Rapture

Between 1 and 2

Not for me

Nothing special, bit boring.

I quite liked this, but the production is horrific.

3 - Great voice, watch your step was really good. Other than that though, just felt a bit empty song writing wise. Voice does all the heavy lifting

Hoe Cakes! I thought this was a very solid, smooth easy-listening album. Classy, not too tainted with 80s stank. Fave Tracks: Sweet Love, Caught Up In the Rapture 3.9/5

Not for me. I knew Sweet Love from when it was in the charts, but it's all a bit forgettable.

This really felt like the artist and producers had a great idea for a single, then had to make an album so they just recorded the same song seven more times. It's a shame, especially seeing as the single was not great to begin with.

80's soul pop / R&B. Not bad, but just kinda meh. Favorite songs: Mystery, Watch Your Step, Sweet Love, Been So Long Least favorite songs: Caught Up In the Rapture 3/5

# 445 : 27/03/2025 : I don't love it, I don't hate it. A couple of things stood out but I thought it was very ordinary quiet forgettable and like everyone else said… Shopping centre music.

She has a wonderful voice. Adult contemporary doesn't really do it for me personally, and this has the 80's over-production that feels a little lifeless for me, but that isn't Anita's fault. Sweet Love is a pretty good song and feels less 80's and more timeless than the rest of the album which isn't as engaging.

It was a nice background album, I got the feeling I should be actively listening though. I'll have to listen to it again sometime. Beautiful voice and some tight bass lines.

Been trying to get into anita baker, this is my first album. Def a late night album that u wanna play in the background while getting hella intense with someone

Uh, okay.

Not all of this was available to me, but what was available was decent. She has a good voice, but the style isn't one I really care for. 3/5

A very nice example of 80s pop at its finest. Sweet Love is the highlight, but the other songs on the album are equally enjoyable.

Held off on reviewing this one because, while I've heard all the songs individually, I didn't have a copy, this album is not on Spotify, and I haven't made the switch to Tidal (yet). I pretty well knew how I'd end up rating it, but I wanted to hear it all the way through first, as intended. Finally stumbled across a copy at a local record store, and it did not disappoint. Baker's voice is somewhat analogous to Michael McDonald's in my mind; like the opposite of a helium balloon, the richness and depth make it sound almost lower in pitch than it actually is. Couple her fantastic pipes with very solid songwriting and quietly funky arrangements, and you end up with a really solid record front to back. Sure, some of the instrumentation feels dated this many decades on, but to me at least, the writing and the execution rise above it. It's never in your face, but if you let yourself sink in and really listen, there's a lot of groove here to love.

This album provides a taste of what adding a little too much big-hall reverb glamour and glitter sound effects does to RnB. The tier of albums it belongs to is just like the frequency response of the ceiling speaker it's usually coming out of: only the mids. Sweet Love is a good song, but again, all I can think of is walking out of a shopping centre at 6pm after a tired post-work Tuesday grocery shop, when half the shops have turned their lights off and the cleaner has just stopped giving a fuck about leaving wet floor signs around. Been So Long is technically good but fails to grab me at any point. Overall, this album just left me bored of her voice, jumping around the frequency register for the sake of doing so. What it did leave was an awesome soundscape for 25+ years of Hip Hop Sampling. Good job Anita.

she can definitely sing, but this was boring kmart music and I don't like the 80's era of r&b/soul but mmm.hmm.h;hm.h..... you can see,,,,, her feet..............yes...........

It feels harsh to disgregard this album as not being very ambitious, as a lot of the tracks can feel quite similar. That being said I can't say I wasn't enjoying any bit of this. Baker's soothing & soulful vocals and the 80's, almost city pop style of the instrumentals brings a vibe that really compliments a laid back night/afternoon.

This is someone’s Mum’s favourite album of all time to sink Shiraz and Valium to. In terms of production this is sonically reminiscent of every Japanese pop album (subgenres “city pop” aka Vaporwave samples). I do not remember a single lyric from this album but think I got the general idea. Ms Baker has a lovely voice and despite her Grammy wins I can see why she isn’t exactly a household name in 2025, as no song on this album really distinguishes itself or stands out as a hit. I enjoyed it, and it was a tight 35 minutes.

I've really enjoyed all the new R&B and Soul I've been introduced to thus far. Has opened my eyes to two genres never realised I adored as much I do. This doesn't feel like that though. Less of a Serenade and more of a woman shouting in my ear. It wasn't bad though, I enjoyed the goofy Japanese ass production (Thank you Yamaha execs) and the opening track was quite stellar and gripping. Just didn't last, will quickly forget this one until I inevitably hear a track can't put my finger on where from and go listen to Super Sonic Racing instead. 6/10

I was only familiar with the first track on this album, Sweet Love, which transported me back to being 8 years old accompanying my mum to a routine, EXTREMELY LONG routine shopping trip to Spotlight for knitting gear or something. Some people say all reggae sounds the same, but I would argue that all R&B from the 80s sounds the same. I don't know if the lyrical content here is just less punchy than the R&B/Soul music that we've received before from artists like Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles or if it's the production and arrangement here really holds this back for me. Anita Baker is a very talented singer and there isn't anything necessarily wrong with this album but it's not for me. There are a couple of songs here that I would listen to again but the album as a whole isn't for me. If the sound was a little more over-the-top and really leaned into it like Casiopea does with a similar noise it would be better than the lowkey effort here. The songs can be a bit same-y and having the instrumentation be a bit more jazzy and outgoing really could have made this more enjoyable for me. This is better than the last album that had similar production that bothered me (Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby) because though both have very talented singers, Anita Baker also has taste and doesn't absolutely send it in every single song and that's why I'm giving it a 3. Highlights: Sweet Love, Been so Long

Anita Baker has a great voice. It's like gospel and R&B and jazz and a little cabaret. It's also a little boring. But you can definitely hear the influence she had on Mariah and Christina. They definitely stole a few things from Anita.

