Reviews (page 3 of 7)
This was a staple among the Jazz choir crowd in high school, and Gaesser actually recommended it to me. I still love it. Smooth and catchy, with impeccable vocals.
Oh so smooth. You’d be hard pressed to find a better example of vocals as an instrument. Incredible for what it is, though the repetitive nature and subject matter of the genre prevent this from quiiite rising to something personally transcendent for me. Listened to: on a bus to Providence. Favorite tracks: Brown Sugar, Me and Those Dreamin’ Eyes of Mine
Brown Sugar is a refreshing R&B album that draws instrumentals from jazz and funk. D'Angelo has a great voice and the album shows it off, as well as throwing in harmonizing with backup singers. The only bad thing I can say about the album is that some of the songs overstay their welcome, but even when they do, it's still a groove. Favorite track: Lady
This album sounds like pouring honey in my ears it’s so sweet it’s only real flaw is that a lot of songs sound similar
I'm a fairly big fan of Neo-Soul. I haven't ever really connected too much with D'Angelo's music. Sometimes I find his songs to be a bit too long, which triggers my short attention span. The songs are slow and just incredibly soulful, so it's hard to deny this is a pretty damn good album. Plus, it brought the Neo-Soul movement to the forefront (helped create it?) and led to other artists in the genre becoming relevant. I like his version of "Cruisin'," as it sounds less kitschy than some of the other versions of the song. I don't know if I would visit this album again but I think it has a place in the book. Shit, Damn, Motherfucker is a great song about cheating, though the slow tempo of these songs makes Brown Sugar requiring some repeated listens. There are a lot of highlights here: Brown Sugar Shit, Damn, Motherfucker Jonz in My Bonz Cruisin' Smooth Lady
I can't really encapsulate it but the way this man manages to make such smooth and soft music so engaging is genuinely something that is very interesting like, I don't usually expect it out of super smooth music like this so it's a pleasant surprise
84/100.
Three and a half
Nicht ganz so fickrig wie das letzte "Usher" Album was wir vor wenigen Tagen hatten, daher ein Stern mehr, aber immer noch kein Weltklasse Album 4 Sterne
excellent
silky fucking smooth. I love me a good R&B record, and this just hit the spot this week. it was so fun to listen to and it was super good. not much else to say. add this to your sexy time playlist.
You definitely gotta be in to R&B to like it, but this albums is dope. Lady, higher, shit damn mf all classics with some underrated gems sprinkled in.
Voodoo and Black Messiah are far more realized and inventive than Brown Sugar, but this is classic neo-soul grooviness and sex-positive spunkiness. Raw is the word, but so are honed and rounded b/c D'Angelo not only sings his heart out - he cruises, covering the Smokey classic for track seven, and gets his magic from empowering the beat to go on just a little longer. That is also the foremost scarcity of the record - it has a one-note strike against it, not enuf variety or new positioning. But that's a small price to pay when it's largely a joy to bliss out to. Running imaginations, i.e., Temptations: 'Is it just that you're the finest little thing / That I ever saw, or is my imagination running too far?'
surprisingly enjoyable listen considering I was on a train
It’s no voodoo or black messiah but it’s still pretty damn good. Tbh gets a little boring but there r some bangers
RIP
Some serious bass on some of the songs, and is really good R'n'B
Listening to Brown Sugar by D’Angelo for the first time felt like stepping into a warm, soulful haze. The album oozes smooth, effortless groove, blending R&B, jazz, and hip-hop in a way that feels both nostalgic and timeless. It’s the kind of album that slows time down, making every moment feel a little more soulful.
Solid
Smooth R&B 3.5/5
I am excited for this one! I liked listening to D'Angelo back in the day but I haven't listened to this album straight through before. His voice is otherworldly...if I could sing like this you could never shut me up. There's something about this album that the mixing or the singing or something reminds me of older r&b, at least r&b older than this album.
R&B vibe
I'm really not a fan of R&B, but these really did get my foot tapping. Made for good background music while working. Would not be as good on a roadtrip. Sort of repetitive from track to track. Altogether though I was vibing.
Soulful,Princelike ballads without the guitar solos and lyrics. Still very good music
Good but not great I'd say... Very listenable over all and just by the nature of the genre I think it's tough for the songs to be perfectly gripping or catchy, just because of how lowkey it all is. Still a really nice album! 7/10
I remember D'Angelo from the mid-90s, but I can't say I had ever invested time listening to his music. This is great. Loved when it slipped into jazz, liked how each tune seemed to purposely follow the one before it, and "Shit, Damn Motherfucker" threw me for a loop. As a Prince fan, I certainly heard that influence in D'Angelo's falsetto, and even his willingness to step into the wild territory of the aforementioned tune, but clearly this guy's taken everyone from Luther Vandross to Marvin Gaye to every other slick R&B cat and balled 'em up into this silky sexy album. Not sure why I'm not at a 5 — maybe just the preponderance of down-tempo tunes — but there's not a lot to criticize. Deep harmonies, meticulous production, great vocal performances, hell yeah.
smooth
9/10 Favorite Songs: All Least Favorite: None
Nice
"Who's the black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks?" You might say Shaft but you would be wrong. It's D'Angelo. This is music to put on so you can get it on.
Every generation gets the Barry White they deserve.
Hugely influential as one of the main albums that brought neo-soul into the limelight, and it's just catchy and well-written throughout. I do prefer his newer stuff a bit but this album is amazing too.
Rating: 9/10 Silky smooth with absolutely incredible production. Sounds a bit same-y after a while but it's still amazing.
This made my morning blueprint review and cup of tea extremely sexy, recommended!
I'm always on the lookout for new music, but this is where I feel at home.
Some very fine baby making music
Very smooth
Smooth, soulful and sexy
Heard before. My man.
I like the gospel more than the soul.
An education.
I liked this quite a bit. It had some nice variation between tunes, and he's got a great voice.
I like! 4/5
I enjoyed this a lot. Smooth, sexy, and something I would check out again! Shit, Damn, Motherfucker is the sexiest sounding song about being cuckolded I've ever heard, haha.
