Reviews (page 5 of 7)
It was okay. Nothing stood out to me.
Liked it more over the listen, surprisingly. Little empty-sounding outside of her voice, which isn't really my thing though. 3/5
I'm not really one for schmoozy 80s fare, but this album was fairly listenable and reasonably uplifting to boot!
Totally inoffensive but I wasn’t really grabbed by anything, other than thinking No One in the World was a fun track. Felt a bit too much like hotel lobby music to me, a little too ‘adult contemporary’, but her voice was great.
Anita Baker’s voice is like butter, but the music is not my style.
Great talent
its like a precursor to Whitney Huston
Baker's smooth, soulful voice is showcased on the album, and the songs are mostly slow and romantic, with lush arrangements and production. The album can be considered as a classic of 1980s R&B and soul music.
Totaal niet mijn muziek. Zat met een twee in m’n hoofd maar werd gaandeweg toch nog ietsjes aangenamer om naar te luisteren, dus hierbij een 2,5.
Great voice!! Just not my cup. of tea
smooth soul indeed. been so long mi je najdraža sa albuma. općenito album nije nešta čemu bi se vraćo, ali mi ne bi smetalo da svira u pozadini, jok.
Nice!
impressed by the voice
Fun fact, I worked for IBM in the late 80's in the Detroit area, and I worked with Anita Baker's then-fiancé Walter Bridgforth. Everyone referred to him as "Mr. Baker". Never met Anita, and I believe Walter took a leave of absence shortly after I started because this album was taking off. That's about as tenuous a connection you could have to a celebrity I guess. Anyway, this is nice. Very smooth and soulful. Not really my favorite style of music but it's pretty good. 3 stars.
great vocals, the backing tracks all feel too cheesy 80's love to me.
HL: Sweet Love, Watch Your Step, Mystery Don’t have a lot to say about this album. Just that it’s really well performed and some sections reminded me of the music behind your local 7 day weather forecast October 4, 2022
This might be an album I should come back to when I feel like hearing something with that classic 80s sound. It's the only thing that is keeping me from really loving it and that's probably only because that's not where my head is right now.
A good voice, otherwise ok
I mildly enjoyed the few songs I heard from the album. Anita’s voice is good but not great, which is very apparent throughout all the songs. Decently catchy songwriting though. 5/10
Started listening to this in my car but quickly realized that it truly deserved being played on my actual hi-fi system instead. The production is insane! I had absolutely no expectations going into this… If anything I wasn’t that hyped. But I genuinely really enjoyed both Baker’s incredible tone and range and the extreme smoothness of the production. Everything single detail stood out clear as day - especially the bass. I probably enjoyed this way more than I should have; but what a voice and what a collection of musicians. I almost gave this a 4 due to the taste of red wine during my listen and the fact that it sounded incredible on my speakers. But on any given weekday I don’t think there’s quite enough memorable moments for it to actually deserve it.
Not my kind of music, but she has a good voice.
Great singing voice. Some funky grooves. Good example of R&B soul music.
Always have and always will love the 80s. Just something about that gated drum sound and the atmosphere. Nothing too special on this, but I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected.
Short album I wouldn’t mind making a few babies to. Great vocals. The 80s romantic soul sound is very easy listening. Now I know why Kanye and Jamie Fox consider her a Slow Jam.
great voice, has aged decently. easy breezy listening jazz. faves: no one in the world, same ole love, watch your step.
Smooth sounding R&B. She has a strong voice and delivers these songs really well. Just a bit too "Adult Contemporary" for me, so giving this a 3. Need that half star option as it would have gotten 3.5.
Anita Baker does have a very good voice that takes from jazz and gospel and brings it into what was then contemporary R&B (especially well showcased on "Watch Your Step), but the whole album sounds incredibly dated. Unfortunately a lot of 80s albums just have not aged well and though this is not her fault, it's very noticeable throughout. On the positive side I do respect the 8 track length and the cohesive vibe created here. No track is out of place or a waste of time, but I don't think I'd listen to this again
My original review got deleted by 'human error'. To summarize, this style of music isn't my thing, but I ended up liking it more than I expected. I wonder how many children born in late 1986 / early 1987 were conceived to this album. 3/5.
80's sloooow jams. It won two Grammys, so there is that.
dunno, sounds decent, needed more time
Its hard to rate this. Brilliant voice, immaculate production. Everything polished. Decent songs but its all a bit smooth. Its very good at what it does but its all so safe and nice. 80s soul queen. 3.5
Muy buena voz con grandes acompañamientos e instrumentos. Voz templada y calmada
Throwback to the sax solo.
A little smooth and maybe too MOR for how I was feeling today.
That was a nice album and she had a powerful voice!
Very smooth soul. Some jazzy scatting. Good voice, and very accomplished performance, but nothing apart from Sweet Love is really gripping me. Pity, because this was in all the shop windows for a year or so when it came out and won lots of awards. I'm giving a 3 because it is well sung and smoothly made, but not a soul record I'm going to reach for again.