I knew Sweet Love was a popular song at the time, but I didn't know the album was in any way notable outside of that. Maybe it's here to give the list a bit more diversity? It's a fine sounding album though. It's got the 80s soul sound down and it doesn't stray much at all from that. Good for what it is. Favorite track: Sweet Love.

Anita Baker undeniably has a great voice, and Rapture features some solid tracks, with highlights like "Sweet Love" and "Caught Up in the Rapture" standing out as particularly strong. However, while the album is pleasant and well-produced, it doesn’t feel groundbreaking or particularly memorable for its time. It’s a good pop record with smooth production and some nice moments, but it lacks that spark that would make me want to revisit it. It’s easy listening, but nothing more. Favourite Songs: Caught Up in the Rapture, Sweet Love Least Favourite: Nothing was outright bad—it’s just middle-of-the-road overall. Album Artwork: A nice, classy cover.

I wasn't crazy about it but I respect her talent. It's just was a bit too generic 80s.

She's got a good voice, but didn't really do anything too memorable. It was pleasant but that's all. 3

Smoother than a freshly buttered banister. It didn’t sound as dated as I thought it would.

Loved the big hit at the start 'Sweet Love', then it was just pretty ordinary stuff to the end. No wonder I didn't know anything else by her. It's not bad enough for a 1 star and not good enough for a 2. A dilemma I shall not lose sleep over

A lot like off-brand Sade. It sounds so authentically 80s that it actually serves as a time machine. And it is also quite annoying.

Not for me, was well made and performed. Will I listen to again: 1%

Yeah, not my cup o' tea. Did not need to hear this before I die and DEFINITELY did not need to hear "Sweet Love" again. Because of this assignment, I did however get to learn that there is a German record label called Ariola, so that's pretty funny.

Fine voice. Stylistically vapid.

Good catchy album. Love songs from get female side. I even liked some songs.

pleasant listenable 80s pop hits

The songs all sound great, but they also all sound pretty similar to one another.

Link is broken on spotify, since half the album is gone

jo men ganska trevligt men det blir lite same same

Like a Sade I like less but still really good. She has a super unique voice and her music/singing is solid.

Nice voice, good sound, okay songs, although I have never heard of Anita before. Just overall positive album, just not really in my style.

Actually quite enjoyable. I can see why its so highly regarded.

A great album to drink chardonnay to under the lights of pink neon

She’s got a great voice, but the arrangements are so bad. This makes that New Jack Swing stuff seem modern.

Yes! A Perfect Album for a rainy day in the office. Smooth, Crip, and you can feel the emptions in the music. It might have caught me on the right day but ... yeah

This is definitely not my cup of tea and not what I would choose to listen to. Nevertheless and notwithstanding I really enjoyed this on a Monday afternoon drive. I probably wouldn’t have ever found this album but it was that R&B style that grabbed me. Reminded me of childhood even not having heard this album or any of Anita’s stuff. Plus the bass lines with ki-kass.

Two days ago I watched the episode of Hacks where there is an CD stuck playing on a loop, and I couldn’t remember the name of the artist for the life of me, but I didn’t bother trying to look it up because I knew it would come to me eventually. Today I got this album. (PS It was Anita Baker. Anita Baker was the CD in the show.)

Ugh. Boring.

I don't particularly care for the music, but bonus points for making me realize that yes indeed I DO need a baker.

So smooth….

Amazing voice with great control. But somehow this fails to make me really feel any emotion. It's like a soundtrack to a bad 80s romance movie. I can't really describe how it feels. Sterile? Uptight? Over produced? Probably would be better as a live album where they could allow the musicians and Anita loosen up.

I am just not very into this kind or smooth, synthy 80s R&B.

Perfectly nice, smooth 80's r&b. It's just not for me.

Perfectly fine album but not my style

Great voice, Excellent to eat dinner too.

While Ms. Baker obviously has a lovely voice, it's clear that this music was not made for me. To me, it sounds like it should be played in a dentist's office in an elevator inside of a grocery store. The real question here is why are there four songs from this album unavailable on Spotify? Is "Watch Your Step" the unofficial Taliban national anthem? Is "Been So Long" about lusting after an underage object of desire? Does "Mystery" glorify selling drugs and killing cops? Did the crowds of insurrectionists chant the chorus to "No One in the World" while storming the Capitol on January 6th? We demand answers!

Only 4 songs on Spotify, but that's enough to know this bored me.

One of the longest 36 minutes of this challenge. Will never listen again. Sorry Anita, it's nothing personal.

Really good. Maybe even a 5. Great city pop and yacht rock vibes.

Never appreciated Anita Baker or any other soul album for that matter, but this is a very good one. Definitely worth a re listen

Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to

Initially, I thought who? But I vaguely recognised the opening track "Sweet Love" from somewhere. A quote on the Wikipedia page says "an acquired but enduring taste", which sums it up pretty well I think. Not bad, but not great, and not really my style of music.

Quiet storm is typically way too smooth and mellow for my taste, but I'll give Anita a chance... Smooth. Mellow. Great music for other people. Doesn't feel particularly essential to the history of music, unless you're specifically talking about popular 80s music that wasn't new wave. Meh.

3.7

A good album, I liked Lead Me Into Love, Giving You The Best That I Got, Just Because and You Belong To Me the most.