Un album en douceur, qui me file presque entre les doigts tant il se diffuse. Je lis sur l'habileté de D'Angelo de fusionner l'ambiance soul des années 1970 à un hip-hop qui lui est contemporain et ça m'aide à circonscrire la force de l'album.
Smooth as hell
This was really good and I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, really smooth R&B and he has an amazing voice! I think it's a solid 4 star for me.
Very good. This goes so hard but so smooth. Here and there this album sounds dated in a meh ‘90s way, but most of this album sounds fresh. I love this version of Cruisin’ and it sounds like it could be released today. Jonz In My Bonz is also great, but, for reasons I can’t say in this forum, it reminded me of skeleton John Ratzenberger.
This might have just caught me in the right mood, but this was great.
Indeed a great R&B album that I did not know as I‘m not deep into the genre besides some exceptions.
Smooth as all hell. Some truly insane performances and production here.
Really great R/B and soul from the nineties, funky smooth and clean, nice
Really liked this, funky, jazzy, sexy.
Really interesting, almost "progressive R&B" album. I really enjoyed parts of it but it might have been a little long for me.
Good!
Some nice sexy neo-soul, smooth and sweet like chocolate. Yes
Brown Sugar is one of those songs that sticks with you for a few days, it is just so good. I wished the rest of the album hit that high but that sadly wasnt the case.
After listening to this album, i've been recommending this. Especially when you are trying to plane a date with your girl/guy/it. Had a few drinks listening to this, maybe some food, and you are ready to make some sweet sweet love. This is the album that should be playing as a soundtrack. D'Angelo.... BRAVO
This guy should be so much bigger than he was/is. Great record
I see a lot of reviews saying this album suffers from being downtempo and repetitive. While both of those things are true, I don’t think they make the album boring. This shit is some groovy-ass fucking music. That said, I do think this album would benefit from being ~2 songs shorter. I’d personally shed When We Get By.
This was a vibe. I actually didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. It’s a dreary, miserable day in Howdon but this made me feel like I was doing my work from the back of a dimly lit jazz hop bar in the 90s. Weirdly enough, I found this pretty similar to the Air album at times. Cool stuff, D’Angelo!
Not my cup of tea but not bad. Extra point awarded for bass lines being on fire.
A bit funny. Sounds like the Italien funky Beatles
Great r&b album with a great vibe!
So smooth
7/10
I know people love D'Angelo -- particularly his album Voodoo. I haven't really given him a chance. Love the opening title track. Beautiful, layering of soulful bass, keys, and vocals that you could practically slice a knife into. His voice is silky and well supported here. Alright borrows a beat from trip-hop origins -- dusty, quantized snares contrast with the cleanness of his vocals. This is the kind of song that doesn't really go anywhere fast, but you can easily sit back into and groove. I dig it. Three tracks in and I am most taken by the production quality on display. The layering is beautiful and a treat through quality headphones. Also three tracks in, I can see this album running together before long as this seems to keep going back to a groovy, soulful mid-tempo R&B. Man I am a sucker for that clean jazzy electric guitar tone that is mixed into the back half of Me and Those Dreamin' Eyes. Drop into Shit, Damn, Motherfucker was surprisingly abrupt -- this one continues the jazzy atmosphere, but in a more bluesy vein with wide-open organs and a sleek bassline carrying the whole thing forward. This is quite a different song from the preceding, talking about finding his wife and best friend getting it on and killing them both. Lyrics of disbelief at the back half (why are you bleeding so much, why am I in handcuffs). The background bass plucking in Lady reminds me a lot of a Thundercat song whose name I can't think of at the moment. This is a tricky one for me. I think this played a little longer than I would have preferred, but found a lot of the early songs (particularly the production) to be really strong. This had initial 4 energy, but it faded out for my taste. At the end I'm left with somewhere between a high 3 and a low 4 after a single playthrough.
Jonz In My Bonz is a great title. Me and Those Dreamin' Eyes of Mine put some boogie in my bones while I was making lunch. Not my normal cup of tea, but certainly enjoyable. Basslines were bumping! I think this one is a 4, but it definitely got a nudge for being something that is better than I expected. Probably won't listen to this again cause it's not really my style, but it was good one.
Soulful. And filthy. Nothing I would normally ever listen to, but it's good
In the 90s, women melted over this. I can't really blame them. If D'Angelo were smoother he'd be a waxed kitten. I mean, now it's trite as F, but back thirty years ago he'd have been knee deep in clunge, and there would have been zero complaints. Get in, dude. You've earnt your place.
A great surprise and a fun listen. Some really gooddd work here
Enjoyed this very much. Listened several times. Great background for whatever.
An evening spent with D'angelo is an evening spent well.
ohhh I know this! smooth jazzy rbn, great instrumentation, the vibe I need. +1 extra star to boost the average rating. people here seem to hate anything that isn't the most standard dad rock.
Smooth sounding soul music with a good groove. Now I know what Mayer Hawthorne was listening to. Well produced, and I’m especially impressed since I found out he played all the instruments himself.
I miss this sort of rnb, the mix of live and samples and understated vocal
I like his mix of hip hop and motown sounds .
It's alright. Kinda repetitive to me but I think I just don't like the genre that much. Better than average though so 4.
Love the music. Ignored the lyrics for the most part
As a fan of the soulquarian period of R&B and Hip Hop this album really felt right at home for me. You might be able to show me objectively better albums from that era but D-angelo has a special sauce that elevates his work above all others in terms of effort and craft. Brown Sugar is a great album for anyonr in need of a chill soundtrack or baby makin background sound.
Has anyone ever sung the word “Motherfucker” so beautifully? I’ve been catching up on albums that I missed when I took a break from this project. When I saw the news of D’Angelo’s passing, I knew it was time to give “Brown Sugar” its listen. What a treat this album is! Cohesive, yet eclectic. Consistent, yet always interesting. “Cruisin’” is the platonic ideal for a cover song: D’Angelo made his own while staying faithful to the original. The fact that he produced, wrote, and played most of the instruments on this record is astounding. Rest in Peace D’Angelo, a talent taken too soon!