Anita can really sing and there is no questioning that. However, the issue is that the music did not really appeal to me. No songs really stick out as a must listen. Although I will not listen to it ever again, I will round up.
Anita is smooth. A little too mid-tempo/bland, but she’s a queen for a reason. 2.5 but rounding up for the icon.
Had this, loved it, but actually, loved just a couple of them. I seem to have gone past this kind of music now
Старый добрый соул в отличном исполнении. Так и хочется налить вина и посидеть при свечах. 6 из 10
Un petit moment de fraîcheur
It's okay. I can't really judge the album fully since Spotify omitted like three of the tracks, but I got the gist of it. After getting the Sade album two days ago, I realized that I kind of like this era of R&B before Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson ushered it into the 90s. This isn't on the level of the Sade album, but it's not bad.
Nice R&B and soul album. Starts with a killer opening track! The songs after weren't that exciting, but this album might be worth it for a second listening.
Probably a nice 4-star cafe soundtrack, you know, pleasant enough, and reliable. Fave track is Same Old Love, but no idea why spotify has it listed as (365 Days a Week).
Relaxte muziek, mooie stem! ***
Decent
Great voice, probably heard this a thousand times when it came out in the background. Very 80s!
A perfect middle of the road
It's a slab of 80's soul. Right up there with the very best slabs of 80's soul.
She's got an excellent voice and puts it to good use on this album. I'm just not a fan of this style of music, but I'll still listen. Some okay songs, but I have no need to buy this. Thank you streaming sites.
Really good album. 3.5 / 5
3.5 - The genre designation “quiet storm” perfectly evokes the vibe on this album. The sound is very dated but it’s comforting. I’m reminded of being a kid, holding my dad’s hand as our family spends a leisurely afternoon strolling around at the high-end mall in our neighboring town. It feels safe, warm and worry-free. I probably won’t return to this particular album but I enjoyed the memories it brought back.
3-; great voice, nice instrumentals, album wasn't too long, great experience but could be better
So sweet that I think I might get diabetes. It is soft R&B infused with Jazzy vibes. Super cheesy, easy listening, but, you know, it is cute. And thankfully the album isn't that long (36 minutes), which makes it easier to sit through - would probably give it one rank lower if it was 10 minutes longer.
This is miles away from what I normally listen to. Certainly not offensive, but unlikely to revisit!
Easy listening for the background but the songs itself were too similar to not make this another decent album that will be forgotten after a few days
Smoky and lovely voice
Ok cute little album, not amazing. 3,5 but rounding down because I probably won't put it on again.
Beautiful voice, but difficult to rate for me. Most songs are nice, but I'm not sure that I'd ever really seek them out. Same Ole Love was definitely a stand-out, though.
3/5 too sensual for my taste
This album was incomplete and scrambled for me on spotify. So take this rating with a grain of salt.
Soul. Ni fu ni fa.
Mf doom samples the first track. That was sort of the highlight for me. I do miss the time when big pop diva albums sound like Sega genesis tracks
Canta muy bien. Un disco agradable. 3.
definitely not bad but far from my tastes.
Sweet Love is a good song, rest of the tracks are ok, but slightly forgettable
Half the album not on Spotify so this unfortunately only gets one listen on YouTube. Really like the opening track and thought this was a great listen, but the tracks bled together a bit for me. Still something I think I would return to more if it was on Spotify Saved: Sweet Love*, You Bring Me Joy
Really nice beautiful album. Soothing voice. Really pleasant front to back
Nice voice. Not my style music hard to be objective.
Exquisit disc de r&b/pop amb producció totalment vuitentera, però que en aquest cas encaixa com un guant amb les composicions de fàcil escolta, on destaca la poderosa veu d'Anita Baker, que va ser arribar i moldre, però que endavant mai va aconseguir arribar a les cotes, de qualitat i ventes, de 'Rapture'
I do enjoy this kind of soul music sometimes. It's a little cheesy in places, but still some great tunes
Album was not on Spotify apparently due to the artist's request. I was able to track it down and give most of it a listen
Baker's Rapture helped define contemporary R&B from the mid-80s onwards. She's a sexy singer, and the use of jazz and synth accommodates for smooth, easy listening that gives off calm 80s nostalgia. "Sweet Love" and "Captured in the rapture of love" are my favorites, and other first side tracks appealed, but I felt the tracks sounded too much like each other, and hardly contrasted each other in subject matter or technique. But that's fine. It's not a masterpiece, and her fanbase tends to hit a very targeted audience, but this album is a soothing, luxurious listen, and that's enough for me to give a re-listen in the future.
Not my deal, but nice voice and production
can’t listen not on spotify- gave avg rating
Beautiful voice, and a great soul album.
Good R&B. Not my typical genre, so nothing really stood out to me.