Sweet Love .. vom ersten Ton weg eingekuschelt in diese starke Stimme und den 80er-Pop-Teppich. Easy Listening. Und habe ich es schon angemerkt? Starke Stimme!

Nein, das lockt mich nicht hinter dem Ofen hervor. Schöne Stimme, seichter Soul.

Enjoyable. Smooth. Made me so sleepy though, but that's because it was smooth lol

2.25

MF DOOM with a real clean sample on that first track (and apparently at least one other one too). I love when an old soul album pops up and there's little easter eggs. Overall the album is fine though.

80s soul bangers front to back, elevated by Anita’s wonderful presence. Wish it was on Spotify!

Had to find this one on YouTube. She’s got a good voice, but these jams are way too smooth for this rough, calloused human. I couldn’t make it through. I would never revisit this, though I guess it has some artistic merit for pure talent? I hesitate to give it a 1, but this just isn’t for me.

What a voice – and what a singer. This is the ulitmate in smooth, stylish and urbane, jazz-inflected R&B. Seems a bit classier than much of the satin-besheeted quiet storm. One hears coherence where others might be tempted to say same-y. There's a timeless quality to the singing and the mellow grooves of the band. Three or four first-rate cuts put this over the top. It's encouraging when commercial success finds such a traditional and high-quality (and non-gimmicky, non-trendy) record (although the low rating suggests the 1,001 crowd may overlook some of the quality. Not sure about the cover photo, though.

She’s a legend. Pure joy in that voice. Well done.

Not bad, but just didn't do it for me. A bit boring.

2.75

Top shelf, soulful pop. Baker has a beautiful voice that has next when she needs it. Avoids the musical cliches and novelty of the time the result is emotionally rich and tuneful.

Sweet album.

Approached this with trepidation, having lovely memories of road trips playing this as sunsets disappeared over the horizon. But that was the 1980s, the roads were invariably littered with roadworks and I suspect that it might have rained more than my memory recalled. Would the album hold up? Yeah...of course it did

Boring "easy listening" music. Do not recommend.

Sweet Love is a brilliant song, really jazzy, and Caught Up in the Rapture is also alright, but the rest of the songs are rather dull. Pretty voice, but too forgettable overall.

Well this broke the run of good albums we've had..... Sorry Anita, you've got a nice voice but this style isn't for me. 1.5

While I cannot say enough about her voice, the easy-listening vibe is a great detriment. Add eighties saxophone, and I'm looking for the door. Soft rock stylings and the door is hitting my butt on the way out.

Everyone knows Sweet Love and it’s ingrained in people if a certain generation - we all know the words and the time and the voice! Nothing else on this album has quite that power or effect.

Boy, did I hate the bass sound on this one. She's got such a beautiful husk to her voice, but these tunes were not great and the production was so stuck in its decade, it dragged the album down and made it hard to endure. Could this really be the best Anita Baker album? Hard to believe.

Boy that first track brought me back. What a timeless and distinct voice she has. The production and arrangements really zap this thing of any life. But her voice is foine. I really would have loved to hear her with 1960s production values. Imagine her singing with the Coltrane Quartet, a la Johnny Hartman.

Short and sweet but not really my vibe.

The Good: First ‘80s R&B album on the list The Bad: Rapture not being the best ‘80s R&B had in store, IMHO The Ugly: Having to sit through almost 40 minutes of this… Quiet Storm, that is what they call this genre… I did not know that, so I guess there is a positive to having to have sat through 40 minutes of near agony. Was it really that bad? No. For those of us who lived the ‘80s, we’ve all danced at least ones to Sweet Love, and probably made out to it, or better… so there is a bonus point for Mrs Baker! Yet I can’t but sit here and cringe while thinking how awesome the producers thought this record to be! Hey, why don’t you sing this bit about "three hundred sixty five days a year” like this, and then repeat it ad-nausea just so people can see how wonderful we are?!??!!!? Production wise it is through and through what the genre gave us, all the way through the mid ‘90s I’d say. Loads of treble, and mids, muted bass… I was listening to Aretha belting out “Do Right Woman” the other day, and I will take Mrs Franklin over Mrs Baker any day of the week… So, 2*, because it isn’t absolute crap, but I doubt I will be listening to this again soon.

Good album. Nothing special though. Baker has an incredible voice.

Just awful. Couldn’t get through the tracks without wanting to vomit.

The production on this album is INSANE. Yeah I know it’s cheesy, whatever I don’t care. Just listen to it, you can hear every single instrument, they all sound crisp. And it never drowns out baker or the backup singers. This album is luxurious, it’s like drinking a cold glass of water at 3 AM when your lips are dry.

This was quite nice, but it felt also dated and irrelevant to me.

Watch Your Step on this one. I didn’t get Caught Up in the Rapture this time around.

Anita Baker has an interesting voice, but these songs just lack some sort of kick that would make me really invested! This album really reminds me of a boring American version of Japanese City-Pop. Best Songs: Sweet Love, No One In The World Worst Songs: Been so Long

Anita Baker has a sumptuous voice and this material is well suited to it. Sweet Love is a worthy standout track but there are plenty of other decent tunes on here

This passed me by a bit! Sure she's a very good singer but these sort of Tina Turner ballads don't really do it for me. Totally fine

This was good fun but didn't blow my mind

Thanks to this album, I just learned about the term “Quiet Storm,” which blends smooth, sensual, and romantic elements from R&B, soul, and jazz to create an intimate, laid back vibe. While I can appreciate the concept, it’s not really my thing. I’m sure there are some gems in the genre, but I don’t feel the urge to dig deeper. That said, this wasn’t a bad album, and it had its moments, but nothing really stood out as memorable for me. It mostly feels like background music, the kind of thing that doesn’t demand much attention. Still, I can see why people are drawn to this style, even if it doesn’t quite connect with me.

