Reviews (page 5 of 7)
r&B vibe
Ég get ekki sagt að D'Angelo sé mjög eftirminnilegur söngvari, en mér finnst þessi hljóðheimur ágætur. Má alveg hafa þetta í bakgrunni án þess að pirrast.
Brown Sugar - 8.5/10 Alright - 7.5/10 Jonz In My Bonez - 7.5/10 Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine -7.5/10 Sh*t, Damn, Motherf*cker - 8/10 Smooth - 7.5/10 Cruisin' - 7.5/10 When We Get By - 7.5/10 Lady - 8/10 Higher - 7.5/10 TOTAL - 77/100
Alright.
Not bad, I like the keys and the neo-soul sound. Not as bad as others have rated.
almost 30 years later and every album still tries to sound like this
Chill baby making music. It took a couple listens but I could definitely get down to this in the right setting. My favorite track off the album is Jonz in my Bonz
Very impressive that he produced the record and played instruments himself, and I am a fan of the R and B style, but too many of the songs sound exactly the same.
Okej mi je ali ništa posebno
Some sexy r+b, love this stuff. Nice to not listen to anything British
B’angelo
This album did not appeal to my musical taste
Neo-soul classic. Smooth, jazzy, damn near raunchy. Over 10 million children conceived to D'Angelo in '95 alone. Pretty solid album. 3.7
Certainly not bad, but just not my thing.
Kao neka seks muzika, ne vidim drugi scenario gde ovo slusam?
A great soul album, I've had a few like this so far in my run and the genre is growing on me, definitely a good sou dtracj to wrap christmas presents
-third album in a row where i don’t know the artist or album -let me tell you. this guy has a VOICE -like so pretty -these songs too are like DAMNNNN -YEAHHH THOSE HIGHER NOTES YOU TELL THEM! -also he looks AMAZING on this album cover -he is cruising through these vocals and SINGING! -these songs are very groovy -im actually enjoying the vibes we have created here -overall im giving it a 3 just because i really liked it but idk if i would listen to it on my own
Está interesante sobre todo el contexto de este dude, no lo conocía. Está chill.
Very well sung with good falsetto but it wasn't interesting to me, could have just caught me on the wrong day.
Groovy, sexist, 90's We didn't know better.
These grooves are a bit too smooth for me. OK in small doses but two or three songs in and your teeth start to itch a bit.
Neo soul. Ni fu ni fa.
3.5
Not really for me, but I can see how people would be into this. It certainly sounds a bit dated, but it could be worse.
As neo-soul emerged from a divergent timeline with hip-hop in the mid 90’s, D’Angelo rode the crest of the wave. His debut album, “Brown Sugar”, is fifty straight minutes of rich, luscious and lusty quiet storm. By nature, it isn’t especially exciting or awe-inspiring… but it’s certainly not a difficult listen. I liked “Brown Sugar” a fair bit more than the closest comparison I know, Maxwell’s “Urban Hang Suite”. Rather than overreaching by charting the full story of a misguided relationship, “Brown Sugar” focuses simply on the grooves: slinky, sensual, smooth. But it’s not all pretty atmosphere at the expense of any hooks: “Me And Those Dreamin’ Eyes” has a spiralling chorus which subtly grows and grows with each repetition, until it finds a home under the skin. “Jonz In My Bonz” is another exemplary groove, where D’Angelo’s brooding delivery calls to mind Prince at his most bedroom-ready. There’s some nice instrumentation, too: basslines rumble with low-end, filling out each mix without losing any clarity. Luscious, jazzy piano inflections and solos run through “Smooth”, and some organ enters the mix in the final track “Higher”, which lends it a very welcome gospel flavour to send the album out on. But the real centrepiece here is D’Angelo’s multi-layered vocals: appearing on almost every track, they give pillows of melody to become a hallmark of the album’s sound. Imagine “Smooth”, “Cruisin’” or the title track with only one vocal line: it would be like the Beach Boys without harmonies. All in all, though, the best albums on this list have either been a galvanising punch in the face or are beautiful enough to stop me in my tracks and rethink my life. “Brown Sugar” doesn’t quite do either, but it also doesn’t offend or outrage me in any way. Pleasant and inoffensive, it wafts by like a hot summer breeze. “Quiet storm” indeed.
He probably paved the way for Ne-Yo. The tracks are so smooth. The lyrics are not really up my alley but the music is amazing.
D'Angelo sounds like Dollar Store Usher. Not bad, I'm just not a huge fan of R&B. Conveniently though, D'Angelo has mixed his music with more upbeat hip hop so it isn't so fucking boring. He also has a pretty good voice, so that helps. There are definately a few songs on this record that fall into the "songs to play while banging" category. Favourite songs: Brown Sugar, Alright, Me and Those Dreamin' Eyes of Mine, Higher Least favourite songs: "Shit, Damn, Motherfucker" 3/5
Cat: baby makin music. Great bass lines, funky organ and guitar, smooth voice.
Funky and sexy. Fabulous mood setting background tunes while also being really cohesive and a testament to the time
Some smooth tracks. Best song is title track
It was a good r&b album, I liked it. But not really my genre.
Lovely D’Angelo, great pizza too
Smooth and cool enough, I got the impression that the songs should have ended at least a minute earlier. (Giving 3 to anybody, I don't like numeric ratings)
This is not my favorite genre but d'angelo is my favorite artist within it
Wasn't bad, but also wasn't something I'd look up to listen to again.