Already liked a couple songs off this record. Several songs in, and I’m adding everything to my playlist. This is better than I expected. Classic soulful, quiet storm r&b. This will get you laid. No fail. Even the song about murderous rage is sexy as fuck. The Smokey Robinson cover is a nice surprise. Well done. Really enjoyed this album more than I thought I would.
This was a good album i liked.
It surprised me and after the album was done, spotify went on to other artists I didn't know that I also liked.
Already liked a couple songs off this record. Several songs in, and I’m adding everything to my playlist. This is better than I expected. Classic soulful, quiet storm r&b. This will get you laid. No fail. Even the song about murderous rage is sexy as fuck. The Smokey Robinson cover is a nice surprise. Well done. Really enjoyed this album more than I thought I would.
Not gonna lie – one could listen to this all day, though risk is that one will get to feeling way too sexy. It's suave and sexy, swinging and sexy, groovy and sexy, gospel-y and sexy. "Retro-lutionary" is right.
пока все жарят телочек, он жарит курицу и поет алкоальбом: сангрия
Cool macht Spass! Nid dasi würklich rap lose aber finds funky und gmüetlich. Shit damn motherfucker isch natürlich es lyrisches Erlebnis wome so nid wett verpasse. Für da das er cheated on worde isch, isch er mir no fasch zu groovy. 4.1/5
Hey finds eig es wük stabils album wo recht toll isch zum lose und sich eifach lose laht!
brown sugar isch hübsch, zieht sich chli alright. findi weniger nice aber immerno cool so. d bgvs sind super. Jonz in my Bonz. ah jo was? was in was? sound isch cool aber s passiert sochli nüt. Me and thise dreamin eyes isch bluesier findi cool. Shit damn mueterfigger isch recht geil, macht sich uf boxe mit viel bass sehr sehr guet. passiert au nöd viel aber de groove isch nice smooth het en seehr geile drumloop. nocher halt sochli neo-soul chords. cruisin' het sehr cooli chords und de refrain und d strophe sind ganz andersch harmonisch dasch cool. when we get by swingt hert mega nice. bitz retro aber au mega D'Angelo. die bgvs het er basically erfunde? so alles er alles immer zeme und parallel, da macht irgendwie nur er so tight. gad checkt dass er das album mit 20i ufgnoh het. fuuuuuuuuck. Lady findi en ass titel, aber d drums und de bass und d gitarre slapped haaaaard. boooh da riff wos parallel spieled uuuuh. me merkt dass de D'Angelo do öpis neus am cooke isch und woner uf Voodoo denn ane gange isch. es fehlt de Questlove. De Bass isch do geil aber de Pino Palladino bringts denn no uf e ganz anders level. und d songs sind chli lang, waner zwor nöd andersch gmacht het uf voodoo. Higher isch wieder en bluesy-Gospel-type song macht spass zum lose. Orgel-time. ich ha zerst denkt jäääh mues das album do ine sii, well voodoo isch klar besser und ich ha im einte begleittext glese dases chli meh sound als songs isch zum teil. Mit dem bini iverstande, aber s het doch seehr geili songs drunder und was de 20/21-jöhrig do uspackt het und wiener afoch s ganze Soul/R&B Genre veränderet het isch crazy. D backing vocals sind immer chli glich aber drum au markezeiche. plus d instrumentierig isch nie z viel, sehr tasty. Döt woner no am meiste lücke het findi sind d songs selber, beziehigswiis d hooks. er verlürt sich glaub mengmol im sound vom song anstatt im song selber. aber sehr sehr guets album, als Debüt absolut chrank.
engeliiii brown sugar super ihstig und denn au alright mega schön und nice drums SUMMERSUMMERSUMMER Jonz in my bonz het mi nöd ganz umghaue, ischmer chli z wenig passiert shit damn motherfucker schöö moody ja eifach richtig guet neo soul
so smooth so good
Netter, 90er Soul.
Pretty excellent. Overall distinct sound, and really seemed like this defined (although maybe defied some conventions) of the mid-90s R&B sound. Overall enjoyed listening, will probably revisit, but I don’t know that this will make it into regular rotation/personal favorite territory.
Some of the smoothest babymaking jams you’ve probably ever heard. Full of soul.
Smooth R&B vocal, with jazzy hip-hop beats. It's a good sound, though the lyrics definitely haven't aged well.
This is not my genre, but I can recognize the quality. I like some neosoul to listen to it repeatedly. This isn't quite there -- it's got a little too much melisma for me, but it's still good. (Why turn cartwheels to get from point A to B, when walking would have been just fine?) 4 stars.
Smooth- never heard this album before.
Some solid R&B delivered by D'Angelo. This still bangs almost 30 years later. It's a great mix of R&B, Soul, and Jazz back beats.
Baby-making music. When I worked at a record store in my teens/twenties there was a very large lady working in the receiving department who listened exclusively to D'Angelo on her portable boombox. So I know this album well. It served her well, and I enjoyed it as well.
Beats are great, can’t really get into the lyrics so just listen to the background
Funky Jazz type toon. Reminded me a little of Russ and some other artists but it’s definitely from the late 90s early 2000s.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I liked it. Soul with a nice bit of jazz. Not a style I’m very familiar with but I think it does merit a place on this list.
Relax and enjoy
Total grooves! Enjoyed this so much more than I expected. A genre I gave no time to. Loved it 4.3
mierīgi vaibi
really like it
Yes! They should have scheduled this album for 14th of February, has the vibes 😏😏😏
I’m familiar with this artist and have had songs on playlists from his edgier, later album, Messiah . This earlier album was a good place to start the musical Kaizen journey. While the sound was somewhat dated, that 90s synth incongruous with the r&b soulfulness, there was a song or two that held up well. Overall the album is superior to most of the crap released in the last decade.
I'm pretty sure I owned this CD at some point in the 90's. Great R&B album for sure from that decade.
I had heard (and stared at the album cover of) Voodoo, but not this earlier album. An amazing first album, made even more impressive given that he was responsible for nearly every aspect of it. Such talent. I’m not a regular R&B listener, but I could get into this. 3.8
I had a roommate almost 25 years ago who was very much into this album. Back then it was not something that was on my radar or of a style I listened to at all, but over time I grew to enjoy it quite a bit. I haven't listened to much D'Angelo at all in the years in between, but I have widened my interests substantially in that time and I really enjoyed listening to this album now. The musical accompaniment is the main draw for me. Songs like Smooth and Cruisin' have my favorite style of jazz keyboard playing; sparse but no notes wasted, almost like acting as punctuation for each musical phrase. So close to a 5 score for me; 4.4/5.
