Brown Sugar

The only D'Angelo I ever liked was a Barksdale and he is no longer with us. RIP...

His style of singing (high-pitched, a little talky) doesn't appeal and his song "Shit, Damn, Motherfucker" really seemed like a throwaway. Finally, whycome his songs last so long?

Songs that make me wanna fuck something. And based on the objects in close proximity, I'm scared to continue to listen

Let's start with the positive: this isn't another Brit pop album. I feel like I am getting a Brit pop overload lately, so something that different is a little refreshing. There's a song called Shit, Damn, Motherfucker and that's a funny title. Now with my real feelings: I do not connect with this. It's boring. The vocals are wishy-washy. It's over produced. Shit, Damn, Motherfucker was not redeeming. Le sigh. This is not for me.

2.5

I am NOT the target demographic for this.

455/1089 i’d been meaning to listen to some D’Angelo for so long. Unspoken from Red Dead Redemption 2 is such a stunning song and is how i “discovered” him love his voice, he has great rhythm and i ‘liked’ most songs on this album (only left off Jonz and the final two tracks) need to listen a couple more times before i could move it into 5 star territory faves: smooth, cruisin’, me and those dreamin’ eyes of mine 81/100

ik snap dat mensen hier heel hard op kunnen gaan maar dit is gewoon niet voor mij man

I think I have to give this a 5. Not just the Marvin Gaye of his time, but also so soulful and human. I'm a sucker for passion and you can just hear it in his voice and though the tempo and feel of the music. Could be partially because he recently passed, but I really think this album will live on for a century or more.

Музыка для скучного и медленного секса. Надеялся на хоть какое то развитие, но нет, только охи и ахи и хождения вокруг да около

Music is cool, jazz funk mix, and D'Angelo has a decent voice. That is it for the compliments, I can't stand the singing style and the lyrics are childish and boring. I can respect the musicians talents and props to them for starting the neo-soul movement but not my thing. If you are a fan of soul R&B this may be your cup of tea.

Ah, '90s R&B, doing what it does best: delivering sensual love songs with some great beats. Now, I'm personally not a huge R&B fan, but I am a sucker for some good, thumping bass, and the first half of this album has plenty of it. I found myself bobbing my head along while D'Angelo did his thing, and honestly, I was having a pretty good time. Unfortunately, by the second half, I was starting to get my fill. A lot of these tracks stretch out to five or six minutes, and after a while, they start feeling a little repetitive. Again, I'm not saying they're bad songs. The melodies are pleasant, the grooves are smooth, and there's definitely some enjoyable stuff here. It's the kind of music I could happily have playing in the background without any complaints. But as someone who isn't particularly drawn to this style of music, there's only so much of it I can take before I'm ready to move on. Still, I can appreciate the talent and the atmosphere D'Angelo creates here. A perfectly enjoyable album, even if it didn't completely win me over. A solid 3 out of 5.

This is a nice sounding album. I think other people have done this style but better and some of them are already on this list. This isn't obviously a direct comparison but the person that pops into my head while I was listening to this was Lauryn Hill, and I would just rather listen to Lauryn Hill over this, to be honest. This is a good album, but it's just not great. It's pretty smooth, It's got a nice sound to it, and I like the instrumentation (like the mixing of things like strings) and I like the bass as well. Fav Track: Whenever We Get By

I mean this was pleasant enough as I wandered around but it’s just never music I am going to seek out. In the growing list of ‘not for me’

sexy time

First time listening to his music. I can tell that this is quality R&B but I just don't really like this genre. The titular track was good and maybe 2 or 3 songs following it but then the rest sounded just like one long song to me 2/5

Third-rate, especially from this era. D'ang.

oh buddy..... now this is sex music........ this album is pretty fuckin great! im glad cos id been looking forward to it for a while. d'angelo is a familiar name but im not sure i ever listened to much of his music and once again i feel like ive been missing out. this is some of the most silky smooth r&b ive ever heard. i think my favourite track is "jonz in my bonz" for its incredibly slick beat paired with the electric organ and the fun vocal processing, but the title track comes really close.... when the first verse of the album has him singing about how hes been fuckin so much his eyes are bloodshot what the fuck can u do than stand and salute. and of course i gotta mention the hook of "shit, damn, motherfucker". awesome. its close but i think this just about pulls up to a 5 for me. ive listened to it like 6 times already and im still finding new things to like about it. music is awesome.