Yeah this album is pretty damn good, but I'm not sure why it isn't on spotify. Seems random. But I had a good time listening to it, Baker really goes for it on some of those notes

Best voice in this list so far. Holy shit she's good. Stand-out: Sweet Love, Caught Up in the Rapture

Only 4 songs were available on Spotify and I only made it through 2.5

Anita Baker has a voice of our lifetimes. It does make me a little sad when one of the great soul/R&B/jazz singers releases such a pandering 80's pop album but it is still beautiful. Just gives movie soundtrack vibes more than smooth whisky and clove-cigarettes in a dark Detroit bar vibes. "caught Up In The Rapture" should be a required wedding dance, though.

Smmmmoth Jazzercise. 2 stars for them memorable 80s mom hits.

Tried to listen to it, and I couldn't do it. Her voice is fine, I guess.

Very lovely music, performed beautifully. Perhaps a bit bland from today's perspective, but still rather good.

Pretty good. Good enough to listen to twice

Fav: Same Ole Love (365 Days A Week) Least Fav: Watch Your Step Just standard soul tbh, nothing to really say - it’s just average

Not really what I tend to gravitate to, but I knew the name and was pretty sure I knew one of the songs. Knew the first one right off, yep. Oh, there's another one. And that one too. Damn, I never knew.... I think the entirety of this album is recognizable through various media. Respect.

I enjoyed this album. This is not a genre I listen to often, but when I saw that Whitney Houston was a big fan of Anita’s I was definitely excited to listen. I always say how much I love short and well produced albums that are not bloated to pad out run time. And this is a great example of how short albums can make the experience better. If there was ten more song this album would be grading. But overall I really liked this album and while I won’t be able to listen to it on streaming, I enjoyed searching for it and finding it.

La primera canción es un buen single, pero el resto del disco, aunque se deja escuchar y refleja una clara capacidad y talento en la interpretación, no es muy memorable.

I still don't understand why anyone choose to use an electric piano in the studio. Synth? Sure. Your making sounds specifically different. But if you're sticking to the standard piano sound, why use a crappy sounding one in the studio? Additionally, no offense to Mrs. Baker here, but her vocal style brings nothing special. There are tons of singers like her. So even though her voice is great, there's nothing special here AND the music is dated and cheesy.

Not my scene

Kind of an unexpected selection, but very nice album. Maybe my mind is just melted from so much vaporwave, but I just love these cheesy 80s instrumentals. 7/10

Who else found out about Anita Baker from the secret music video Zach Galifinakis made for "You Bring Me Joy" on his LIVE AT THE PURPLE ONION DVD? Just me? okay. Cool cool cool. What a freakin voice.

I just watched a TV show that made me really anxious so honestly this was the perfect time to listen to this one. It is a very safe sound and feel, no tension being built. While I was fine with it now, this is some of my least favorite music. Just junk. Rating: 2.0

real nice

Not for me

While not exactly my genre of preference or expertise, there is no denying the power and beauty of Anita Baker's vocal instrument. Oddly, unless I missed it Ms. Baker's "Rapture" is available for streaming on Apple Music but not Spotify...

This had something good going on. It was too bad it was so short.

While Anita has a great voice and the songs are pretty good, I really don't see what puts this album on this list.

I find it kind of funny how Anita Baker is from Ohio. I just would not expect sensual R&B to come out of… fucking Ohio. Anita, you’ve got a stellar voice, it’s just too bad you chose R&B. At least for me it is, i just can’t do this genre. It always sounds like a bit of a joke or something, like a skit? Maybe it’s the saxophone? I don’t know Anita, I am sorry you grew up in Ohio. No One in The World was pretty decent synth pop, that’s probably the best track bc you dropped sax McGee. It’s probably better than most R&B I suppose but this is overrated as fuck. 3 stars

2corny 4me

Unbeatable R&B from the 80's. Only topped by Cool & the Gang.

There's no denying that Anita Baker has a powerful, beautiful voice, but it's too bad that these songs do nothing to support that voice. The entire album is just overproduced 80's blah.

I remember these hits…

So good.

magical voice and emotions

No doubt she is a good singer but this is so dull 2*

Remember the hits and that’s about it.

Listening to this album i remember Anita Baker having the hits included and her distinctive and resonant voice.

Like most 1980s soul records I've heard, this is completely killed by the dated sound. The vocals are gorgeous. The songwriting is decent. The mood and emotion are there in Anita Baker's delivery. But everything else sounds plasticky smooth in the way only an overpolished record of the 1980s mainstream can manage. The sweet timbre of electric piano. The funk-lite bass. The cut-to-commercial saxophone. The clean and flat drum sound. Even the backup vocals are a little too sweet and saccharine. The whole sound design is verging on unbearable. I'm going to give it 3* because the songs themselves deserve so much better.

fine, but equally totally forgettable 3/10

Not for me.

Not really my jam but I did like the MF Doom sample in the first song.

yeah this one really wasn't for me. anita baker has a nice enough voice but the incredibly dated production here comes off ass beyond cheesy and the strength of the songs is not there to make up for it. without the dated production, this album is a pretty middling one anyways. yeah, not really exciting and not really my thing.

It's not bad, but I don't resonate with this at all

I didn't like it. It's good but I just couldn't get in to it

Opener Sweet Love was amazing. Her voice is incredible and the track was very interesting musically. The rest of the record was more forgettable, the production wasn't my favourite and the songs were a bit too repetitive. I loved her voice but I probably won't revisit except for the opener. 3/3.5

A powerful voice with good music behind it.