For the second coming of Prince, this is kinda dated in a way his best stuff never will become. Luckily I still love 90s R&B so that’s not a problem, but I do think D’Angelo perfected his sound on Voodoo. B-
mellow r&b, meaning it’s good as long as it’s not the first boy thing i’m paying attention to
D’Angelo Provo g that real soul is not dead, it just needs a clever mind to keep it going.
December 17, 2023 Better than expected
Fantastic '90s style R&B singing contrasted with excellent musicianship rooted in more traditional forms of R&B and soul.
Great RnB Album! I love D´Angelo`s soft soulful Voice! Fav Tracks where for me brown sugar, (shit, damn, motherfucker), cruisin and lady
Only knew one song of his (from MTV!) I dont know if this is an iconic, must listen album but it certainly is a sold example of soul and r&b. Nice listen.
smooooooth as frick, very soulful and jazzy definitely like this one a lot
Very smooth album, cool and comfy for a lounge.
D'Angelo is one dude who's career is far more interesting than I had imagined. It's weird that he wanted to do all this interesting stuff with music as part of the neo-soul movement, but was essentially considered to be too sexy to be taken seriously. It's a bummer that he didn't put out more music as a result of his struggles for creative control, but I have a hell of a lot of respect for him. Anyway, this album is before all that, and I don't have a huge amount to say about it, but it's dope 4/5
This one was just so much fun to listen to. I love how languid and slow it moves, slipping from song to song. The vocals and harmonies are gorgeous and every song has its own distinct identity. Nearly everything was on par with each other too, the weaker songs not being that much weaker than the stronger songs. A very nice listen to an album I would definitely go back to.
4/5 - so smooth, hard to dislike this album, a little bit repetitive though
One of the great R&B albums of the 90’s. D’Angelo’s singing is as smooth as butter, and those bass lines just create a great pocket and sit right in the groove. 4/5!
Smooth
Super Chill music.
Ruhiges Album, guter Start in den Morgen. Calm vibes. R’n’B glaube ich? Würde auch auf Big daddy’s mystery Playlist passen LOL
Quite liked this
Excellent mood music
Molto chill
Consistent 4
Aanvankelijk gaat het nog over de 'echte' bruine suiker, van het type dat je niet in de supermarkt aantreft. Daarna volgen gelikte achteroverleun-klanken, sommigen zouden het zelfs 'slaapkamermuziek' noemen. Soul voor de jaren negentig. Best leuk in ieder geval.
I could've swore we got Voodoo on here too, but nope, this is our first from D'Angelo. What a great talent he is, someone who operates on the softer side of R&B/soul, I named him in my review of Solange's album for that shared trait. How do you do a Smokey Robinson cover ("Cruisin") and make it feel even lighter and airier? No idea, but he does it. I hadn't heard this album before but it's great. Title track was fantastic. Would be happy to get any or all of the other D'Angelo albums on here too. Favorite tracks: Brown Sugar, Jonz in my Bonz, Smooth, Cruisin, Lady. Album art: A sort of sepia-washed out photo of D'Angelo, it's not bad but not very special. 4/5
Judging by the reviews here, the majority of users on this website get precisely zero bitches.
Amazing! D'angelo's voice is so smooth and the instrumentation backs that up. Very cohesive and doesn't overstay its welcome. Best tracks: Brown Sugar, Smooth, Me and Those Dreamin' Eyes of Mine.
D'Angelo's followup album, Voodoo, is perhaps the greatest R&B album of all time. Brown Sugar ain't far behind. Aside from being incredibly sexy, it's a hallmark album that builds on all of it's influences with precision. The groovy basslines of funk, the tight production of hip hop, the soul of soul. Every song hits in different ways without ever feeling out of place. Brown sugar really is that sweet.
Hella smooth and sexy. I'm a bit of a sucker for this nineties neo-soul and r&b stuff. The instrumentals just pop different to what we hear nowadays, probably because they provide more space for D'Angelo's delicious voice. Hoping his most recent album Black Messiah is on the list because it's more mature and varied than Brown Sugar. My only gripe with this album is that it doesn't move beyond the very specific style it opens with.
Shiiit, daaaym, muthafuckaaa. Chance the Rapper's Acid Rap must surely be influenced by this album. Buttery harmonies that tickled one's pickle has lifted this to a 4
won a lot of acclaim I guess. I listened to it twice! not bad.
This was awesome. Not an r&b guy but this was too funky not to love
90's Soul / R&B Incarnate. Refined and sexy . This album just feels good when this is the mood you want.
massa o R&B, bem agradavel e pa
oh wow...
I liked it. Nice music to chill to, to have in the background. Great rhythm
It good
Shit, Damn, Motherfucker
Well, that was unexpected. I loved the bass lines. I actively listened to every song, even caught myself dancing during my workout. Nice.
3.5
Highlights: "Lady," "Jonz in my Bonz," "Me and my Dreamin' Eyes" R&B mid-90s had already absorbed plenty of funk and hip-hop. What sticks out here in context is plenty of other stuff: the timbres, the harmonies, and the rhythm. "Neo-soul" is more a cluster of associated artists that formed a new guard of Serious Musicians in R&B: Erykah Badu's 1997 "Baduizm," The Roots, Bilal...Thundercat was an understudy twinkle in their eye. It isn't just how old-school the soul can get with D'Angelo but how much jazz extension and ornamentation is in here -- not an innovation but a cut above a lot of his peers. If anything, his style seems to owe a lot to Prince, his appreciation of groove and his tentative, exploring falsetto. But even Prince has spent much more time in a very timbrally embellished place. It's really taken "neo-soul" a long time to renegotiate the bells and whistles of synths and high production, and it's easy to forget it started as a "conscious" reaction against that. Gone are the '80s crystal leads, the vocoders, the pads, (most) strings, the trippy modulation, the scratching, the guitar is filtered down to a heeled wah, gone gone gone. This is so stripped down and dark that you really get this central heavy thud, this behind the beat feel that only became more pronounced over D'Angelo's career until Questlove popularized a formalized version with THAT quintuplet beat. D'Angelo gave pop this feel. 4/5
Some really good stuff! Smooth, great harmonies. Good cheeky little solos. Not very overwhelming. Good good cruise stuff
8/10 dated but really enjoyable.