Ikke verdens mest spennende affære, men noen digge låter og kule akkorder her og der. Viber ikke helt første halvdel. Andre halvdel er vesentlig bedre, og "Smooth" og "Lady" er fete. Sterk 3.

Svak 3. Bikker over pga. litt ekstra funk. Ellers var ikke dette så mye å samle på.

Dette ga meg veldig lite

Shit, Damn, Morherf#cker this album is smooth.

I was really impressed with this album. First off, I loved the bass lines. Silky smooth. Second, I learned D'Angelo pretty much played all the instruments. So that tight bass & drum rhythm section... is all D'Angelo. He's up there with Aaron Frazier for falsetto drummers. ?uestlove did Super Jam at Bonnaroo 2012. Instead of doing a huge medley of artists like usual, he instead just goes Ladies & Gentlemen... D'Angelo. And he did his first show in years and years. ... ugh, I missed it haha. Must have been for something amazing like Flaming Lips Which Stage.

More pleasant than I expected. Not the type of music I'd seek out, but it has warmth and personality, and is a nice fusion of old and contemporary styles. The type of music that doesn't lend itself to intensive analysis, but I'm happy to just sit with it for a while and let it wash over me. And I actually like 'Shit, Damn, Motherfucker'. It has a nice groove to it.

Bunch of virgins afraid of sex leaving reviews for this album. Although not really my thing, it's still soulful, sexy, & smooth.

Smoove

D'Angelo has a great voice and you can see the thru line from Marvin Gaye to Al Green to Prince. But it falls flat, the songs are repetitive, and the whole album is a little one-note (2.5)

I can see the talent, but just can’t get into it.

I guess this is where modern RnB started. "Brown Sugar" isn't as good as classic RnB. However, I can't deny the huge impact it had on music. "Crusin'" is such a great song that deserves more attention. That's a good ending to the week. 3 stars for "Brown Sugar".

R&B bores me, it’s not painful to listen to, but it’s just not interesting. Mostly just write it off as an album for when you’re focusing on sex and not the music.

This was fun!!

2/5

Exactly what I was expecting judging by the cover art, and a couple of songs were enough to confirm that it's every bit as shit as I was expecting.

Tämä on ihan todella huono albumi. 1/5

Bit of a boring one today. Found it pretty repetitive, he’s got a good voice tho

Sexy

Not for me

Fucking booooring

Quite liked it tbh. Thought itd be more yopey R'n'B Didnt think itd be my bag, but was more chilled & beat heavy funky than i thought 'When We Get By' and 'Lady' particularly good 3.5

Favorite Track(s): [Brown Sugar] [Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine] [Shit, Damn, Motherfucker] Least Favorite Track: [When We Get By] Final Score: 4.0/GREAT

Brown Sugar brought contemporary soul up to date and made it cool again, with D'Angelo's debut creating the genre of neo-soul in the process. Whether he's throwing a sultry spin on Smokey Robinson's Cruisin' or spinning a slow groove on the title track, the whole record sounds like a love letter to someone very special. It doesn't hurt that the production is crystal clear, making Brown Sugar feel like a luxury experience. Not every track sticks the landing but it's not every day you get to hear a new genre of music.