Favourite song - been so long

I mean...this wasn't bad. I enjoyed the guitars in 'Caught in the Rapture', but for the most part, I wasn't really too musically captivated or emotionally moved.

Not my thing and extremely forgettable. There were a few funky moments to bop around to, but overall I could pass completely.

Am I supposed to be fucking to this? Because this would be the most soulless uninteresting sex imaginable. The voice is pleasant though

Okay, album. Didn't enjoy it much. Probably not my genre.

She has a good voice but the 80s production and overly schmaltzy tone made this a tepid and forgettable listen.

Album not available on Spotify so I listened to the only Anita Baker album that was available - Christmas Fantasy. Nice vocals, enjoyed listening to it as I set up Christmas decor to get into the Christmas spirit.

níunda áratugur sálartónlist. syngur vel en hrútleiðinlegt.

3.6 liked it

Spotify had this as an incomplete album, not even listed in her discography. I enjoyed the 4 songs I got to hear ("Sweet Love", "You Bring Me Joy", "Caught Up In The Rapture", and "Same Ole Love (365 Days A Year)"), but it was a very 80s movie soundtrack vibe.

Not my usual. I recognise a couple of MF DOOM samples. I won't return to this, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would

It's fine. Like completely down the road generic fine. It's inoffensive and bland and very easy listening. That's about it.

The next time I find myself scanning the radio dial and come across the soft rock station, I'll know who sang "Sweet Love." She has a lovely voice, and this brings back those synthy mid-to-late 80s late night McDonalds dine-in vibes.

What a voice. It's great to listen to Anita Baker's runs and there's some pretty tasty bass playing too. It's a shame there's also quite a bit of filler on the album. Anita's voice is great but the songs themselves are just too samey. Standout track 'No One In The World'.

Pretty but each song felt long

Fuck yes

Solid R&B jazzy feel to this. I enjoyed it. It didn't strike me so strongly that I would seek it out again.

Great voice. Great album.

A pleasant listen rather than an outstanding one. She does have a absolutely fabulous voice though & part of me can't help thinking it's capable of so much more than 'pleasant'.

Turned this off immediately

Sorry, not interested.

Nice album but it didn’t stir anything inside me.

Listening to this transported me back to college when my roommate was playing it on repeat. For sure it calls for a specific mood and probably a bit cheesy by today’s standards but whatever. I’m giving it a 4 for causing me to sing aloud loudly and reminisce on some pretty good times.

I think this album is forgettable, especially compared to the music from other soul singers such as Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone. Anita Baker's voice is fine enough but the songs aren't particularly special: it sounds like music that'd be played in a grocery store. It's smooth but too smooth, as if all the interesting parts of soul and jazz were ironed out.

Hard no. Worst album yet.

Anita Baker is a powerhouse! Her sexy, smoky vocals are a perfect fit for this sort of ultra-smooth R&B but when the songs reach their climax, she unleashes her voice and belts like no one else I've heard before. What a performer. She even does some nice scatting, like at the end of "Been So Long." I don’t seek out this style of music but it’s very well made here and Anita Baker is excellent, particularly on the first few songs.

"Sweet Love" is a wonderful clean R&B jam. I love the bass + drums, and her voice sits really nicely over the band. The song itself is super cool too, it's almost like a Seal song. At 00:44, the prechorus / chorus comes in and it's really magical. "Caught Up in the Rapture" is another delight of a song. Anita sounds like a confident and talented vocalist that controls her voice effortlessly. A really easy-to-enjoy record.

What shall I say about music that is absolutely not my style but has meticulous production, execution, well above average songwriting and an outstanding singer? Well, exactly that. Unfortunately, Soul rarely reaches mine, specifically this kind of Pop-Soul. So I give this one a technical judgement and will happily forget about it after half-way through

4/5. I have heard albums like this and although it has been done before, still a great listen. Strong voice with jamming background vocals and instruments in each song. Some jazzy vocals along with slow pop really escalates this one. To be fair, not every song is a banger, and the first half is much stronger than the second half. Overall, I think an excellent listening experience with only a few downsides. Best Song: Sweet Love, You Bring Me Joy, Caught Up In The Rapture

I enjoyed listening to this in a doctor's-waiting-room-in-the-late-80s sort of way. Like, when you have that appointment where it's not gonna be anything heavy. Maybe just a checkup. Not even a blood draw. It's sunny outside and once you're done with this the rest of your day is yours.

Not my thing at all. Glossy and light, which is undemanding, but across thirty-six minutes the tracks become less demarcated, dissolving into a haze of tasteful grooves and twinkly pianos. Anita Baker is a fine singer for this quiet storm-type of soul, but Rapture is too one-note to do her talent justice.

4/8 songs available on Spotify so can’t really give an entirely fair rating. The ones that were available were good though.

I'll never have any qualms or complaints about music that sounds like this. I mean, this Anita Baker album has it all - the vocals, the bubbly basslines, the blissful synths, and those lyrics that deeply capture the hot and cold feelings of love. Well, nothing here is particularly "cold" sounding per se, this might literally be the warmest, coziest, and heartiest an album can possibly sound - but a song like 'Been so Long' still manages to evoke the feeling that something is gravely missing. '80s RnB and Soul was a weird time for the genre, fusing those overtly synthetic '80s sounds with the vocal style that dominated the genre in the previous decades. I mean after this, mainstream RnB would only grow more accustomed to the sounds of electronic music and only stray further away from those jazzier elements that encompassed the genre's roots. This liminal era of the genre can risk coming off as outdated, but that's not the case here by any means - Anita's vocal talents alongside the talents of the production crew are undeniable. It's lush, powerful, and emotive - a nice, clean listen if there ever was one.