I imagine this is an album that was played on many occasions in the late 1980s to signal it was time for sexy times. The slinky bass and emphatic saxophone layers say “Hey there, are you thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?” Ms. Baker’s mesmerizing vocals say “Yes, let’s get down.” According to expert resource cosmopolitan magazine (2017), the average sex session lasts 19 minutes, including foreplay. Rapture clocks in at 38 minutes…plenty of time.
Anita Baker sure can sing. Beautiful voice. The mid 80s adult contemporary production is what makes this a 3 out of 5 for me. Not really my cup of tea even if I really enjoyed certain touches like a fun bass line here, great sax solo there. Won't be revisiting anytime soon but I'll definitely always remember Baker's voice.
R&B, pretty good
What a great voice, and recognized Sweet Love. All and all a nice album to listen to. I'm giving it a 3 only because it is a bit sedate for my liking.
Good R&B album....unfortunate that Spotify doesn't have 3 of the songs so couldn't give it a proper listen
Not quite my thing, but it is a powerful soul album. Anita's got chops.
Ok
smooth, slinky, just not my taste though
It was okay.
Not my jam. Feels very 80's.
R&B music sung by a powerful voice, this album sits along side of its contemporaries in Tina Turner, Sade, Whitney Houston & others. Unfortunately, Baker doesn't display the same range or creativity that these others do. As a result, while solid, this album comes up short when compared to classics.
Interesting album cover, makes you wonder what instruction the photographer gave during the shoot. Lovely album.
I somewhat liked it. Very pleasant to listen to while working. But not something I'd listen to with full attention.
Nice little album. Basically Smooth Radio manifested in album form. I knew Sweet Love but none of the others. Best song: Same Ole Love.
Steengoeie zangers! Maar niet direct een album dat ik opnieuw zou opleggen
great voice, some of the tracks just felt a little lacking in energy and could have used something to push their sound more. not bad though, 3/5
Such a wonderful change of pace. Really lovely to listen to while doing school work.
meh
"I won't be neglected I won't be denied The pleasure of your kisses The pleasure of your smile" (Been so long) ¡Qué voz! Por lo menos terminamos bien esta semana <3
Recognized one of the tracks ("Same Ole Love"), otherwise I had no clue about this artist.
6/10.
Rhythms that almost make you forget you’re slowly being lulled to sleep in the warm embrace of the laundromats heat and wafting scent of fabric softener.
SWEET LOVE is a 4
1986, Soul rnb, gutes Album, gefällt mir besser als mama's gun, starke 3
Beautiful
Soul. Coñazo.
Not really my thing, but not overdone diva-style antics which I can sometimes find grating. A pleasant background listen. Fave track - "Sweet Love" is undeniably iconic
I'm normally not much of a consumer in the whole chanteuse vein though I certainly recognize vocal talent. This was definitely a cut above though. The lyrics though solid were just not that interesting.
Le son des années 80!
2.5
Very different than anything I've listened to. While I can objectively say her voice is amazing, this is not my kind of music.
Okay, I went into this album expecting to dislike it because of my general disdain for Jim Morrison. Honestly, I thought it was a pretty fun album. Morrison's attempts at poetry bog it down at times, but the music is great throughout. 4/5
Pretty good. I dont listen to this music that often but I enjoyed it
Only about half of this album was available on Spotify. Fun 80s R&B
Couldn't listen to the whole thing, but what was there was good.
Jeg troede det ville være classy jazz, ikke 80'er synthesizer jazz. Der var egentlig nogle bops på, så det kunne godt have sneget sig op på en lille 3'er hvis jeg ikke var så negativt overrasket
She has a lovely voice but the style and arrangements really aren’t my thing
Can't use it cause ill never have sex with a woman
Ei ollut omaan makuun ollenkaan. Taustamusiikkina ihan ok, mut en kyllä kuuntelisi koskaan. 2/5
No One In The World
Ok, adult contemporary. I am a contemporary adult but this doesn't do much for me. Her instrument is impeccable of course, just don't dig on the style. It's not you, it's me.
I wouldn't mind this as background noise while eating at a fancy restaurant, but that's about it. Other than that, it was repetitive, and stale. She does have a wonderful singing voice though. Favorite Track: "Mystery".
Mid 80s ballads, good voice but it's not memorable
This album is so well produced. Anita Baker's voice is beautiful and unique. Great bass - funky at times - but cheesy keyboards. (DX7???) Overall it's a little too adult contemporary/MOR for me.
boring but nice voice. I'll have to, uh- I'll have to put that woman in an oven.
The glossy album of choice for stock market traders in the mid 80s.
Nja-soul
Senare delen av 80-talet var verkligen ingen gyllene era för soulen. Det mesta blir antingen slickt mot gränsen till utslätat och tråkigt eller svulstigt wailande ballader på gränsen till storhetsvansinne. Anita Baker går i den fällan här också. Hon sjunger förstås bra. Men jag lyssnar hellre på Whitney Houston.