Not really a genre appeals to me but he has a great voice. This 'neo soul' just wishes over me.
Very smooth and accomplished, talent to spare... But the content and general vibe are maybe a little basic.
Not something i would have normally listened to. Not bad. Didn't want to skip any tracks but won't be revisiting.
3.5 I reckon
This is high quality R&B. Great voice, excellent production.
Its not my style of music but it sounds really good and has a withstanding legacy.
Smooth 3/5
Hele rustige soulvolle achtergrondmuziek. Heeft duidelijk wat weg van de stem van Prince en Marvin Gaye. De funky basis is fijn, de zang had wat minder gemaakt gevoelig mogen zijn. Luistert prima weg als je wat anders aan het doen bent, maar na een tijdje begint het wel allemaal op elkaar te lijken. Omdat het verder wel aardig in elkaar zit, geef ik het toch nog 3 sterren.
This debut is struggling to communicate one cohesive identity to the listener. Good thing his team figured out that he just needed to take his shirt off and make a thirst trap music video for the next record, otherwise he’d be lost in the shuffle and have contributed nothing whatsoever to the pop culture zeitgeist.
Not my kind of thing, but smooth and silky enough to provide some background sounds.
A very chill R&B album, nothing that stood out to me, but I'll take a three star album like this over 95% of the others we have gotten.
Title track a banger, rest sounds the same
Bit repetitive
I just listened and didnt really get anything from it. yeaah ohh uh huh yearahh
This is funky, 90s, sexy-time music at its best. Lots babies were probably made to this album.
Pleasant enough but didn't really hold my attention
Pas nécessairement mauvais, mais ce style de RnB/soul n'est pas tellement mon style. Ça me semble bien exécuté, mais c'est beaucoup trop "sucré" à mon goût, à la longue ça tombe sur le coeur. 5/10
M’n gebeden waren direct verhoord!! Echt heel prima album die lekker weg luistert, soort vibey sexy sweet jummy
cool album! i wish i liked it more (i found the sound to get somewhat monotonous :/) cause the few d'angelo songs i heard prior to this are amazing but this is still some well made sensual neo-soul. lady is EASILY my favourite song on it
You be making babies to this album...👀👀👀
Given that R Kelly is no longer a viable choice, d'Angelo is now my default for 90s sex jams.
The lyrical matter was quite sleazy and lame, but I liked the "music" part of it! Definitely something I could have on in the background as buzz. Generally not a fan of RnB, but this sat quite well with me!
I really didn't want to listen to this. This came out when I was in high school and I hated R&B at that time. I still think most of the R&B after the mid-70s blows but this definitely shows the influences of previous generations. The synthy backing tracks are pretty weak shit still but I actually kind of enjoyed this
It was OK.
Very smooth and very chilled. Falls between soul and hip-hop, while not moving me as much as either. Not my favourite
Very smooth album. I like the nods to things like gospel, smooth jazz, and even a little trip-hop on the title track. It's crazy, even a song about beating up your lady's lover can be a smooth, chill song before you realize you're hearing lines about blood and handcuffs. Plus, the "Cruisin'" cover is pretty solid too. Favorite track: "Brown Sugar"
Super repetitive lyrics, though it's quite a nice intro to neo soul.
A little lost as to what the term "neo-soul" really entails, compared to usual nineties r'n'b. Maybe it's my uneducated ear, but does the difference between digital/electronic *bland* music and the same type of music recorded with real instruments *actually* matter? Whatever the answer to this question is, "neo soul" feels far less vital than hip hop anyway. Case in point: Lauryn Hill. I love her work with the Fugees, but her *Miseducation* solo album bores me to death, in spite of whatever it was that the critics raved about when she released that solo debut. It's more or less the same drill with D'Angelo and his music. After what I've just said up there about hip hop having the upper hand compared to "neo soul", it is absolutely not a surprise that my favorite track on this LP is the opener--because it was co-written with A Tribe Called Quest's Ali Shaheed Muhammed. Everything else sounds... remote and without any real stakes to me. I don't know how to explain it better. I don't even *care* explaining it--which is probably a first for me. And not a good sign. To put it in a nutshell, this LP is certainly not "horrible" to listen to. But it doesn't scream "essential" to me. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: a little less than 600, I've temporarily lost count here Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: approximately a half so far Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: a quarter (including this one: I sometimes leave a door open for albums from subgenres I'm not overtly familiar with--I'm only tougher with "middling" listens when said subgenre is more familiar to me, for better or for worse). Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): the last quarter
Neo soul. Ni fu ni fa.
Some great tracks here but as an album it doesn't wow, and it is awkward listening to this knowing Voodoo is so much better.
I’m a little surprised I haven’t heard more about D’Angelo. The album was a tad repetitive for my taste, but other than that, I enjoyed it. Forgettable, but not unbearable by any means. 3/5
It is an R&B album. It was alright. I think i only recognized Cruisin, but not this version. Better than a 2 not really 3.
Nice lo-fi, r&b vibe. Nothing outstanding but still quite nice album. Solid 3
Very soulful and classic soul sounding. Not generally what I like to liste to tough, a little overly romantic for my tastes. I guess I'll stick to Al Green when I am in need of my dose of romantic, soulful music 3.5 stars
Some cool stuff here. I see how it ushered in an era of a genre I enjoy but rarely seek out.
Very nice modern-yet-vintage soul-feel to this album. I read that he wrote and arranged nearly everything and played multiple instruments as well as sang the songs. Very cool!