Nice voice, but the songs were quite boring and forgettable 3 ⭐️

Always liked this album. Favorites were Sweet Love, Caught Up In the Rapture, Mystery, No One In the World, Same Ole Love My dad had "No One In the World" on a mixtape of his favorites, so my appreciation of this one goes back to an early age.

# Album Name: Rapture # Artist: Anita Baker # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: The opening song - sweet love - is a cracker. Good song. Anita has a wonderful voice. Theres also some decent sounds on the album but overall it was a forgettable experience. It gets a low 3 for me. # Top Tunes: Sweet love # Would I listen to it again? No. Only Sweet love.

Some solid R&B here. Smooth and moody.

Pretty decent soul

Time was deeply unkind here. Music that should have died with the 80s. Glassy synthesizer lounge jam sex music for my parent's generation. The music has a smell about it and I want to leave. She's clearly very talented, but also, her voice has an uncanny resemblance to Michael McDonald. I didn't enjoy any of that, but I reserve 1/5 for far worse offenses. Time is the real criminal on this one. I'm sure this is still a lot of people's jam. 2/5

01) Sweet Love - 7,0 02) You Bring Me Joy - 6,5 03) Caught Up in the Rapture - 6,5 04) Been So Long - 6,5 05) Mystery - 6,0 06) No One in the World - 6,0 07) Same Ole Love (365 Days a Year) - 6,5 08) Watch Your Step - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,44 (64/100) Current ranking: 266/348 This is how the rainy afternoon in autumn 1986 had to sound like. Anita has a great voice, but the songs are very monotonous...

NOT ON SPOTIFY

Her voice is worth 3 stars even if I don't enjoy the music much. 3 stars or C.

It is fine. Kind of forgettable, but she has a good voice. Someone else mentioned Whitney Houston and I got curious, apparently she didn't make the list which feels really weird. I don't know enough about her, but maybe she was more of a singles person, or maybe she got snubbed IDK. I think the fact that I talked 5x more about Whitney Houston than this album shows how unremarkable this album is. low 3.

Great singer, not my type of music unfortunately. All of the songs melted together in my mind.

I would love to hear the jazzversion that Anita wanted. For now this will do.

Sweet Love is great. Lots of powerful ballads on here.

This one isn't for me. Her voice is fine but the music is so bland and unfeeling. The opposite of what soul / r&b should be.

This album was fine, but as someone not into R&B, I cannot find anything I truly like about it. It's not bad music by any means, but it just isn't something I can get into. I feel like giving it less than 3 stars is not fair, as I was never annoyed by it, but I'd probably give it 2.5 stars if I could.

This was alright. A lot of the songs sounded the same, but Anita Baker’s voice is fantastic, and there’s no denying that. I understand why this is on the list, but personally it was just okay.

It was fine, nothing stood out to me.

Great voice, but the album comes off a little bland / basic for its time. Still a nice listen though :) Favorite track: Been so Long

Not for me.

helviti þreytt þetta

Alright but there are other soul/motown albums I'd listen to, she does have a great voice

Good vocalist. Just not my cup of tea.

ganz ok aba nit so mei mukke

Anita Baker has a very strong vocal performance, with high quality mid-1980s production, but it feels electronic and sterile. Nothing to hate, but the quiet storm isn’t for me (it’s only for the grown and sexy people). 3⭐️

Not offensive, for sure. Pretty meh for me. First track was by far my favorite 2.75

Just so dreadfully bland.

It sounds like Whitney Houston's less talented cousin

First couple songs I've hear in a remixed form in a completely different genre (jungle iirc) so that was a nice surprise. Beautiful voice, but not enough to woo me.

Un bel album suave, aucun autre commentaire parce que j'suis en retard dans mon écoute donc je garde ça short

Peaceful, spiritual, damn close to perfect. I've loved this album from the minute I bought it, many many years ago, and it's only gotten better with age.

I wish this whole thing was on Spotify. I really like Sweet Love. Makes me happy. She has a beautiful rich voice. This album put me in a good mood and was not a chore to listen to at all, even if it might not be a regular go-to.

Let me tell you a story about Anita. In a land far, far away, there lived a man who owned a bakery with a young daughter. After she was born, he quickly recognised her beautiful voice and said to her: "You must sing to bring glory to your family!". "But dad... I want to be an astronaut!" "No, child. You must do it!" The whole story is fake, that's only a justification why I feel she didn't love what she was doing.

Lovely voice, very pretty songs. Makes me think of people in nice clothes and high heels drinking wine in high-end kitchens. This kind of music is as unconnected to my life as are country songs about trucks.

For 80’s Neo-soul pop things pretty good. The hits took me back and made me realize how good those songs really actually were. That said- she ain’t Aretha, she ain’t even Carole King- meh

What did the helpless cookie dough say to the oven?

3-4

Despite being initially comforted by Sweet Love being on this, it all went fairly downhill after that track. All felt pretty forgettable if I’m honest!

Complete surprise. Not usually my main type of listening but this was powerful, soulful and full of great songs. Plus the MF DOOM sample on the first song! Definitely something I’ll come back to.

Gear: Abyss DIANA MR (vegan) Artwork: 😪 Mix: 😪 Musik: 😪 Wertung: 😪/5

I was surprised by the record. I thought it would be some generic 80s RnB bit it was so good! I like her voice and the instrumentation.

She’s got a great voice. But the adult contemporary category is not for me.

Pretty good, but just doesn't feel special

4 Incredible voice

Lush and seductive, like you’re listening to Anita perform in the coolest little jazz club. Loved it.