7/10. This was good, but I didn't give it the attention it deserved so I can't say how good it was.
I like D’Angelo’s wandering R&B style. The songs have a sort of jammy improvisational feel that really works for me. 8/10
Smooth
Wonderful, smooth
Pleasantly surprised by this album seeing as it’s not in my particular field of taste.
Not something I would seek out, but I enjoyed this
Smooth and silky - and actually a good record. It kind of leans towards a steamier Stevie Wonder with a lot of soul.
A lot of smooth sexy songs on here, an overall real nice listen!
I didn’t need to even listen. I’ve heard this album 1000 times already. D’Angelo is a master of his craft and this album is a classic.
D'Angelo is the master of baby-making music. This album is loose, jazzy and sexy. I really enjoyed it and it works just as well when you pay close attention to the music as it does simmering in the background. "Shit, Damn, Motherfucker" is a wild song. Aside from the (amazing) chorus, the lyrics about catching his wife with his best friend and murdering them both caught me by surprise. 👀😂
Sexy music, very easy to listen to. I think it deserves a place on this list, but the one downside is that it's almost ~too~ easy listening. I find that can be the case with some genres like smooth RnB, and light jazz, and I've heard him before but didn't expect it to be this laid back. It's still a great sound, but the songs all kind of blend together. I think some of it's downfall is the proliferation of choruses where the backup singers sing the main hook and he riffs behind them. It's a great sound but definitely overdone on the album. I think it's a strong 3, like closer to a 3.8, so I'm giving it a 4.
Nice, solid soulful album. If you new "Cruisin' " from the Huey Lewis / Gwyneth Paltrow version, that has to be the whitest version of that song I have ever heard. D'Angelo makes it about 1,000 times better and smoother. Wow. The album version is a bit long, though. I imagine the radio edit is better. I'm surprised that he's only done three albums. But I guess quality over quantity? Although they called this neo-soul, there were a lot of times it drifted into more jazz. Not a bad thing, but the lines were definitely blurred. Good album to "get it on" to.
Very smooth I enjoyed it
Best Song: Shit, Damn, Motherfucker. I already thought this song was great with the funky intro, and then when the chorus hit I was in with both feet. GotDAMN this song is good. Worst Song: Higher. A little too much gospel in my R&B. Overall: Shit this is smooth. My first exposure to it, and I'll definitely be keeping it in the rotation. So slick, with no real low points. Just a perpetual groove.
Loved this type of rnb, lyrical and jamming.
A really chill neo-soul album with great vocals and even better production. It seems this is the only D'Angelo album on the list though, which is a bit odd as the other two seem so much more focused and vital
Solid R&B
Funky soulful beats, groovy bass, gorgeous jazzy feel. Very easy to get lost in.
Different vibe to the rest of the list, smooth and easy listening.
ce gros lover
felt cool.
Was worried this was gonna sound dated upon revisiting it, but he captured a pretty timeless sound - incorporating various influences from the past fairly seamlessly with a more modern, at times even progressive, touch. The grooves are nice but I like it most when he gets more atmospheric and textured with the the arrangements, like on "Jonz in my Bonz" and "Cruisin'". This was a breath of fresh air compared to the more formulaic R&B of its era.
Smooth, good vibes
Something about this album reminds of those late nights I'd stay up baked out of my mind to watch that greasy ass show Cheaters. I hated it, but also it was kind of fun?
Liked this more than I expected to. Definitely gospel roots and very smooth.
Whew. Lemme towel off. That was 50 minutes, and then some, of pure, unadulterated R&B/Soul/Gospel (yes, Gospel) seduction (yes, yes, seduction). Oh, and we consummated the relationship… several times. Yeah, this LP carries a Parental Advisory tag for Explicit Content, and for good reason. It’s a grown-up experience, for sure. The kids couldn’t handle this. 'Brown Sugar' needs to be played loudly, headphones are fine, too. If you like Soul music- no, forget that, if you recognize any good music when you hear it, regardless of genre- then you’ll dig this LP. I sure did. How have I not heard of this cat? With the exclusion of the stringed instruments- which, by the way, are used with such subtle restraint that you hardly know you’ve been listening to them, like the aftertaste of an herb used in the sauce, never standing out, but only contributing to the overall flavor- D’Angelo plays virtually every instrument on this debut recording. That’s Prince territory, brother. His bass parts ala Paul McCartney’s, that wonderful wah-wah guitar sound so important to R&B/soul, his tasty little jazz piano solo on ‘Smooth,’ or the pure funk beat on ‘Alright,’ with a bonus gospel sound that blow in and out like the seemingly capricious movement of the Holy Spirit. (By the way his father was a Pentecostal minister.) On ‘Shit, Damn, Motherfucker’ (and more on that in a moment) he pays homage to a Marvin Gaye-like groove. He actually (re)covers Smokey Robinson’s 1979 hit, ‘Cruisin’,’ and makes it his own. Smokey Robinson. He’s not as good a singer as Smokey, but he’s got his own perfectly fine chops, including the lilting falsettos. On ‘Jonz In My Bonz’ he creates this wonderful bubbly, underwatery, and syncopated xylophone (I think) kind of sound that runs throughout the underneath of the song. I’ve never used this term, but here goes: prog funk. D’Angelo just gave it birth. Musically, so subtly smooth. Lyrically, about as subtle as knocking on the door to your blind date with a large, ebony strap-on. D’Angelo has one thing, and one thing only, on his mind: he wants to make sweet, chocolate love to you. ‘Your skin is caramel with the coco eyes,’ he purrs on the title track. How delicious does caramel skin sound? On ‘Me And These Dreamin’ Eyes Of Mine’ he describes her love as ‘the cherry in my chocolate covered dreams.’ Ok, we get it, D. brown skin is sexy. But he overdoes it a bit on ‘When We Get By,’ which begins as a nice date, dinner, movie, etc, but then of course, ends with sex, D’Angelo proposes, ‘We could make love in the shade, sip some chocolate(?) lemonade.’ But I get it. He’s a young, good looking dude, this one. I can’t imagine getting consent has been much of a problem for him. And good thing, too, cause this guy’s so horny the crack of dawn isn’t safe. At the time of this recording, he was 21. So, say no more. But to be fair, and this is noteworthy, the content is presented romantically, albeit erotically. Every song, save one, is about seduction, with the final track, ‘Higher,’ a celebration of good news, complete with the gospel genre being the primary influence here. But the good news of this sexy service is not quite what one typically gets in church. The salvation here is that D is getting some: ‘Just like an angel watching over me (your protect me from my fears). I once was blind but now I see (ever since the day you appeared.)’ This is not a reference to the grace of God in Jesus, either. It’s not that he’s disrespectful at all of gospel music, or church, sincerely referencing prayer and such. But D’Angelo’s just as likely to bend the choir director over the pew and have a go as he is to use it for prayer. I’ll not give it a way, but on the afore mentioned, ‘Shit, Damn, Motherfucker (it’s honestly cracking me up to type that title),’ D catches his girl with another guy in bed, and things end horribly. I won’t give it away, but I found myself actually a bit frightened as the song progressed. I loved this LP, especially the instrumentation which was conceived, written, edited, and performed with style and taste. I would add one last adjective to describe 'Brown Sugar': sophisticated. This is dress up soul. Tuxedo and evening gowns. Just make sure you’ve got some sexy negligee on underneath for later.
