:
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SHOOTER
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Post by SHOOTER on Apr 12, 2018 21:01:50 GMT -5
At least they’ll chart.
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bat1990
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Post by bat1990 on Apr 13, 2018 14:59:23 GMT -5
Isn't that higher than Toni's debut?
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Zinc.
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Post by Zinc. on Apr 13, 2018 17:20:27 GMT -5
HDD FINAL
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SHOOTER
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Post by SHOOTER on Apr 13, 2018 22:43:56 GMT -5
So they’ll round up to 3k with streaming and debut somewhere in the 100s. Heartbreaking but better than not charting at all.
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Nick
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Post by Nick on Apr 14, 2018 8:57:53 GMT -5
I'm worried even Kylie Minogue doing better. From what I read in the HITS thread, she didn't chart.
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stunnedout
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Post by stunnedout on Apr 16, 2018 2:30:37 GMT -5
This is first Ev album I’m not buying. I even have an autographed copy of Soul Flower, but I can’t with this album. I’ll just stream Reach 4 Me, Rocket and the title track. The good news is Masterpiece Theater is back in heavy rotation for me. That album is truly a masterpiece for me! The only song I really hate is Riddle.
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Zinc.
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Post by Zinc. on Apr 17, 2018 8:15:27 GMT -5
Independent Albums 14 New 1 Electric Cafe - En Vogue
Top Current Albums 61 New 1 Electric Cafe - En Vogue
Top Album Sales 69 New 1 Electric Cafe - En Vogue (2,616)
R&B/Hip-Hop Album Sales 12 New 1 Electric Cafe - En Vogue
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SHOOTER
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Post by SHOOTER on Apr 17, 2018 10:54:46 GMT -5
Crazy how streaming impacts the Top 200; they sold 2,600 and didn't chart there while Eric Bellinger sold half of that and charted at #192.
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George
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Post by George on Apr 17, 2018 14:22:33 GMT -5
Crazy how streaming impacts the Top 200; they sold 2,600 and didn't chart there while Eric Bellinger sold half of that and charted at #192. DAAAAMN. Well, I'm glad they charted somewhere. Kinda wish it had made the Billboard 200, but oh well.
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Zinc.
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Post by Zinc. on Apr 18, 2018 15:19:55 GMT -5
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Nick
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Post by Nick on Apr 28, 2018 19:50:17 GMT -5
Never knew they covered "Flowers" by The Emotions.
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