Svulstigt och snyggt. Men också lite småtråkigt. Ungefär samma souljazziga ballad som upprepas åtta gånger. Utmärkta att ha på i bakgrunden, men inte så mycket mer.
Sällan har väl ett album låtit så mycket studiomusiker som detta. Allt är superduktigt och livlöst. I grunden rätt mediokra låtar. Bokens artikel om skivan avslutas med konstaterandet att skivan snabbt försvann ur allmänhetens medvetande. Jag kan bara instämma.
2.5
Vwry cheesy and very bland. 2 stars
Pleasant listen but forgettable for me. May take a listen/KM will stick it on in the lab in the future! 2.5
Do not like. Style. Singer. Music. Any of it. Mercifully short, and infinitely pointless.
A bit boring but pleasant enough and inoffensive
Music to fall asleep to. The sound is fine enough but it’s pretty flavourless, and we get no relief from that through the whole album with all songs very samey.
The quintessential ‘quiet storm’ album with the 80s production sheen, all synths, saxes and electric pianos. There’s no denying that Anita Baker had a great voice, but the music is far too slushy and easy listening for my taste, and so samey too. ‘Sweet Love’ is the most famous track, and it is one of the better ones, but I can’t see any circumstances in which I’d choose to put even that song on. Like the rest of the album, it felt so artificial and anodyne. As the album went on I found it held my attention less and less.
This kind of vocal is the thing I least enjoy. Sure you have a great voice and sure you have good range but there is no need to warble through it on every line and sometimes one word. All luxuries should be used sparingly. Not anywhere near as bad as Mariah Carey though
Not for me.
This is the PERFECT representation of everything that I can't stand about 80s pop. It is all the same... Sterile inorganic composer created fake instrumentals, with a talented singer who can't write their own music or lyrics. Boring boring boring.
This is the famous concept album about needing a new baker after your strangely pious baker was taken to heaven in what was either a rapture event or an accidental cyanide poisoning via mouse trap. Either way, this penis shaped cake isn't going to make itself. Now Anita Deliveryman/Caterer will have to make the next album. It's been 4 decades. We're still waiting, and I fear that my hot air balloon enthusiast meetup will never receive their "barometric pressure can be a real dick" cock cake. Anita Baker delivers no Rap, no Ture, and zero hot air balloon based material here. She does; however, string together some incredibly hammy ballads you'd hear the instrumentals for at a failing mattress store in your town's industrial area. The deep, gravelly nature of some of the vocal passages elicited a few smiles out of me though, so that murders about 90% of the records on this list. With that said, I will never let this by my ears again. I can only catch so many waves on these eardrums. Precious calories would be wasted dropping my thumbs upon the play button again. 1.5-2 GENRE: Left Below
Being a tween in 1986, I always just assumed that Anita Baker had been around for 10 or 20 years already. Even now hearing this album (for the first time) in its entirety, I still get that feeling. You can tell who her influences were. Sadly you can't tell who Anita Baker is. It sounds a lot like other R&B/Quiet Storm from the time. Maybe she was the pioneer, I don't know. But I DO know that I don't care to learn more based on this listen. Great voice and some good songs I recognize and find nostalgic
This album was so boring. So many better R&B albums are out there. That said, everything is pretty competent. My main issue would be that Anita overuses vocal flourishes to the point that it gets grating. As a guitarist, my best comparison would be constantly throwing in hotlicks in the fills instead of using some different techniques and rhythms to let other parts of the music breathe more. Instead, Anita is on all the time and it wears on you. Not worth being on this list but not a bad album either. Call it a 2.
I had a hard time getting myself to care or get through this 36min album. I recognized a couple of the songs, but didn’t particularly enjoy Anita’s voice, the style, or feel like the songs or lyrics went much deeper than manufactured songs about love. I won’t be listening again.
I thought that Anita Baker was more disco diva than what this was. Meh
Supermarket music
Very undistinguished, could have been anyone. I see no reason to ever listen to this again. Not "bad" just "bland."
Quiet storm R&B has never been my favorite. Anita Baker is obviously crazy-talented, but that's not doing enough heavy lifting to get me to rate this any higher.
I did not care for it sadly :(
This sound just isn’t my thing. Like a lot on here say she has a fine emotional voice, but the syrup production has always made me feel this is too old for me, however old I am. It’s soo middle class smooth. Interesting to know there was a genre quiet storm, didn't know that before. Just not my thing, nothing particularly bad about it, maybe the production, but this was never aimed at me - so find it a hard listen 2 Star
605/1001 2026.05.01 😴😴🌗🌑🌑
Whitney Houston ilman että on Whitney Houston
- A little to sexy for me - Food that would play in a Chinese restaurant - I bet my grandma loves this
This is standard mid-80s soul fare that sounds every bit its age. By far the standout track is “Sweet Love”; it’s a song I’ve always loved, but the rest of this gets nowhere close to those heights. I like the hook of “No One in the World” as well. “Been So Long” gets way too close to sounding like jazz for me, and the rest just sound like any other soul / r&b album of its era. I also couldn’t warm to an entire album of these vocals, which were just not for me.