Nice/smooth/raw
// Sugar, you're so fine, and the day is fine, and we'll be fine. When we make it by and we get by with love. //
WAOUH!!!
4.5/5. Very swag, very good production
I’ve never listened to soul/R&B stuff, but this is what I think of when I think of zoning out. Really nice, smooth like silk. 8/10
Smooth
This is excellent. Great feeling RNB that strikes the right balance sonically. Jonz In My Bonz is a song that I don't fully get, maybe its just a song about boning. Cruisin' is good but When We Get By is waaaaayy good
So damn good. S-t Damn Motherf-ker and Higher are the highlights. But several more great ones. The bass sound on Lady is dreamy. I dismissed this guy as some basic R&B crooner in the 90s. First, the music is better. Second, he wrote it. Third, he plays not just sings. I'm sorry D'Angelo, I did not give you a chance until now.
Finally a hip-hop album that is less than an hour long. Not really my type of music but the production is good and there is a sophistication to the sound and to the songs especially that I like and that sets it apart. Some really interesting production touches and instrument choices, Is that vibes I hear in Me and those Dreamin' eyes of Mine? Not sure but that jazzy guitar is really cool. Has a classic soul sound that I like but remains modern. On the negative side; the songs tend to be too long. I don't think it's a coincidence that my favorite song also happens to be the shortest one; Smooth, with it's smooth jazzy piano 3.75 stars
Fanar!’mmmm
Will need to listen again, still, definitely enjoyed it. D'Angelo sounds very cool and collected, and the instrumentals were great.
Aww man the band here is so in the pocket it's ridiculous. Love that jazzy keys sound. First time hearing this album, and it just works straight outta the gate. What a talent! Can't wait to listen to his other albums. Bonus points for naming one song "Shit, Damn, Motherfucker". Is that the greatest song title of all time?! Every track here is awesome.
That's a smooth album.
I liked this one! Not that complicated lyrically but for what it is, it's beautiful :)
I didn't believe sex music existed before this album
memories of being in my ex's bunk bed age 14! Very smooth, lovely rich sound. Great voice. Some bits were definitely the inspiration for some Flight Of The Conchords songs.
Good album. It's weird but I somehow couldn't shake the feeling that the lyrics were nonsense. Maybe something about them being so literal made me feel that way. Honestly I have no idea. His cover of Cruisin' is pretty damn good though.
Not the best D'Angelo album but still very good
Nice chill soul music. Good for background listening
Nice chilled songs, good background listening
Smooth, groovy, very sexy. Love the jazz undercurrents.
Great album! The epitome of cool!
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Brown Sugar; Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine; Shit, Damn, Motherfucker; Lady Cutting Edge: Cruisin' Overall Notes: Smooth as butter. Didn't really think soul was my genre, but I've heavily fucked with the soul albums I've gotten thus far on this thing. Vibes on vibes on vibes.
Den va nice, I like it. Lite sensuell typ, blir def 4/5
Our of gis time.
Pretty good album. Brown Sugar was a great track and liked Crusin’ more than I was expecting. A good mellow sound throughout. Shit, Damn, Motherfucker is an A+ name for a song
4.4 - Sophisticated R&B jams, smooth vocals with radiant falsetto, lush instrumentation. A vibe good enough to warrant an immediate repeat listen.
I think I liked a majority of the album (as in I saved almost 3/4ths of the songs.) But there wasn't any songs that really stood out and forced me to listen on repeat like "Girls just Wanna Have Fun", "Blue Suede Shoes" or "Tutti Frutti". I enjoyed listening to it and will revist it though, it's MORE OF A SOFT FOUR than a HARD FOUR LIKE the other two
Sweet und sommerlich, urban und zeitlos. Klingt für mein ungeschultes Ohr wie ein männliches Pendant zu Erikah Badu. Perlt, hat die richtige Menge Soul und Jazz. Top-Entdeckung hier, Digger, no diggity!
Ur-neo-soul. Have loved this record since day one. 4.5.
So good! Smooth as butter.
Excellent album, all the way through! Great voice, and great vibe.
I kind of love it.
90’er rnb, neo-soul, lækkert, fløde
I don't really like rnb/soul music but this floated my boat, pretty impressed. and reading wiki the dude is like a musical genius. wrote and played the whole thing himself, produced most as well. crazy that i'd never even heard of it before. 4/5.