No. 255/1001 Sweet Love 3/5 You Bring Me Joy 3/5 Caught Up in the Rapture 3/5 Been So Long 2/5 Mystery 3/5 No One In The World 3/5 Same Ole Love 3/5 Watch Your Step 3/5 Average: 2,86 No song that I disliked, but mostly boring.

Beautiful voice

Musically great, great vocalist, great session musicians (as a bass player, I love the bass lines)... But the style of music, it just ain't for me... 80s soul, I cannot appreciate it, it fades into the background for me. Great music, but it does not connect with me.

Lovely voice

El soul romántico, elegante y refinado de los 80 tuvo en Anita Baker una de sus máximas exponentes. Este fue su segundo álbum en solitario y con él ganó un Grammy y un disco de platino. El disco comienza con todo un clásico de todos los tiempos, "Sweet Love", y no le va a la zaga otra gran tema, "Caught Up in the Rapture". Ambas son dos baladas románticas en las que el soul se mezcla hasta casi pasar inadvertido con el R&B más pop, con influencias gospel e incluso con algunos pasajes de jazz. También me gustan dentro de su estilo "Same Ole Love (365 Days a Week)" y "No One In This World". No sorprende ni es rompedor, pero este disco es una pequeña joya para saborear.

this was too repetitive in terms of subject matter. but this bitch can sing

Pretty good music I enjoyed her voice

Real enjoyable funky soul Good 68/100

Ok

🎧Anita Baker sure can sing but this is drenched in bad 80s production that I can’t really get past. It’s not on Spotify so I listened on YouTube where every top comment is “who’s listening in 2024?” Favorite track: Same Ole Love (365 Days a Year)

Sweet Love //

Fine but probably won't listen again, not into the style/genre and it sounds even more outdated than older music.

Can’t find much remarkable about this record for it to merit its place among the 1001. Anita’s voice is wonderful and there is hint of soul grandeur in the songs but the production fights very hard to sterilize it and you really have to struggle to see anything special in this assortment of songs. To me the only thing going for is that it’s short - 36 mins - but that alone is not going to make me seek it out to play it ever again.

This album was a terrific mix of 80s R&B, classic pop, and some gospel elements as well. I also loved the change of pacing from soulful slow jams to Whitney-esque bops to close out the record. Anita Baker's voice is great, and it's only highlighted by the backing singers as well. All in all a great listen and a good introduction to Ms. Baker for me. Notable Tracks: - You Bring Me Joy - great sax solo - Been So Long - Same Old Love (365 Days a Week) - Watch Your Step 7/10

Dit klinkt als heel veel andere dames uit deze periode. Relaxte jaren tachtig vrouwensoul, uit dezelfde koker als Oleta Adams, Randy Crawford en aanverwanten. Ik had nog nooit van het hele mens gehoord en het album bevat ook geen hit, maar het is prima gedaan en er staat geen nootje verkeerd. Iets minder keyboard en wat meer echte instrumenten had deze plaat geen kwaad gedaan, maar uiteindelijk gaat het om haar stem en daar is niks mis mee.

Precies van je van een plaatje uit 1986 verwacht. Je hoort een vrouw in plaats van een man. Dat is het wel. Ik had best zonder dit schijfje gekund... 2,5 ster.

Quiet storm, ik had er nog nooit van gehoord, maar het is blijkbaar een heel genre op zich. Het is wel iets herkenbaars, een soort powerballad-achtige R&B-soul uit de jaren 80. Bombastische arrangementen bestaande uit oa piano, drumcomputers, saxofoon en een zangeres die op standje burenruzie staat te schreeuwen. Nou, gooi daar een album vol mee en je hebt Rapture van Anita Bakker, waar we in NL nog nooit van hebben gehoord. En daar missen we verder weinig aan, want er is genoeg van dit soort muziek overgewaaid destijds. Het is allemaal niet slecht hoor, ze kan goed zingen en de basloopjes kan ik altijd wel van genieten. Maar het is wel typisch jaren '80 en daarmee inmiddels behoorlijk gedateerd. Ach, het stoort me verder niet, vergeetbare 3.

Lovely voice, but not really my favorite music.

She has a nice enough voice, but this is absolutely not for me. I think my breaking point was the scatting in "Been So Long".

VERY jazzy r&b music; taking inspiration from city pop tracks and romantic soul creates an album that sounds VERY nice to listen to. it's said that the likes of whitney houston took heavy inspiration from baker's discography, and i see why, with very jazzy chords, sappy lovey-dovey and moderately religious lyrics, and a voice so firm and strong it can save a soul from a deep depression. i had a great time all the way through.

Great songs and performances - annoying production

I've heard many songs from this era that sound exactly the same. This album is no exception. There's nothing wrong with it, I like it. Baker does a good job here. I think this album is decent. 3 stars for "Rapture".

Sounded nice but I couldn’t get into it

Despite her beautiful voice, it feels as if I've already heard these songs, that how basic they are. They sound the same as all the other 80s soul songs. Favorite: Same Ole Love

Enjoyable 80's jazzy love songs with nice vocals

I had flashbacks to school clothes shopping at JC Penny when listening to this. And boy I did not like clothes shopping.

Some sections veer dangerously close to department store soundtrack territory, but under the right circumstances, a little Anita could definitely set this party off right.

Listened to this during golden hour driving down King. Kinda smacked

3.5

Correcto

Boring

The 80s were sometimes terrible

Alright, but nothing that really stood out to me

Cheesy music for people 30 years older than whatever age I happen to be at the time.

Sweet Love is a good opener, but the rest of the album is an excellent cure for insomnia

Ahh it was alright. Simpsons: No

Very boring. Sweet Love was supposedly the best song on the album, and even that was underwhelming.