I've never heard of this album but it's pretty good! I'm not super familiar with a lot of R&B artists so I don't really have a lot to say about it. The songs are on the slightly longer side but I think it's worth it.
As I've said many times, a whole album of soul without fusion is painful. Fortunately, this album fuses. The title track is quite good because of the fusion with hip hop. The drum beats on Allright are another good example and Bob Power's guitar playing including on Shit, Damn, MF is quite good. The fusion is good in general but the reliance on super high pitched male lead and background vocals typical in soul makes it difficult to handle the full album.
Great signing voice, jazzy basslines, good beats. Typical mid 90s R&B. It was pretty good
Smooth and sexy. Not sure I'd play it with my mum in the house and some of the album teeters into cheesy territory. But generally loads of fun.
wow, this is sensual fuck music to take your clothes off to. im super moist thinking about it. is it music or just essence du fuck? cant tell. i really cant.
Great voice - but too delicate for my taste. I appreciate the ability but doesn't float my boat.
Love a few of these songs, but a few of them are kind of meh. I like his other album better.
Meh
Smooooooth.
3.75
Great R&B album. Very smooth.
Ah yes, I remember D'Angelo - that's what everyone talked about "macking" to in high school. I was surprised I didn't really recognize any of his songs. I think that might be telling - great voice, some sexy beats, but otherwise a little forgettable. It's a solid album but I wasn't fired up by it. For what it's worth, my favorites were Brown Sugar (nice beats and innuendo), Sh%t, Damn, MoFo (I think I just liked hearing someone sing MoFo so many times in a sultry voice), and Cruisin (this version fit him well). I admit my rating might be a level too low.
So silky smooth
I don't really *get* R&B. I enjoy it but I really struggle to figure out the difference between good, bad, and excellent. Overall I really enjoyed this. I found the lyrics to be a bit naughty! My goodness. Toss this on on date night, I guess.
Pretty decent considering I basically never listen to any of this type of music. Almost every song was pleasant and catchy.
Into the music, but the rest was kinda meh.
Rap, layered sounds are clear and clean. Good rythmn. R&B lyrics (not hard west coast). explicit Suggested music after is all soft R&B and Love Song mixes. That would be pretty accurate.
Sans interêt mais je vois déjà le 4/5 de mon camarade d'écoute robplumière pointer le bout de son nez.
Sounds like it's aged well, as someone totally new to Brown Sugar. It is smooth to a fault, a little bit more material needed to stretch it to its length.
Nice
What can I say, other than I'm a big fan of the 80-90s R&B. Enjoyed grooving to this album first thing in the morning, while at work. Listened again in the afternoon. Favorite song was Lady. Made me think of my wonderful, beautiful wife. Played a few songs for her last night on the deck, while enjoying the last Supermoon of 2022. Mindy, full moon and DeAngelo. It was a great night. 3.5
This was a fun and funky album. I liked the bass but most of the time I wanted it to sit a little higher in the mix. It was a good album, just not really my thing.
"Brown Sugar" is an all-time classic track; undeniably D'Angelo at his best. Sadly, the same can't be said for the album of the same name. It's fine, but only three other tracks stand out, "Cruisin'," "Lady," and "Higher." "Cruisin'" is a Smokey Robinson cover, so of course it's good. So that really leaves three D'Angelo originals out of nine that caught my ear. All that said, a mediocre album by D'Angelo's still a solid R&B album.
A usually reliable friend was very excited about this at the time, describing it as a Marvin Gaye-level work of genius. It's not that good, but it is both tuneful and interesting which is high praise for '90s R&B.
J’aime le petit côté jazz de cet album et sa groove. Je crois que ce qui rend cet album important est ceci: «D'Angelo concentrates on classic versions of soul and R&B, but unlike most of his contemporaries, he doesn't cut and paste older songs with hip-hop beats; instead, he attacks the forms with a hip-hop attitude, breathing new life into traditional forms.» C’est peut-être pourquoi je n’aime pas tout du R&B mais que j’ai bien apprécié mon écoute ici.
It's a very classical hip-hop album but very repetitive. I liked it, but I'll probably not listen to it again.
Super smooth album. I enjoyed the fusion of jazz and R&B. Where some albums incorporate jazz elements, this one goes a bit further and quotes entire passages featuring walking basslines to draw the connection between earlier and contemporary music forms. The singing was fantastic and it suited the music well. My biggest complaint is the length of the album.
I was expecting to like Brown Sugar more than I actually did. I was introduced to neo-soul through Maxwell (who is amazing) so I had some expectations. D’Angelo is also quite respected in the neo-soul community. I don’t think this album was amazing though. I found “Brown Sugar” to be groovy, however his singing was a bit monotone. My problem with this album is that it feels like you could groove so much to it, but it’s quite repetitive and the melodies just don’t stick. I do appreciate his singing! Definitely going to relisten in the future. I do think it should be given a few more chancesZ Hopefully I enjoy Voodoo much more. Highlights: Alright, Me and Those Dreamin’ Eyes of Mine, Shit Damn M**********r, When We Get By
Smooooth, pretty nice grooves but nothing stuck with me beyond an enjoyable listen.
Shit, Damn, Motherfucker What a jam
This isn't my genre, and I don't see myself reaching to put it on again, but I can't give it anything lower than a 3.5. I'm rather impressed with his musicianship, especially for a debut album. Arrangements, instrumentation, vocals, and production done largely by himself. I also understand that this really set the tone for 90s R&B and basically created neo-soul. Unfortunately, I feel like a lot of the songs blend together after a while and no one song really stands out to me over any of the others. Nonetheless, I am very glad that I listened to this, as it's the first one that's been generated for me that I was truly unfamiliar with.