Čisti zvučni šećer. Definitivno najbolji opis što mogu dati. A ja nemam neki apetit za slatko, ali čak i u ovom žanru koji ne volim čujem da je ovo klasa iznad.
decent R&B cant complain but nothing stood out to me
On his debut, D'Angelo melds a throwback 70s soul sound to a 90s R&B and hip-hop mentality (see the lyrics that include profanity and drug references). Most songs start softly with a few hi-hat taps, burbling bass, and dreamy keyboard riffs. This formula definitely sets a mellow mood, but doesn't add much excitement to the musical mix. However, the singing and instrumentation (mostly performed solely by D'Angelo) are solid. Recommended as mood music, not to rock the party. Highlights: "Brown Sugar", "Jonz in My Bonz", "Sh-t, Damn, Motherf-cker"
Traveling - will get back to this one. Temporary rating of 3 based on hearing it before
I was tempted to call him, “the Marvin Gaye of the ‘90s.” But there were just too many, “ooohs,” “wooos,” and, “bay-yay-bays,” for me to feel that that was an appropriate comparison. Good, but not quite great.
Favorite tracks: Brown Sugar, Me and Those Dreamin’ Eyes of Mine, Cruisin’, & When We Get By.
There were a few good ones.
I could appreciate the musicianship and the groove, but most of the songs blended together for me and failed to leave a lasting impression. Strangely, the thing I remember most is Shit, Damn, Motherfucker, which sounds sophisticated despite repeating its title like an angry teenager.
Music is beautiful, but slightly repetitive. Wanted this to be a little better, cause it has so much going for it, just needed a little more umph. 3/5 Might listen again
Not bad
I had to come back and edit this. I originally wrote a review for Voodoo. I guess I saw D'angelo and just assumed it was Voodoo. I really liked Voodoo... Brown Sugar was fine. I'm not big on R&B so that's why it surprised me how much I enjoyed Voodoo. Brown Sugar just didn't do enough beyond standard R&B to get me into it. It was fine. 3 stars
música pa culiar
Sugar indeed, sweet and soulful, but too singularly so—it's a bit monotone and repetitive.
Podía ser una vergonha, pero lejos de serlo me termino de atrapar. Negro rico 🤤
Humdrum
Ok, chill but ok I would have added some hip hop to it and I think then it would be better.
6.75/10 - If you see this is playing on my Spotify, don’t text me for a bit.
Very nice. I added “Cruising’” to my playlist.
Soulful rnb /soul with notes of jazz . As highly talented he is his smooth approach to singing sucks the energy a little . Good just not great Shit damn Mr could have been very misogynistic but ends up being about consequences- still has elements of ownership of women
Such soothing music and good vocal. If the lyrics were not so repetitive, it would be a 4 star.
Fun but it made me want to listen to Voodoo
pretty good but still
Did not meet expectations
Smooth as silk
Smooth for a nice sexy fuck. Problem is most songs are quite long and the album itself could cut 3 or 4 songs, and I cum fast, so average rating from me.
Overall decent. Haven't spent much time listening to D'Angelo but I could appreciate his singing and incorporation if so much slow jazz in his music. The one fault I had was that it seemed repetitive, and I'm unable to really place any of the songs in this big sea of 90s R&B
This album is like a fancy restaurant with a limited menu. A couple of amazing courses, but by the end you're craving something new. And "Shit, Damn, Motherfucker"? should've been an explosion of rage, not a cocktail lounge's specialty drink. It's like ordering a spicy taco and getting watered-down salsa. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Brown Sugar - Cruisin' - Lady
ta bueno, blues rap ns que es 3/5
++: Brown Sugar, Alright, Smooth, Cruisin', Higher +: Me and Those Dreamin' Eyes of Mine, Shit, Damn, Motherfucker, Lady +-: Jonz in My Bonz, When We Get By 7,6/10
I'd heard the track "Brown Sugar" before, but not the rest. The falsetto singing reminds me of Prince. Probably one of the most soulful albums in the 1001 list - the sound is smooth like honey. The melodies are OK.
Fine. Nice groove. Worked as background but won't be returning to it.
RIP D'Angelo. I guess I am a bit surprised the generator didn't give me any of his albums after his death in October. Listened to it now though. Pretty good 90s R&B soul but Voodoo is usually considered the better record. Still a very strong debut.
D’Angelo has a great voice, and he’s super talented, but this album falls into the trap of a lot of 90s R&B albums, where most of the songs go on for just about 1-2 minutes too long. It’s not bad, just becomes boring and repetitive after awhile.
Smooth, mellow, polished R&B. Not my usual type of listening, but he's good at what he does. Great grooves, harmonies, and instrumental performances (many of which D'Angelo apparently performed himself). The extremely slow and relaxed way he repeats "Shit, Damn, Motherfucker" in that song's chorus is kinda hilarious.
Overall a big yes, a date with this album and some bourbon shaking off work.
The name fits. Goddamn, this is saucy. This is what you put on when you feel zesty after dinner.
This is certainly funky, and I like funky, but for whatever reason I couldn't get into it despite the good musicianship.
pretty much repetitive and long asf but it was really cute
Changed my note back up to a 3 from a 2. Overall the vibe is really pleasing and consistent throughout. this LP. Tracks can drag on a bit too much but really kinda give it to the D, he knows how to make it sexy
Talent-wise it's very good, he's a good singer. But soul and 90s production makes me feel a bit sick tbh
3.7 Smooth and cool. I like it, particularly two fun songs, but don’t love it. Good background like easy listening
In one ear and out the other. Not the way D'Angelo usually does it, bue he seems game for anything. Not the usual for me either, but not unpleasant, not regretable. 2.5 An unexpectedly interesting listen this. The bass and drums sound sweet - I won’t say as sweet as ‘chocolate lemonade’ because I suspect that drink will turn out sickening and both D’Angelo and the lady in When We Get By will regret sipping it. Well, I duck duck goed ‘chocolate lemonade’ there and it’s only fair to note that this concoction has 4.5 stars from 9 ratings on ‘food.com’. Sample comments: ‘I thought EWWWWWWWWWWWw that would be gross!! BOY was I mistaken!!’ (Azurelynn) ‘I must admit, I expected this recipe to be awful. Gosh, was I surprised!’ (Cuisinebymae) So shut my mouth - D’Angelo knows his drinks and I dare say his date with that lady went well. 2.5/5
Sitting alone listening to sex music is an odd energy to fill a room with. This music couldn’t be anymore opposite to my general state of being.