The debut that invented neo-soul as a genre and announced a talent that the world got to enjoy for thirty years before losing him too soon. D'Angelo arriving at 21 with a record that drew from Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Prince while sounding completely contemporary and completely his own — an amalgamation of so many good things synthesized into something that felt genuinely new in 1995 and hasn't aged a day since. The title track is the signature and the template — slow, hypnotic, intimate in a way that R&B of the era wasn't allowing itself to be. "Lady" and his cover of "Cruisin'" show the range, the Smokey Robinson original made completely his own through the sheer warmth of the voice and the production. Bob Power's deliberately analog feel was a direct reaction against the overproduced R&B around it, giving everything breath and space that digital production couldn't replicate. The church upbringing and the Prince influence and the classic soul DNA all flowing together without any of it feeling like calculation — that's the achievement, and it's the reason this record sits at the founding moment of a genre rather than just as a good record from 1995.

Not my thing.

sweet

D'Angelo D'sucks

And now, we're at my final album from a solo artist. The three albums I have after this are all from bands. To be honest, I'm really worried that my final album of the project is going to be underwhelming. The odds of me getting a really great album as the last one are not looking good. But, at the very least, I can rest knowing that my final album from a solo artist was a good one, because this album is really great. D'Angelo is an artist that I haven't dived super deep into. Unfortunately, the last time that I really thought about him was when he died last year. It's a real tragedy, as his discography was very small and he was far too young. But from what I've been told, the three albums that he released were all varying degrees of great. This debut of his, Brown Sugar, is the one that I've actually seen the least amount of praise for, which must mean that the ones after this are excellent. I'll listen to Voodoo someday, but for now, I'm perfectly fine talking about Brown Sugar. The first thing that really caught my attention with this album was D'Angelo's singing voice, which might be one of the smoothest I've ever heard. Seriously! D'Angelo's vocal performances on this album are wonderful. His voice pairs perfectly with the music, most of which was performed solely by D'Angelo. That's extremely impressive, as is the production behind it. The album's sound has actually aged really well. The album's usage of both 90s digital technology and vintage analog equipment give the album a pretty timeless feel to it that I really love. Lyrically, the album does have a heavy focus on sensuality, but the aforementioned vocals make it work. This may very well be the sexist album on the entire list. It's top 3 at minimum. Songs like "Brown Sugar," "Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine," and "Lady" are sultry but not vapid. There's soul to the music. It's almost like this is a soul album or something. My one single complaint with the album is that the music, and to a lesser extent, the lyrics, can get a little tiny bit repetitive. But when the songs are as good as they are, I really have no reason to complaint. Brown Sugar is a strong debut that not only kicked off the career of one of the best neo-soul artists ever, but also the neo-soul genre itself! While I have heard that Voodoo is better, I'm still glad that I listened to Brown Sugar. It's a great listen. High 4/5.

Umm no, from the first song I knew that this wasn’t for me. The lyrics in these songs are pretty corny even though I think they were written more to put you in the mood. I only listened to maybe two minutes of each song and I would not return to it again. If I’m going to listen to this genre of music I would put on Marvin Gaye or sexy song by Flight of the Conchords.

The songwriting is trying to be sexy but is sometimes sexist and or even comical. It sounds like an 8th grader’s idea of what being a grownup will be like. D’Angelo has a voice that sounds good sometimes. That’s the best thing I can say about this album.

What Brown Sugar purports is, maybe D'Angelo fucked?

This Neo-Soul album feels like being in a dimly lit room late at night, with the windows open to warm summer air and someone slowly talking to me while a loose groove keeps rolling underneath everything. The bass sits deep and rounded, the drums swing rather than push, and keyboards, guitar and occasional horns fill the space with a soft, organic warmth. D'Angelo's voice slips between a smooth tenor, breathy phrases and layered falsetto, often sounding as though he's singing directly into the room rather than performing for an audience. The music rarely feels hurried; even when the rhythm gets funkier, it keeps its relaxed pull, leaving me suspended in the same warm atmosphere. The whole album feels intimate and slightly hazy, like the night has slowed down, suggesting that I have nowhere else I need to be while I still wait for something to happen.

2.5

Мистер Ди Анджело написал одну хорошую песню - Brown Sugar. А потом размножил её ещё 9 раз. Извините, Мистер Ди Анджело, этого недостаточно для хорошего альбома. Я хочу услышать что-то ещё. shit, damn, motherfucker - уморительный по своей нелепости текст. ладно, по крайней мере, это меня насмешило, уже плюс.