Steely Dan in slow motion. Completely washes off. Relaxing, like ocean waves.
pa ono, sasvim pristojno unutar svoga žanra, premda si nikako ne bih sam pustio. razmišljao sam da prvo dam trojku, ali kako sam nekim albumima koji bi mi se načelno dopali, a koje nisam smatrao toliko dobrima, davao trojke, ovo je jednostavno za dvojku jer mi se nijedan detalj nije ni najmanje dopao
Post motown R&B is a blind spot for me. The "quiet storm" is a very vibesy specific time period where it was played to ease in people's anxieties about the outer world, something we could use right now. I'm not sure that production style would work in a maximized digital age. Anita Baker is considered one of the forefront smooth jazz/quiet storm singers of her time period. She's got a quite a voice! Unfortunately, every thing else around her sounds dated. The songs from the album are definitely important, the album as constructed is much less so. I mean I like 80s synths, the cheese, and knowing too much about electronic music and synthesizers to hear all the presets from various Yamaha/Korg/Roland synths that were big for the time (especially Yamaha). It's just too egregious of an "80s sound" record. Is this bad? No, but it is lame. This record did sell well for 1986, which gives it the notability to be on the list, but you're better off listening to the singles. Spotify sure thinks so. Kind of a shame.
Not my kind of music
Extremely well made, and she can sing, but 80s adult contemporary is not my thing at all.
El álbum mas meh que me a tocado hasta ahora wacho
Couldn’t get into this, I tried, but there’s something about how the sound is so compressed and the vocals not hitting upper or lower ranges, just middle. And the lyrics mean nothing. I just read that the style is Quiet Storm that is an apt description, but I don’t like it save for a Sade
This was dated like two years after it came out.
Baker sounds like Luther Vandross in the silliest possible way. I can't take it seriously.
One great track on here. Other than that - mediocre
it's alright, nothing interesting in it for me though
Magic Radio is a British digital radio station owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK. The station is available on 105.4 FM in London, 106.5 FM in Bristol and across the UK on DAB Digital Radio, via Bauer's Rayo platform, and on Smart speakers. It plays "adult contemporary"[1] such as Elton John, Madonna, Ed Sheeran, Whitney Houston, UB40, Simply Red, and more. It had previously been a part of a network of Magic stations broadcast on FM in London and on MW across northern England and began broadcasting across the UK via the Digital One multiplex in January 2015. On 5 January 2015, Magic Radio launched nationally on DAB and all other Magic stations were dissolved to form the Bauer City 2 network.[2] According to RAJAR, the station broadcast to an average weekly audience of 2.4 million during the July to August 2025 quarter, with the Magic Radio network of stations reaching an average weekly audience of 3.5 million during the same period.
This album is certainly a banger for someone out there, but I just couldn't find myself getting gripped by the music on this one. Favorite track was Mystery.
I don't mind it. Feels like I'm shopping at Target.
A fine album, I was able to listen to most of it through YouTube and did not quite understand why it was on the list? Pretty standard R&B, did not sound like anything special.
Congratulations you win the 80s
This was very nice. Felt like what my mom would listen to on the radio. Felt like every 80s adult contemporary song.
Another R&B album where every song sounds the same to me. Highly skippable despite her talent.
She undoubtedly has a great voice, but 80’s soft pop is not my jam.
Good voice, but very soft-pop songwriting and cheesy 80s instrumentation and arrangements. Forgettable, even while playing.
Day 225 Lovely voice and I was surprised how many songs on here I already knew but not an album I’d return to at all Highlights Sweet love
Not for me. Too slow, too monotone. I don't mind some smooth R&B, but there needs to be something to break it up. This just dragged.
I like it Tbf there was some ok songs are there but it didn’t blow me away
Anita has an amazing voice, but this record is a snooze fest.
2.5
2.0
I need the smoothest soul you have. No, that's too smooth.
I don't really care to have an opinion on this one.
Adult Contemporary music is an insult to life itself.
Music for a 33-year-old bank teller who kicks off her heels after a long day at work, flopping into her beige couch in her “newish” Thousand Oaks condo in 1986. She pours herself a glass of Chablis and sets it down a bit carelessly on the glass-and-chrome coffee table. She gives her Persian, Mister Sniff, a few distracted scratches as she looks out the window, where you can almost see the ocean. Maybe Steven will call, and they can go out to eat tonight so she doesn’t have to cook another frozen dinner. But the answering machine light isn’t blinking, and the sun is beginning to set through the haze. She takes a swig of the wine, and sighs deeply. She’s tired. Music would help the mood. It’s Wednesday night, and she needs to feel good. Let’s see… what would be just right?
Couldn’t find it on Spotify, but I listened to a song elsewhere and it wasn’t my thing
Tja. Sikkert fint nok. Det var for generisk til at det rigtig fangede min opmærksomhed.