I remember the title song and still like it, but otherwise this is a pretty unremarkable album for me.
very mellow and smooth
Listened to on 3/24/22 3.5/5 Favorite song: Crusin, Lady This man is SO talented and has a beautiful voice - the album was very soulful with a hip hop vibe and was pretty good all in all
Smooth and easy listening but a bit repetitive
This whole album is a vibe. Very soulful. D’Angelo has a great voice. Not sure I’d listen to it all the time but I’m glad I did today.
Not for me, but appreciate what he's doing here. It's all very soft-focussed 90's.
This was better than expected. Was not familiar with it before.
Somehow the most average album But I do like it. 3
Funky street R&B/soul
Smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy. Been a minute since I listened to this. I love Shit, Damn, Motherfucker. The vibes and the lyrics are in such contrast lol.
Background music
Enjoyed enough but I'm not sure it'd be something I'd turn to
Vibed, but not so much that I'd go out of my way to vibe again... Ygm?
I liked most of this but hated the vocals. Would never put this on again but this list was all about expanding my taste and I didn't hate this as much as I thought I would so this was a win in my book
I've never been a big fan of slow jams, but I do have to recognize D'Angelo's talent here as singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist. It's good to hear his neo-soul version of Smokey Robinson's "Cruisin'" as a way to connect his style with more classical soul and show off his work. Overall, I just don't enjoy the slow, repetitive style of most of the album. It does intrigue me, however, to listen to "Shit, Damn, Motherfucker" as its slow, cool style is so contrary to the content. "I got a jonz in my bonz" is one of my favorite lyrics, but I am left really wanting to know more details about exactly what for. In any case, I engaged with this album more than most of its genre.
I have heard the name D'Angelo...maybe even a track or two, but I didn't really know this album at all. It was a smooth soulful ride that I enjoyed. The album has that sexy R&B feel with some funk sprinkled in. It sounds like what an album titled "Brown Sugar" should to me.
I'm not too keen on this many songs containing what sounds like earnest let's-get-it-on-ness. I liked the cover of Cruisin' and the smooth and jazzy When We Get By.
Takin me back
Well, what a boring but enjoyable ride. The sound was solid, but it never moved anywhere interesting. The songs were great by themselves, but consecutively each song is way too long.
Completely fine and seemingly representative of the style. Nothing too great and other than the somewhat annoying lyric of jonz in my bonz, everything seems like pleasant background music.
some good neo-soul, looking forward to checking out voodoo
Overall mid 3/5. Brown Sugar was my favorite by far. A bit to slow for me. Good instrumentals.
Enjoyable 90s r&b album. Pretty interesting that D’Angelo only has three albums. This was a solid 90s r and b that feels like how r and b should be made. Listened to it a few times. The cruisin cover is nice and most the songs are good. 7.6/10
Not for me
This is cool, groovy, definitely something to have to put on, but I don’t think it’d get a lot of play
Some fun tracks and some bland ones. Overall I do enjoy the sound, soul/funk is becoming one of my favourite genres on this list
Having never actually listened to D’Angelo before I enjoyed this as a first listen, nice easy listening groves and beats. Peak 90s RnB but maybe sounding a bit dated now.
Just not very entertaining. Smooth production, respect for that, but the songs just aren’t there. A lot of the run time sounds like falsetto vocal acrobatics rather than singing a song.
Not my cup of tea and a bit boring but objectively not a bad album. But also not really a good one either
I'm pretty indifferent about this album. Nice singing and funky or jazzy at times with splashes of R&B but not really my thing. Nothing really stood out as far as the songs go. 6/10.
Buena voz. Ritmo tranquilo. Mucho soul. Buena música de acompañamiento
Fine, nothing special but nice as background music.
I mean, this is all very strong. Not always my vibe, but there's something about all of it that I love. 'Shit, Damn, Motherfucker' woke me up for a second, for sure.
Didn’t get to finish it, but liked what I heard! Very sexy week indeed.
101021 11:28 3
Butter smooth but a bit boring
Plenty to enjoy here if you like R&B
A really good album in a genre I practically never want to listen to
Gutes Album, wüsste aber nicht bei welcher Gelegenheit ich sowas hören soll!
Ich bin ein alter weißer Mann. Wie ekelhaft, dass ich hier nicht über 3 hinauskomme
Nice! I like it! Easy to listen to and not something I'd normally bring up. 3.5/5 for me.
The Songs are pretty similar. From the album you could hear his influences like Prince(not last his falsetto crooning) and Marvin Gaye. (6/10) Favourite Tracks : Lady
Somewhat good soul and R&B. Its almost an hour long, and with it only being 10 tracks its kinda annoying when these songs draw on to be like 6 minutes. There are some really great songs that showcase D'Angelo's talent. He is a really good singer, especially in "Brown Sugar", "Higher", or "Smooth" And yeah, its a very great chill album but it's just very hard to pick up sometimes as how long the songs are. 7/10 As of July 11th 2021 Best Tracks: Brown Sugar, Alright, Jonz In My Bonz, Shit Damn Motherfucker, Smooth Worst Track: Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine (I Guess)
probably good for sex! but people doing this 1001 generator thing dont have sex so HA guess we suck!