There are worse things to listen to at your office job on a Monday morning
mellow and smooth like hot chocolate (what - expecting a sugar pun?)
classic soul
Not really my thing but it was interesting and I can hear how its good.
Thoughts before listening: All I really ever knew of D'Angelo was that he was neo-soul and had the music video with his shirt off. Otherwise, I never really paid him much attention. In subsequent years however he has emerged as an often referenced hallmark of 90s/00s r&b/soul. I think this will be a first listen for me. Review: I like that D'Angelo seems to be fronting an actual legit jazz group here. Definitely has more of an organic sound than a lot of 90s r&b. This is fine even if its not necessarily my cup of team. 3-stars
Nice album
Didn't find this one terribly exciting, but it had a nice vibe to it that I enjoyed. Definitely wasn't expecting a song called "Shit, Damn, Motherfucker" to come on, and for it to be that laid back with a title like that but I wasn't exactly complaining. All in all, didn't wow me, but I would put it on again if I had to choose between it and silence so I'll give it 3 stars.
grooviger r‘n‘b - manchmal fast zu sanft!
ehh, pretty standard for the genre
The birth of neo soul
Pretty good stuff…
Better than I expected. Really good R&B, soul
Not my favorite genre but he does a pretty good job with it
= the Beatles
Făinuri mi-o plăcut
This was super chill. Not my usual pick, but cool.
Neo-soul that nods back to soul of the 60s and 70s while retaining a fresh, hip-hop feel. The record had a deep groove - the bass is heavy and up front, locking in an unavoidable pocket with the drums. D’Angelo is clearly a talented writer, singer, and performer. The first half was stronger to me - it sounded newer and more innovative, while the back half was a bit more traditional and didn’t grab me in the same way.
Soul and r'n'b are not my favourite styles so it's hard to evaluate for me, but his voice is truly buttery smooth!
Brown Sugar is one of those albums where I can clearly hear the lineage and the influence even if I don’t fully feel the magic myself. The Marvin Gaye and Teddy Pendergrass DNA is right there in the warmth of the grooves and the analog haze, but D’Angelo leans on his falsetto more than I prefer, floating above the music instead of digging into it. The record’s softness is its strength, but it also makes the sudden pivot into “Shit, Damn, Motherfucker” feel like someone spliced a street‑level murder ballad into a candlelit soul session. I get the betrayal and sorrow he’s aiming for, but the coarseness and tonal whiplash undercut the romance the rest of the album is working so hard to build. Still, I can hear exactly how this opened the door for neo‑soul and reshaped R&B’s trajectory. +1 for influence, even if the album itself doesn’t quite land in my personal rotation. My Rating: 3/5
This was pretty fun, this kind of music has been kind of lost and so many of the greats have been fully exposed as terrible people. Ultimately not really to my taste but I can't really complain.
Quite some chill songs
Smooth and sexy and a solid album front to back.
kinda nervous to dive into this, but here we go... his voice is really nice. "Alright" is a total vibe! Overall, this album is fine, I totally understand why people like it and it's inclusion on this list. It's just really not my thing tho
7/10
This is as good as Soul got in the mid-'90s, but Voodoo (and later Black Messiah) bested it in every way, to the point that I rarely make it through the first couple tracks on Brown Sugar before just putting Voodoo on for the 1000th time. Hey, guess what D'Angelo album isn't on this list? Infuriating. A hypothetical five stars for Voodoo, the sexiest album ever recorded.
Smoooooth
A really solid debut. A great voice and production. Thematically and musically consistent. I appreciate that D'Angelo wrote and/or produced every song. The one cover he did include fit seamlessly.
only really like the singles
Vibes Indeed
a vibe indeed
A bit samey, nothing special. Would rate 5/10
This is another debut album. The style has been described as “neo-soul”, which seems to be updated soul/R&B. Not to diminish the album, but this would be good background music while you clean the house or work in the garage. ‘Smooth” has a Marvin Gaye vibe. “Cruisin” is a cover of the Smokey Robinson” song. “When We Get By” is a nice smooth jazz number. Overall impression: 3.3 stars.
Good, but not quite Black Messiah
"Scarred old slaver know he′s doin' alright, hear him whip the women, just around midnight" Oh, wait not that one.......... This is definitely the soundtrack that a gentleman CONSIDERABLY more successful with the ladies that I ever was used to soundtrack his "do you fancy some dinner at my place for a third date". And I respect that. With a deep side-helping of jealousy
I knew D'Angelo as a neo-soul pioneer and collaborator with Lauryn Hill, but I can't remember ever consciously listening to any of his songs. On his debut album “Brown Sugar,” he is still searching for his style, and accordingly, it is a mélange of still quite distinct soul, jazz, and hip-hop influences. Personally, I like the jazzier tones on “Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine” and “When We Get By” best.
I thought I would like it more than I did. The cover of Crusin' was the only memorable song.
This was pleasant enough. D'Angelo is a great singer and arranger, the production is excellent, but unfortunately it didn't seem particularly memorable. The whole album felt a bit too polished and homogenised to stand out to me.
Interesting transition from Jerry Lee Lewis to D'Angelo. Fortunately, the same subject matter. No incredible songs but no real disappointments.
I’m digging these Tonz on My Phonz
i liked it honestly but not much to write home about
This felt like a bridge between classic R&B and modern R&B. The live instrumentation gave it a warm feel and the hip hop beats kept it current. Still not my favorite genre, I like old R&B so I appreciated the Smokey cover, but modern R&B doesn’t really excite me. I did enjoy the live band element of the album, some great musicianship on here, but most of the songs were so so.
It had its highs and lows
He sounds great, it’s just too long. The songs are too long, the album is too long, the songs start to sound the same after a while. If this had been about 15-20 minutes shorter this would’ve been a 4 for me.
enjoyed this as background music on a gloomy day. did kinda drag at the end & got little bored w/the falsetto's