Storladet 80er R’n’B pop komplet med elektroniske trommer, saxofon og korsangere.
Feels like an album comprised of the second songs from the credits of mid-90's John Grisham adaptations
Wonderful voice and production. But jeeezz this is boring
Such a great voice, but the dated 80s overproduction is a killer. It ruins the songs. I'm sorry Anita, you are way better than this. They done you wrong.
Cheese
I don't think I am familiar with Anita Baker at all, and I have never heard of the 'quiet storm' genre. Her voice is amazing, I just can't really get over the very 80s r&b production.
I'm not a fan of typical contemporary R&B, and this doesn't change my mind, unfortunately. The album has nice production and that's about all I can say for it.
Not really my general mood
Artiste inconnue. L'album est très 'Soul' et malheureusement trop peu 'Jazz' à mon gout (le classement en Jazz m'étonne !). Bien trop de chant, peu ou pas de chorus, je me suis vite ennuyé. Ceci dit l'album n'est pas désagréable en musique de fond ... =>2/5
Meh
Like, it’s fine or whatever, but not one banger. I wouldn’t know this album if I heard it again. It’s not BAD. Just… not banging with so much music in the world.
Remember this from the eighties when this type of stuff was popular, not heard it since then.
Good grief. This album was a "straight to the waiting room" playlist. Two catchy songs, that were overproduced, and the rest that tried to sound exactly like the two catchy tunes. Of all the 80's R&B music, I can't believe that this is the one that was chosen, based solely on album sales.
Just Because is my favorite Anita Baker song, unfortunately not present here
Great voice, ass material
not a stretch to assume a sizable amount of my cohort was conceived to this
I am shamelessly in love with soul music from the '60s and '70s. Once the hands of time turned to the '80s though, something changed. Anita has a great voice, but this is just lifeless synth/piano ballads that without vocals would feel at home in an elevator or dentist's waiting room. Soul should be felt as much as it is heard and this just doesn't do it.
It's a good album for its genre, but a shit genre
I have no use for this, it's uninspiring to listen to, and I find it distracting for its intended purpose. 80's synth horns and piano were particularly foul.
wonderful voice and surely made an impact in r&b and soul pop but got bored quickly
Well made, but unfortunately rather dated and forgettable. She's got a good voice and Sweet Love has stood the test of time relatively well, but the rest of the album errs towards the forgettable.
Gute Sängerin aber jeder Song klingt gleich. Ich werde morgen vergessen haben, dass dieses Album existiert
Lovely voice and an epic song earn some respect. Otherwise just generic R&B lady crooing.
2.5 rounded down
No doubt all involved are super talented but my word this is bland and forgettable for the most part. There is nothing interesting here to latch on to. Quiet Storm is not the genre for me
She's got a good voice, but this album was too adult contemporary for me. I didn't hate it, and it was fine background, but it just didn't do it for me. - Heard before? No. - Will I listen again? No. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? No.
Soul/R&B/Jazz singer album, the lead track Sweet Love was a fairly big hit back in 1986. It's not bad, even with some slightly dated production. She's got a good voice, but there's nothing particularly ground-breaking going on and it's not a genre that I find myself craving.
OK, if I am going Divas I am going elsewhere.
Rapture ist das zweite Studioalbum der amerikanischen R&B-/Soul-Sängerin Anita Baker und erschien 1986. Die Interpretin ist US-amerikanischer Herkunft; die Produktion war maßgeblich von Michael J. Powell, Marti Sharron und Gary Skardina geprägt. Die Aufnahmen fanden 1985 unter anderem in den Yamaha R & D Studio (Glendale, Kalifornien), Music Grinder Studios (Hollywood, Kalifornien) und United Sound Systems (Detroit, Michigan) statt. Musikalisch bewegt sich Rapture im Bereich von R&B, Soul und dem sogenannten quiet storm, einem melodisch-intimen Subgenre des Soul mit jazzigen Untertönen. Besonders bekannte Titel sind „Sweet Love“, „Caught Up in the Rapture“, „You Bring Me Joy“, „Same Ole Love (365 Days a Year)“ und „No One in the World“. „Sweet Love“ wurde als Single veröffentlicht und gewann einen Grammy Award. Die Stimmung des Albums ist durch eine warme, ruhige Produktion und Bakers charakteristische, kontrollierte Stimme geprägt. Klanglich steht Rapture in der Tradition klassischer Soul-Produktionen, verzichtet aber auf grelle Effekte zugunsten einer organischen Ensemble-Atmosphäre. Abschließend lässt sich sagen, dass Rapture einen einheitlichen, geschmeidigen Sound bietet und Anita Bakers Stil in die breitere Wahrnehmung getragen hat, ohne in Effekthascherei zu verfallen.
It’s not that I didn’t enjoy this. Anita Baker has an amazing voice, is a great writer and included some good sax solos on this album. Unfortunately the 80s production ruined it for me by taking a lot of life and soul out of the finished record.