There's no doubt this music is expertly crafted - and influential. It has that enjoyably boring pace that permeates lo-fi these days. A sticky repetitiveness that I got a bit tired of. Listening to it feels a bit like wading neck-high through a thick, sweet syrup while browsing stalls at a garage sale selling quirky memorabilia and also trying to keep up conversation with a distant relative who you like, but who keeps bringing up the same conversation topics. You're also wearing very cool-looking sunglasses. It didn't really /transport/ me or anything. But it sounds great, it feels warm to the ears. I love the jazz influences. Great and versatile voice. 3.
Not my typical genre, but enjoyable R&B.
Chill. Birth of late 90s RB
Not my type of music, ok to keep In back ground but nothing special
a bit slow for my liking but definitely good music
Чтобы почилить вроде норм тема. Мелодичная, не претенциозная. Конечно, зацепить ей особо нечем, но и пустой не кажется. Какие-то мотивы улавливаются, и они довольно приятные. Подбор инструментов и партии для них довольно продуманы. У вокала есть лицо. Неплохое музло, только вот забуду мгновенно и не вспомню, вероятно.
оо музыка для спейс джема
R&B is one of those genres I always have a hard time getting into but this album really takes the cake. Lady and Brown Sugar really are 5 star songs. Mood: you're home alone on a Friday night and feeling yourself.
Nicee
Smooth and slick. Maybe a little too sugary.
3/5 this is an awkwardly erotic album
Good revision music.
I know lots of people who rate this highly but not for me. Brown Sugar the track is a classic but the rest of the album has never stuck. Talented guy though.
Relaxing to have on in the background
Impressed that he did almost everything on the album and he has fused a few genres in quite a pioneering way, playing a big role in the creation of "neo soul". Quite like the beats and the vibe. It's easy easy listening bordering on being a bit boring. 6/10
Wish I could give this a 2.5 as it was a better 90s R'nB album than Mariah's but not a whole star better. But a system is a system and every .5 I've rounded up so there we go.
Interesting R&B. Nothing wrong with this.
Good music for relaxin. I didn’t really love the vocals throughout
Pretty smooth listening. D’Angelo even makes “Shit, Damn, Motherfucker” an easy listening track. Good background music, but I won’t intentionally listen again.
Nice
Soul. R&B. Agradable aunque aburrido.
Smooth n sexy n very good easy listening. Would listen again
Lady, Cruisin, when we get by, sdmf
Solid, but not great
Nice Jazzy music. A jazz form I could listen to.
Decent.
I found the music in this really good and interesting mixed with the vocals but I didn't find the lyrics that great.
meh, this was ok
Got them dope ass R&B rhythms. Okaaayyy D'Angelo
Sopi päivään
Not my thing but not terrible music
Transante. Muito bom
Good one, sounds like relaxing lounge bar music. Nice mix of styles, genres.
Very nice! Smooth and everything flowed together, the instrumentals were catchy yet subtle and it was a solid late night album
Smoooooooth A little bit dated, not my usual thing Very slow, slow jams. Songs are done well this just isn't for me. A little bit repetitive/boring. Songs are a bit longer than necessary Feels like some of these songs just don't go anywhere? All very lowkey Great vocals! Faves - Brown Sugar No songs saved or added to playlists Overall - alright music, just not really for me Would I check out their other music - maybe but probably not Rating 3/5
Easy to listen to in the background
Listens: 1 Standout Tracks: None D'Angelo seems popular enough, but, naw. No thank you. R&B is up there with Country music and most Pop music for me. I am totally good without this.
Hey Claude, make me some generic R&B background music for my tourist trap shop
This was not for me. I recognize that his voice is great and that this was emblematic of 90s R&B, but I couldn't wait for this one to be over. It was boring and horny in a tiring way. 4/10
So obviously the guy can really sing. But fook mei, I found this colossally boring
The 90s R&B shagging music version of 70s Motown shagging classic, Let’s Get It On, to which D’Angelo was potentially conceived.
1. Brown Sugar (★★★★☆) 2. Alright (★★☆☆☆) 3. Jonz In My Bonz (★★⯨☆☆) 4. Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine (★★☆☆☆) 5. Shit, Damn, Motherfucker (★★☆☆☆) 6. Smooth (★★⯨☆☆) 7. Cruisin' (★★☆☆☆) 8. When We Get By (★⯨☆☆☆) 9. Lady (★⯨☆☆☆) 10. Higher (★⯨☆☆☆) TOTAL = ★★⯨☆☆ (2,2)
Album #187 D’angelo: Brown Sugar I understand the importance and influence of D’Angelo, and when it comes to modern R&B and Soul music, I’m sure there is no one more impactful; however, after listening to Voodoo and now Brown Sugar, I’m afraid none of that impact was imparted upon me. Everything is technically good and sounds fine; it just doesn’t enthrall me. And that’s ok, not everything has to be a dopamine hit, but even then the music doesn’t particularly relax me, or entrance me, or impose any other state that one might want to enter when listening to music; it just simply passes me by. What I will say though is that this album was more enjoyable than Voodoo, and certainly had a bit more to it; but I’d be lying if I said I cared to ever hear it again. Best Songs: Lady, Cruisin’, Brown Sugar Worst Song: Shit, Damn, Motherfucker Score out of 10: 5.5
Slow jams are not my thing.
Not my favourite style. I find this kind of boring. Not terrible. In the range of 2 stars.