I don’t appreciate modern R&B and Hip hop as much as some, but I completely understand the artistry and respect it

Incredibly smooth neo-soul / rnb. Kind of mad that this is his only album on the 1001 list as I think both albums that follow this are much stronger (but this is still a great debut)

Very dull. Unmemorable.

Nor for me.

So smooth there was zero interest.

This was alright, the guy had a very nice voice and some good melodies that were pretty catchy like higher the last track. But idk some of the songs just felt very sparse to me instrument wise and like they didn’t really go anywhere. This was a good listen though, most of the songs were very pleasant just not really something I’d return to I think. 2.8766/5

The 90s had great music and also very bad music. This album has all I hate in music of this period. It goes on and on without any direction and sounds like shit. I hardly came half way, life is too short to spend on this crap. Another one for the pile of 1 stars.

This is an album I don’t own. But this is an album that I will own soon. Because smooooooth.

No idea. ------------------------------------------------------------- Shit, damn, Motherfucker, I guess this is Alright. The highlights are some absolutely bopping bass and drums. There's some really cool bass lines in here. Vocally he's very talented even if it isn't my thing - his soulful falsetto will appeal to some, but for me it's grating. This is Smooth throughout, which is a bit too one tone. I do enjoy his piano/organ chops that punctuate the rhythm. 2*

No doubt the guy is a talented singer, however, this album was pure insipid dross. Didn't appreciate the pointless swearing either.

Fine

Really solid album, I’ve heard the follow up that was acclaimed but wasn’t really a fan, but this is great. 4 stars. Nice to see a 90s album that isn’t jack swing, I can def feel the Prince influence.

He sings good. Some nice grooves in this. Everyt time I hear him I think of that video with him all naked and muscle-y. Wait, not because of that…but because it was played so much and got so much attention. Shut up…you are! 3.25

Neo-soul isn't really my jam but this was pretty solid. A nice vibey listen. Shit, Damn, M**********r is s-tier songwriting. 3.5/5

3.449 stars. Kinda great, kinda boring.

It's a bit of a shame that D'Angelo's debut album came so soon in this collection after Maxwell's somewhat similar neo-soul debut, as it's hard not to compare the two for being in the same (emerging) genre. I can see why D'Angelo got more attention and accolades than Maxwell, and not just because his album got released before Maxwell's; he channeled Prince's total-performer/producer even better than Maxwell, he had a lot more instruments and driving beats, and it also helped him that he didn't focus the entire album on a song cycle. The highlights for me were the title track, the creative update to "Hey Joe" that is "Shit, damn, motherf***er", and "Smooth", with a nod to his cover of Smokey Robinson's "Cruisin'". It's not really my style, but D'Angelo does a good job of pulling you in nonetheless. (And sad to know that he died far too young.)

On its face it's pretty enjoyable, but it's even more so when I learned that D'Angelo did most of the instruments on this album. Alright, Cruisin' and Lady are all good tracks.

Great neo soul

Oh just fuck off your boring talentless prick. What a pile of dog shit this one is. One of the few records I haven’t been able to or want to play all the way through.

Meh

Fantastic artist, rip

Understated but listenable.

This was fun, not a genre I typically get down to.. This is a fantastic album though.

ㄱㅊ음걍

First track like Boys II Men - who I’m not a fan of. Alright was too smooth with shit lyrics. The rest was about 50% ok - some nice mellow grooves and laid back hip hop soul. And then shite like Cruisin’. So really not my thing. Deserved 2.

D'Averago

Note really my genre, but more than more than enough talent to transcend it. Some similarities to Frank Ocean and though not on his elevated level, easy to see this albums looseness and fluidity as an influence. Much better than his contemporary Maxwell - looking forward to checking out the apparent Sly Stone direction he took on his subsequent 33s.