Found the whole album on YouTube (unfortunately lol). Great voice but man what a snooze. Hard pass.
A short-and-sweet R&B album. Pleasant but not spectacular.
25/01/2026 Apart from the one song, the famous one, this was a tolerable album. Spotify listeners: 1.5 million
This is a classic artist and some all time great hits, that I just don't like. I found this to be grating most of the time. The music bored me, and the pace did not create any comfortable vibe for me.
This is so late-night FM radio coded - it made me feel like I was drunk in the back of a taxi at 2am. Sweet Love is a tune and she has a great voice but it’s a bit too smooth for me.
I clicked in and saw that half the tracks were grayed out and thought, "oh that's too bad." Then the first few bars of piano kicked in and I thought, "maybe not too bad." Then she started singing and I started laughing, thinking, "is this over yet?" 80s R&B and Soul was just really really bad.
Great voice but sounded like every single other 80s R and B/Jazzy album.
i am really not a fan of the cheesy 80’s sound production but i did enjoy the stanky Sweet Love and No One In the World. 2.6/5 🌕🌕🌗
She has a nice voice but it's just not for me. 4/10
Oh man, I recognized the opening from MF DOOM, but I really don't love soft R&B/slow jams. Great voice, but same issue I had yesterday with Nick Cave - it's performance > song. This is some department store background music.
Very nice voice, but I don’t see myself ever intentionally playing this again.
Nonplussed. I'm nonplussed as to why this album is included on the list. Okay, it's got good production for the 80s some songs with nice playing and she's got a good voice. But the songs are utter and completely forgettable, and that's a sin, no matter which genre.
Nice pero that's it. Siento que muchos de mis 2s van a ser 2.5s frustrados
this sounds like being in my mum's kitchen in 1988. like soul music played by a plastic bag.
I can only find half of this album ANYWHERE, so that half is pretty mediocre
69/1001 First listen. I’m doing this challenge because I can give any album a fair. chance. This one sounds like the musical equivalent of wearing ladies underwear. This just isn’t made for me. I feel like It would be weird if I did like this. It’s not bad though. 3/10
Overall: 4/10 Great voice. The music sounds like dropping a sandwich in a pile of mud. Fav Song: Sweet Love
Its 1986. Where my Anita Bakers at? Here!
Nothing wrong with it, just a bit slow for me
Yeeaah, not for me I'm afraid. There's a lot of the very worst of 198-s production all over this - the sheen and polish, the painfully insincere synths - and it just leaves me dead cold. A shame, because she seems to be a really good singer and there's nothing offensive in these songs. It just does absolutely nothing for me emotionally.
Just R&B - Anita’s voice is great but I’m not going to come back to this album.
I mean it is Anita Baker so there is a higher floor here than for lots of artists, but it is also released in the 80's so it has some "Kenny G" feeling to it at times. Her voice is the real draw here!
This was fine but like other reviewers stated, nothing too outstanding to me. Nice album to set the mood I guess? 2.5/5 rating down as I’m not expecting a strong desire to revisit
That was craptacular.
Not offensive but just fine I guess
Not my fave
That was bad, but not egregiously bad for a 1. Still a pretty shite 2.
Great voice let down by mediocre 80s music
This did not do much for me, although I liked her voice. Was not catchy enough for me.
What a fabulous voice singing music to which I'd never choose to listen.
I had no knowledge of this album and none of the artist either, except for her name. I found it hard to understand why this is on the 1001 albums list. It’s pleasant enough but mostly it feels a bit bland. I guess it must have stood out in some way when it was newly released? The main feel I get from it musically is of Dionne Warwick singing Burt Bacharach songs. Which is a compliment as a comparison, since those are great songs, beautifully arranged and very well sung. But this album doesn’t have anything like the wow factor of Dionne and Burt. I was hoping Anita Baker’s voice might be a new one to love, but it didn’t really speak to me and sometimes I found her inflections over-ornamented. The best track, I thought, was the jazzy one, Been So Long. I didn’t hate it but this one won’t be on my playlist.
A classic 1980's female vocalist album. I don't know if she came before or after Whitney Houston but to me she's of a similar genre and similar time. Anita clearly has a powerful voice and good lungs to keep the notes going for long periods. That was a style at the time, and whilst I don't find it in any way offensive it never was and never will be something I'm drawn to. It's listenable to if it came on the radio, but not something I'd seek out. I don't remember feeling different about that in the 80's either.
2.5 Obviously amazing voice, but production of the songs is so outdated and cheesy.
generale gentiluomo due
Sweet Love…Another song I never thought I’d have to hear again. Hard pass, what makes this list-worthy??
Her voice is nice, but the keys and drums on this style of 80s soft pop is unbearable.
I imagine that this was played at a lot of dinner parties in the 80’s. Unfortunately it does not do anything for me. While I think Anita has a lovely voice I found it a bit boring and lacking in anything of interest. Shame!