5/10 - Just not my cup of tea Fav Tracks: Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine, Lady Heard before? ---–- ❌ Saved a Song? ----- ✅ Saved Album? --–-- ❌ Will Listen Again? -- ❌
Eminently forgettable
Man this is a sexual album lol not my vibes at all
Oh, this just isn’t for me. I found the entire record one-paced and incredibly safe. This album completely lacks the energy and dynamics needed to sustain interest. The total absence of any up-tempo numbers makes for a thoroughly dull listening experience. Yes, D’Angelo possesses a good voice, and his blurring of genres - R&B, soul, jazz, funk, and a touch of gospel - is perfectly fine, but it is hardly a novel concept. The production is passable, but the electronic drum sound is dreadful; it genuinely sounds like a backside being smacked. Ultimately, "Brown Sugar" did absolutely nothing for me other than leave me waiting patiently for the end. Two stars. 1 "Brown Sugar" (3/5) 2 "Alright" (2/5) 3 "Jonz in My Bonz" (2/5) 4 "Me and Those Dreamin' Eyes of Mine" (2/5) 5 "Shit, Damn, Motherfucker" (2/5) 6 "Smooth" (2/5) 7 "Cruisin'" (3/5) 8 "When We Get By" (2/5) 9 "Lady" (2/5) 10 "Higher" (2/5) Total - 22 Average - 2.2 342/1001 184/342 albums reviewed were new to me.
Not my thing at all
No thanks. This album was good in parts but generally it felt repetitive and by the end was just blurring into one long background noise.
2
Boring. Some songs were good. Close to a 3. But a 2 for me
What happened to R&B? Wasn't this kind of music supposed to be the point? Pure soul, organs, keyboards, and engaging, layered vocals? When did we downgrade to the likes of Public Enemy, Tribe, Wu-Tang? **I wrote these rhetorical questions while listening to the first song. But this particular style of R&B gets old *really* fast, as I was about to find out. I now understand why Public Enemy was a necessary evil. We start with the title track, which admittedly doesn't do too much during its four-minute runtime; skip to any point in the song and it sounds identical to any other point. (This is an ongoing issue that significantly brings down the album experience. And I mean *significantly*. The repetitiveness is pretty crazy) Still... you can't help but admire D'Angelo's warm falsetto and the on-point instrumental accompanying him. The next song, Alright, is… alright. It glows softly, but assuredly. Backing vocals hearken back to late-70s disco, a genre that certainly hurts more than it helps, but I respect the hustle. Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine... essentially an R&B version of a barbershop quartet track. Not much to dislike here. Some soft-spoken violins cut into the mix at points, reinforcing the record's "disco homage" feel. When We Get By is similar: a nice pick-me-up later in the album. Or is it a pick-me-up? The tempo and overall mood doesn't really differ from earlier songs. The lack of moods is a little concerning, actually. An album is (or should be) a variety show, a demonstration of all you have to offer at this stage of your career. Brown Sugar ain't it. Jonz In My Bonz is exactly as stupid a track as its title suggests. The musical repetition is just a little overbearing here, and the lyrics goof around in a goopy circular motion. It's a negative portent of things to come. A couple tracks later, Shit, Damn, Motherfucker delivers with the gusto of Marvin Gaye on depressants – normally a passable combo, but not this time. The song goes nowhere – nowhere, I say! – for five minutes. By the final two tracks (including what's meant to be the hit single, Lady), I've lost my patience. 2/5 Key tracks: Brown Sugar, Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine
It had soul but not much groove.
Oh that’s boring.
This isn’t the worst album I’ve had on this list, but it’s a strong contender for the most boring. Every song is the same bland neo-soul/R&B mix that sounds like the things Tom would sing on Parks & Recreation. I know it’s a cliche to say every song sounded the same, but I really couldn’t explain the differences between any of the tracks.
Wow, what an incredibly boring album… The whole thing was so smooth and samey it left nigh on zero lasting impression on me. It’s ostensibly ‘sexy’ music, but I imagine it sends people to sleep more often than it gets them in the mood. ‘Cruisin’’ and ‘Lady’ were the closest it got to standout tracks, but really once you’ve heard one you’ve pretty much heard them all. I also found a lot of the lyrics rather cringe-inducing. For the positives, D’Angelo has a pretty good voice, and it’s not actively offensive to listen to, but it’s firmly in 2-star territory.
Best Track - "Brown Sugar"
Just a bit meh. Not really my thing and I didn't really get any great vibes from it.
It was ok but not really my style
Ok R&B album, smooth no significant highs or lows.
was fine to listen to but probably wouldn’t revisit.
How the hell do you call this soul music when it is so completely boring, generic and forgettable?
sexy. but mediocre.
More melodic than I was expecting but not really my speed
Not my thing but I can tell the production and sound is fantastic
It sounds like a generic 90's pop record to me, despite the "powers-that-be" calling it "neo-soul" or something. It's ok... it doesn't SUCK. It's just not GOOD. The constant singing in falsetto way up high gets grating after a song or two. I'm a guitar/bass/drums kind of guy, so this isn't really my thing.
A bit like my experience with Prince - nothing is bad, nothing is offensive to my ears, but I didn't click with it and found myself patiently waiting to put something else on after.
Listening to this album took me back to riding the 6th grade school bus.
2.5. Not really my genre but fine I guess.
It's alright, I guess. Smooth R'n'B isn't really my jam, much prefer the sweatier soul of the '70s.
I don't hate it, but I don't love it. I'm a simpleton, so this sounds like I'm listening to the soundtrack of "Save the Last Dance" starring Julia Stiles.