Sh*t, d@mn, motherfugger. This album really does encapsulate a genre of music I detest. Like a loose collection of binned Marvin Gaye outtakes, the music is as smooth as I can only assume his shaven nads to be. Good production and a few tracks veered the ensemble into “almost listenable” territory. Next!

This is one of those albums where I think I respect the musicianship more than I like it. I just find it kind of boring and repetitive.

actually a pretty tasteful r&b from dangelo. 3.5

Чилловая такая музыка, но не особо интересная, даже не так много про нее могу сказать. Ничего не запомнилось.

It had all of the notes of R&B, hip hop, funk and all of the things. Nothing was bad, but honestly it was kind of boring after a while. Also his smooth sounds didn't always line up the best with his more juvenile blunt lyrics. Some of what makes R&B so nice is you don't even realize how crude it is because they are so smooth with the sounds and the lyrics. They make you want to move with the music and your lova...but this just kind of felt like mellow missonary with your high school boyfriend who thought he was smooth but was far from it.

R&B isn't my favorite genre, it always leaves me wanting more, but I enjoyed how groovy and chill this was. He's got a beautiful voice and super smooth style.

It’s not terrible but it does nothing for me.

Inte dåligt, men lite tråkigt. Alla låtar i samma tempo. Han sjunger bra. Meh. 2,5 av 5.

I'm not one for smooth R&B, but nonetheless, this didn't bore nor annoy me. The basslines were funky and smooth. The songs were... songs? Not for me, but I can see why you might like this.

i’m actually surprised i’m giving this 2 stars after martin’s description of this. did i enjoy this? no. did it grate on my nerves? also no, so it gets a two. shit damn motherfucker is hilarious considering the tunes for it as so mellow.

This has some lovely baselines on it, though they are crazy loud in the mix, I turned the bass eq down and it's still easily the main part you hear. They're also the best bit, so far enough. Vocalwise it's a mix of someone singing the sort of boring r and b that takes little effort to ignore and at its best sounds like the sort of track prince probably refused to release. He has a track thats actually called "shit, damn, motherfucker" essentially about his best friend sleeping with his wife, where instead of getting angry he just says "oooooh, aaaah, wooooooh" a lot. But he also uses the phrase "comes as no surprise; just can't believe my eyes". What?? Surely if you're not surprised you would definitely believe your eyes. What a prat. Anyway, I didn't really like it. Other than the bass parts.

What does me listening to D'Angelo, a really drunk archer, and a not drunk enough darts player have in common? All parties are way off target. There is probably a far better way to say that I am not the intended audience for this release, but I am running out of time on my brain. I have maybe a couple good months left before total shutdown. At least that's what the output tells me. Regardless of my brain being on borrowed time, I anticipated a slog through "Brown Sugar." I had pre-ordained this another one star release and was ready to move on mentally to the next British no-wave release shoved down my force feeding funnel. I was wrong. I don't love this, and the vocals are just not for me, but the instrumentals are fantastic here and if we got a top tier rapper on this thing, we might have a five star hip-hop record. Me not hating this is a victory so large, that you'd think there might be a tickertape parade somewhere. If there is a parade in your area, just assume it's because a dumb white kid from the suburbs didn't want to kill himself during a lengthy R & B record. 2.5 HIGHLIGHTS: You know, there really might be something to these leather jackets.

Had to read up on it, probably deserves its places in terms of what it was, how it was created and what it started. Really didnt enjoy it though. Very boring stuff. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.

I’m obsessed with Voodoo but I never fully got Brown Sugar as a masterpiece, more as an indication of incredible potential that is realized beyond belief in that second album.

5/10

Some decent songs but overall this is just... boring to me. I get why he's so revered though. 4/10

7/10 r&b goodness, extremely pleasing to the ear

Sooooo good. There’s one song that is kinda lame but classic other than that.

Not my cup of tea.

Nothing remarkable or worth listening to again…

Great album, “Brown sugar “ superb track, really enjoyed the rest of the album, needs another play, soon