Lovemaking music for people who live in retirement communities.
She has a lovely voice but it sounds like the generic music you’d hear in a Sears store in 1999
This is the kind of music that would play at the grocery store when I was a kid to please the suburban moms. This is fine adult contemporary but I find it boring af. Highlights: sweet love
5/10
Enjoyable album of laid back soul. Where contempories like Whitney caterwall Anita purrs. Still 80's RnB had crummy backing music tat hampered even the best singers and songs.
It's the late 80s, and my sister and I hear this album wafting from the bathroom among the clatter and commotion of cosmetics used and put down and the sink running. It's Friday afternoon and our mother is getting ready for another date. "Going out with a friend tonight. Knock on the neighbors' door if you need anything. I shouldn't be too late," she shouts over the smooth strains of Anita Baker's voice coming from the ancient cassette deck that has lived on top of the toilet tank for years, gathering a thick coat of grime, moisture and human funk. She won't be home early, and we know this by the shade of her lipstick and the clothing she has selected for the evening. We might not see her until Sunday. We have some Hot Pockets in the freezer and probably enough food for the dog.
alright
A great voice stuck behind generic 80s r&b unfortunately
For such an amazing singer and the fact this is a soul record, it’s really devoid of any soul.
This is not my style of music. The Spotify blurb says it’s romantic soul music. It’s sappy ballads, I’m sure there are plenty of people who love this but I am not one of them.
It’s performed well enough, but it sounds like the forgettable adult contemporary that was all over the place in the 80s and early 90s.
Nice soulful voice but not a fan of this hold music style
Noooo 2/5
I guess it’s good for what it is.
Rather bland, sounded like an 80s soundtack that needed to sound like soul but just didnt have any.
Eh, it's fine. I saw another comment that summed it up...it makes me feel like I'm in a supermarket. This is not offensive. It just feels really dated. It's 2 in terms of "good music" (points for Anita's voice) as the keyboards and synth are boring - they sound like the basic track that comes with a casio keyboard. The lyrics are boring. Should not be on this list. ChatGPT argues with me and tells me that the boring, calmness is the point. Well, I'm not meditating here ChatGPT. I'm trying to find interesting, great albums that make me feel like I'm not in an overly produced 80s Hollywood movie.
Not offensive, just not my thing. Too generic and boring.
Anita Baker has a nice voice, but the tracklist became weary before the halfway mark.
A smooth, pleasantly inoffensive enough soul album which became very boring very quickly. Anita Baker has a fairly accomplished voice, but never uses it in a vaguely captivating way. If The Black Keys were car advert rock, this is car advert soul.
Meh. Some classics, but very vanilla.
I tried. The voice is stellar. Songs are middling. I just can't get past the production. The mid 80s is where the 80s sound hit the ditch.
Scrolling through other's review of this album and reading a lot of 'elevator music'. I'd like to add 90's department store to that list. Nothing controversial to the ears but doesn't grip me with anything either.
Nothing stand out about this album, was bored throughout.
Because I have been shopping in a department store, I have heard Sweet Love many, many times in my lifetime. To have this album on the list and not Whitney Houston is an absolute abomination. This is 80's light soul that I heard in my mom's station wagon on the way to run errands. This is by no means bad music but there are much more qualified and interesting artists making music at this exact period of time. Nothing against Anita Baker, but I feel like I didn't a-need-a her represented in this book. Bring Whitney Houston in the book and lose this one.
Sounded good but wasn’t in the mood for this.
2/5 - Not awful, but I didn't really enjoy it. Love songs can be great but these seemed to have zero depth. Might be good in movies which I think is where I've heard some of them before.
I'd bet money that this only popped up now because of the track "Caught Up in the Rapture" I could only listen to like half of the album on Spotify. It was okay R&B.
I appreciate the joke of listening to Rapture this week, but I appreciate the album a little bit less. Can’t deny any of the talent of the singer or the emotion of any of it, it just don’t hit me in any way.
Well done, just a little too adult contemporary for my taste.
I'm really not sure why this one to Grammy awards
I'm sorry Anita, your voice is beautiful. The music is tired.
80's grocery store classic.
eh
Some groovy moments but not really my jam, just ok
meh
first listen supremely mediocre
Nah
Schöne Stimme. Leider mit so einer schlafmützigen 80er Soße garniert.
Most songs are even available. Incomplete
This is absolutely not my thing.... It's excruciatingly boring to me.
Sometimes you just accept something wasn't made for you.
pretty instrumentation and great vocals but it just drags
Dull generic soul/pop
No standouts, inoffensive smarm
Nekem semmi extra + nem is az én világom
Easy listening but not memorable
It's fine for someone, just not me
Didn't do much for me.
This was about like I expected. Good voice but not really my style.
Pretty and nice but not a hard hitter as far as soul goes. Liked but didn’t love. Found myself zoning out