(3/7) not really my vibe. Many of the songs feel like they loop over and over and over again
Сахарок копченый оказался
Only the Smokey Robinson covers saved this from being a 1 for me. Jonz In My Bonz and Shit, Damn, Motherfucker? Ugh trash IMO
Never saved a song before listening to it before I got to 'Shit, Damn, Motherfucker'. I don't even know if I liked it, but I do respect a song title that funny. Other than catchy refrains this didn't do it for me as much as I hoped.
With a limited history and vocabulary and only mild curiosity in terms of the genre, I listened. Sadly, unremarkable for me. Even in terms of R&B, I found it unmemorable.
This was pretty boring, I think I would have enjoyed more if it was trimmed by about a third. Thanks to the wiki, I now know that this is “regarded by music journalists as a pivotal release in neo soul”… oh wait that means nothing to my enjoyment, 2.25/5
Creo que me gustara el género me parecería un gran disco. Pero no es el caso.
3.5/10
Pretty smooth R'n'B. Was nice in the beginning, but I mainly enjoyed the first half. 2+
D’Angel-no
Next.
A lot going on with this one but just not my jam and toast
D'Angelo died very recently, so I'm gonna feel extra guilty when I don't like this. But I really D'ont. R&B is always just so boring to me, unless the lyrics are particularly funny, which these aren't. Slur count = 1. Hey, I know 'Cruisin'! Not that I like the original(?) particularly much, but slowing it down even more is not what that song needed.
Talented guy, multi-instrumentalist, the Prince influence is blaring out there, but on the whole this is not for me thanks, I gave it a few tracks, and gave up.
1.8
Didn’t really enjoy this.
It’s ok. Sounds like a lot of artists who came before him.
Some good and some bad, shame cause I think he has a good vibe.
Not a fan
...
He's got a lovely smooth buttery voice - but this really is not my bag and does absolutely nothing for me.
Good voice but a very bland album
He's got a good voice, but a filter on it makes him constantly seem far away. Down tempo makes every song sleepy and kinda dull. Less that it's bad, more that I'm not too into it.
If I had to describe Brown Sugar in two words, it'd be "wasted potential." D'Angelo has a great voice for R&B and these instrumentals are so rich & vibrant, but the overly repetitive lyrics and undercooked vocal melodies aren't doing this album any favors. If he had put a more competent songwriter behind the wheel here, we might be looking at a four (or five) star score, rather than a two. Highlights: Brown Sugar, Smooth, Lady
I only managed 3 full songs in this and then skipped to snippets of the rest of the album. Not my thing at all. Found it very bland and very very blerg. I’m giving it a 2 instead of a 1 though because the production on it is great. I just don’t like the songs or style of music.
Enjoyed it in background music kinda way
Sounds nice but also boring. Would be good background music
this was honestly really forgettable which i was not expecting. i've heard d'angelo here and there so i'm familiar with how lovely his voice is, but this album felt repetitive, samey, and simplistic. like his voice is *so* good and he's so smooth, yet there's little that stands out to me here. these songs just feel under developed. it doesn't help that he doesn't particularly vary his vocal style here either leading to a number of tracks that to me are missing any dynamism that might make them stick more. "when we get by" for instance is the same refrain for 6 minutes with little deviation across any channel. it's tiresome.
Fine - not for me but fone
If there's one thing I've learned about my own taste recently, it's that I don't like contemporary R&B all that much, case in point here. The instrumentation tends to be pretty great throughout the songs, but none of them deserve to be as long as they are and while D'Angelo has a great voice it's wasted on some truly insipid lyrics on here. The song "Cruisin'" should be an all time classic, bit it's let down by everything wrong about this album.
Album #1,030 A one-note horny R&B record. He doesn’t even change his tone on the song he threatens to kill his best friend and cheating girlfriend…what?! It sounds the same as all the others.
I think I was listening to the same song, probably about having sex, for 55 mins. Quite a nice voice but ultimately very boring!
Has some pleasant easy-listening sounds as long as you don’t pay attention to the lyrics. I’m honestly not a fan of the explicit themes, and nearly every song overstays its welcome. “Alright” and “Smooth” were the highlights. The singing is accomplished but not my style. I feel like I heard enough stuff like this on 90s pop radio.
Not really my music but ok I guess. Music to be playing in the background.
not my style of music but some songs were good
Meh
Not my usual listen. I played it on out of curiosity more than anything. What I hear is a relaxed, smooth album that takes its time. The playing is good and the groove is obvious, even if it is not always grabbing me. I respect what it is doing more than I love listening to it. Glad I heard it. Not one I would reach for often.
It’s fine. Didn’t grab me in the same way Stevie Wonder did. Definitely has the slower feel and tempo that I associate with R&B. Have to admit it was a bit boring. 4/10 Acceptable
This album is made up of the first track, 'Brown Sugar', which is a bit of a tune, and then a warbling half-hour track which is all about having sex or something. Dunno. Bit boring.
I laughed at the song where he seemed surprised that when he shot his best friend and wife they were bleeding a lot and then couldn't work out why he was in handcuffs. Every song could be background music in a clothes shop that I would want to leave.
Album 25 Top 3 favorites off the album: When We Get By; Shit, Damn, Motherfucker; Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine This was a smooth listen, kind of to the point of being boring. I'm not super well-versed in R&B, but I've always liked the warmth that the harmonies bring. D'Angelo has a good voice. The album as a whole flowed into one looooooong track in my head, only really broken up by the first two of my three favorites. Lyrically, some things hit, others didn't. It's a matter of personal preference, and a lot of this just wasn't mine. I'd still rather consume all these lyrics in this genre than in a lot of other ones, though. Points for that! This is good background music for me. I will come back to this one, just not all the time!