I enjoyed Sweet Love, but the album as a whole didn't give me joy

I just really enjoyed this, gave me similar vibes to George Michael who’s a babe

Spotify doesn't have the full album. Nice, sweet. Not really my genre but it's good.

Pleasant! And she has a great voice.

Thought I would love it in a nostalgic way, and whilst I do like the two I knew v well (Sweet Love and the title track) I did find the rest a bit forgettable. It was nice enough aural wallpaper.

Sounds like 80s R&B. The instrumentation doesn't age well but the songs and vocal performances are solid.

Tunteikas kasarisouli! Hyvin menee Princen kaveriksi! 4/5

Oikein kelpo r'n'b-levy!

Some really good vocals but lack of variety in the songs

I love the 80's smooth lovers vibe. I remember one hit and could easily put this one at a dinner party I'm hosting with a collections of friends and a special lady I have my eye on.

I drink my own piss sometimes

I have heard enough 80s crap to last a lifetime.

i liked this SO much more than i was expecting.. rly groovy - actually rly like the arrangements going on here, camp tho lbr

This one's alright. This album is weirdly balanced in terms of things I have to praise and things I have to complain about. As far as praise goes, I like Anita Baker's singing. She's good at it, and the vibes this album is going for fit the singing quite well. The sound is also pleasant to listen to. The writing is also solid. As for my complaints, it mainly boils down to this album not standing out much and feeling repetitive. With the "not standing out" point, I feel that this album just kind of exists. Nothing really stands out to me that much. Even the things I praised are things you can experience in better albums. As for the repetition complaint, yeah it's kind of undeniable. This is a very repetitive album. However, it's not the worst repetitive album I've ever heard. Don't get me wrong, I still feel like all of these songs were practically written to be the same both musically and lyrically. However, when the one song that they all feel like is pretty good, you can't really complain too much about the album. Overall, this is a fine album, just not one I feel like revisiting ever again. 3/5.

Favourite tracks: sweet love; you bring me joy; same old love

Nice voice

Great album, not sure I’ve heard any Anita Baker before but the name is famous. This was an awesome R&B type album, not sure it’s a current day type but for late 80’s it fits perfectly. Loved Caught Up in the Rapture and No One in the World.

Three 7/10 albums in a row, wonder if we'll keep the streak alive? I know Anita Baker in name, but I'm not really familiar with her music. Case in point, I just had to look up if she made "Killing Me Softly with His Song," but no, that was Roberta Flack. Anyway, this album is cool. She's got a killer voice, and the sounds on here a nice cruise through Adult Contemporary Nation. As usual, a few that I really enjoyed; not enough on an album scale for me to call this "great," but it's smooth sailing. Favorite tracks: Same Ole Love (awesome song), Sweet Love, Been So Long. Album art: Anita chilling on the floor. Actually, she looks pained, maybe not so chill after all. Is she missing someone? Perhaps a baker? Is that the meaning behind her name? I should be PUNished for that one. Cool portrait shot though, great mood setter. 3.5/5

This is the definition of 80’s adult contemporary.

Polished sultry ballads, perfect for a 1980s movie soundtrack, without falling into the sax solo stereotype.

Yeah, it's alright. Maybe it was ground-breaking and/or innovative in its time, but unfortunately to my modern ears it just sounds a dated

Pleasant enough. Killer voice. Same ol love was my favorite from the album. But I’m glad it was a short album. Not much variation.

Sounds like when the lights went down in the roller rink and the disco ball started spinning. Beautiful voice and delivery but ultimately impactless. Not a bad album, at all, just not something you must hear.

I mean, I’m not sure this is a ” must listen to” album, but her voice is so rich and smooth, it certainly is an easy listen. Late night cognac vibe start to finish. If you’re with the right person it will take you to a lovely place.

Basically a perfect album. Fantastic vocals, beautiful composition, and flawless production. 5/5

This is a very good Soul album, informed by the best production qualities the 80s had to offer. 4/5

Very smooth and great sound

3.5

I enjoyed this. Lovely voice and good songs. Not the kind of thing I normally gravitate to but solid.

Very underrated artist in my opinion. Lovely voice, love Anita Baker 👍

Lovely bit of drama to start the day

New speedrun record. Think I ran through this one in about 10 minutes. This wet, cheesy, generic 80s pop/R&B sound really isn't for me.

Mum music, not for me.

Interesting, although I think the project does not contain any huge and unforgettable moments or tunes in it…

Buen disco de pop, tiene hitazo

love soul music, could see myself playing drums alongside this

Not my thing

Good Soulmusic….5/10

Decent and has held up well

She has a good voice, but other than that this doesn’t really have much to offer.

Sometimes soul, rithmyn & blus and 80' are difficult!

Great stuff!

Overall enjoyed.

There is a fairly widely held opinion that music is the 80s was shit, which is untrue. There was an awful lot of really good, groundbreaking music in the 80s that shaped modern music - Gary Numan, Kraftwerk, New Order The Smiths, 'Africa' by Toto etc. This album is the reason people think the '80s were shit. Horrible, insipid songs, over-produced and layered with syrupy synths and sax - it's the kind of music that people who have Luther Vandross's entire back catalogue buy, and keep in their car.

Omg sweet love wow !!!! Stunning gorgeous angelic voice This made me feel like I was in an 80s romcom

So so good! Idk if I'll get hate for this but her voice reminds me of Michael McDonald - this is the biggest compliment coming from me!! Standouts: - Mystery - No one in the world - Watch your step is SO Michael McDonald coded

I almost like Been So Long, Mystery, No One in the World