There is potential here but it’s a charisma free zone I’m afraid. I feel sad that he hated being known for THAT video but must admit it’s the first thing I think of. Sad also that him and Angie Stone both passed away last year
nothing to see here NEXT
pas désagréable mais certainement pas mémorable à écouter en fond (en fond de quoi jsp) très répétitif entre les chansons et au sein des chansons
I found the lyrics repetitive and the harmonies redundant, but there's potential. Maybe his subsequent releases are better. there wasn't much variety in instrumentation or tempo.
Not far from Cool 'n the Gang.
Artiste inconnu. Le 1er morceau est terriblement répétitif, trop long, donc très ennuyeux malgré le minuscule chorus de clavier. Les autres morceaux ont le même problème : durée en général entre 5 et 6 mn, et pas assez variés. Ceci dit l'album n'est pas désagréable à entendre, en musique d'ambiance : j'ai finit par faire autre chose en même temps. Mais je ne l'écouterais pas une seconde fois. =>2/5
Eh definitely not for me, but I can see others liking this
Gramny bait. An album desperate to be described as smooth
Boring
i'll never get excited for rnb, although its funk elements are very flowy and i sorta enjoyed it to my capacities...
Big standard 90s R&B. Saccharine sweet and cheesy.
Phew...slick and silky but not my case...
Vähän geneeriseksi jää vaikkakin taitavaa
knew one song! but a different version - cover - of it. otherwise wasn't too fussed. bleh.
Enjoyed the shuffle afterwards more
Album 972 of 1089 D'Angelo - Brown Sugar (1995) Rating : 2 / 5 Today’s album was Brown Sugar by D’Angelo. I’ll give credit where it’s due - he’s clearly talented, the production is smooth, and I can absolutely understand why this album is held up as a key moment in neo-soul. But for me personally, it just doesn’t spark anything beyond “pleasant enough.” The groove is warm, the vocals are silky, and the vibe stays consistent, but it all lands in that space where I can appreciate it without actually connecting to it. Some albums pull you in whether or not they’re in your preferred genre — this just isn’t one of those for me. Nothing offended the ear, and the musicianship is clearly there, but nothing stuck with me either. More background music than something I’ll reach for again. Still, for folks who love the smooth, laid-back R&B of the mid-90s, I can see this being a standout. It just isn’t made with my musical tendencies in mind - and that’s fine. On to the next one.
Meh
it was okay lots of the songs weren’t quite as dynamic as i prefer
Schmaltzy and smooth, but it doesn’t do much that excites me.
Very long, not good
Was alright, but would have rather listened to Brown Sugar by The Rolling Stones
I don’t like R&B, but good background music as it doesn’t demand attention.
Nice production, decent vocals, vibe is on point, instrumentals are fire But don’t like it. Too much of the same and i bit icky
It's aight, 4/10
1.9 Comical. Imagine someone actually buying this and playing it regularly. I had my cringy phases of music - emo etc, but at least I never went through a 90s/00s RnB phase. Fuck me. Just have sex already mate.
It's just not my kind of music
Sounds like it was written by a 15yo. He definitely has a good voice, just a pity he didnt explore its limits
3 -4 days after he passed and this album pops up. Wasn’t at all familiar with his music. This album a bit repetitive but he had talent. Another gone too soon.
He can clearly sing, and I can see why he was a big pioneer in the development of neo soul/ modern R&B. There is a nice groove to the songs and great vocals but it's not my kind of thing. I have a bit of a feeling that some of these tracks are too long and don't go anywhere - Lady being a good example
I didn't like this one too much. It was listenable, but nothing caught my attention really.
Smooth, proto-90s boy band vocals, but not my style
The instrumentals were better than the lyrics.
All tracks felt like they should have been no more than 90secs long. Would have made good interlude tracks on a hip hop album but lacked any real structure or hooks to keep me interested.
The lyrics on this album are loaded with some 90s cringe. Just tough to listen to. Pair that with the fact that the harmonies sound just so uncanny. They're like computer generated perfect, and it's so unsettling. There are things about this album that are good. The bass generally rips. In the context of the 90s, I can envision this actually being a pretty good album. It just didn't age very well. It's not bad, per se, but there's bad bits to it, and they keep the good parts from really shining. The closest this actually gets to good music is during "Higher", but even that song just doesn't actually get that high. Favorite Song(s): Higher
Prefer his later stuff
There is really nothing I like about this album. Very same'ish songs, and none that does even OK in any musical aspects, be it rhythm, harmony, melody, or lyrics. What is left is a general "sound" which happens to be not for me even if I am very eclectic. I truly did not enjoy this album, and what's worse, it sounds like D'Angelo wasn't either. I'll give it a 2 because there is definitely skill involved.
Hmm. Gave the score immediately and wrote the review after he died, which is a bit awkward because I basically didn't enjoy it at all, but it seems that he is revered in R&B circles and a Good Guy. As such, I'll just say it's not for me, that's my fault and let's call it a day.
The rap equivalent of Simply Red? Not awful, but not my bag. Easy listening rap? It's putting me to sleep
Maybe just wasn’t in the mood for it but I didn’t find it memorable. Next!
I get it. This is like THE record to have sex too. But at 53 minutes 16 seconds long, what is anyone supposed to do with the other 51 minutes and 15 seconds? Talented? Absolutely. Wasteful? Also yes.