Tamar Braxton Displays the Chaotic Journey of Love - "Love & War" Album Review

It is a great time for R&B! Everybody dropping albums like hotpockets! I am so proud and honored to review the lovely Tamar Braxton's long awaited sophomore release Love & War.  Reality Tv is definitely opening doors of exposure for talented people who really have something to offer music. Settling into motherhood, her talk show The Real, and life as a solo star Tamar is letting us know she is here! WIth her vocals and charismatic star quality, you would think this would be her 5th album.  Let's get into it. 

                                                        Tamar Braxton — Love & War

1. “The One”

2. “Tip Toe”

3. “Stay and Fight”

4. “Love and War”

5. “All the Way Home”

6. “One on One Fun”

7. “She Did That (Interlude)”

8. “Hot Sugar”

9. “Pieces”

10. “Where It Hurts”

11. “Prettiest Girl”

12. “Sound of Love”

13. “White Candle”

14. “Thank You Lord”

1. The One 

A "Juicy" serenade about love, this summer track is so cute! It's a feel good, joyful record. I'm not sure if it should have opened up the album though.  -Golden Track 

2.  Tip Toe

This should have been the Intro to the album! This is a cute record that took me a few listens to come around too. It serves her personality. This record is about keeping the love you share with your boo a secret.... "I Don't want my business on the Wendy William's show".... Love that Part! Its a cute track......makes you want to hit the dance floor and prance. YAS! -Golden Track 

3. Stay & Fight

A song in which Tamar is stating how she wants to stay and fight with her lover. We all go through that with our lovers....the arguments get real....but if you really want that love to last...you have to STAY & FIGHT. It's growing on me, but I skip this track. Her vocals are beautiful though....she gives me Toni. 

4. Love & War

The lead single of this album......could have also been the intro to the project. We all know Tamar had all competition on hush mode when this song went number one on Itunes in 12 hours after it's release back in Fall of 2012.  - Golden Track 

5.  All The Way Home

This gives me Mairah Carey........I'm sure you can hear it in many of Tamar's vocals and range. This one is about fighting with a lover...but thinking about them as you drive away...pedal to the metal....you know you will return to your boo! That's how love and war is! -Golden Track 

6.  One on One Fun

Now this is where things spice up! The album gets less depressing and more raunchy/ratchet. A breath of fresh air....... Tamar coos about having some one on one fun with her boo. I like this side of her. I wish the beat was a little better and the track was longer. 

7. She Did That 

This song makes me want to hairflip all up in the club! :) Mike-WIll-Made-It influenced, She did that serves as a bad chick anthem to assert that Tamar did that! She proved everyone wrong so now turn up! I love it! But it's too short........I don't know why they decided to make the fun tracks short. -Golden Track

8. Hot Sugar

"Pop it, pop it, pop it..YEA BABAY", this sweet record serves baby Braxton well. Lyrics are fire but I do feel like the instrumental lacks something. I want a guitar or some horns or something in the beat of the song...make it more firery! The song also drags a little. A ladies anthem on how to please your boo...... it's sugary and sweet. -Golden Track 

9. Pieces

This should probably be the next single from the album. It's about being in a relationship and not receiving all the love you deserve from your partner! The piano and Tamar's vocals make her open and bare. -Golden Track 

10. Where It Hurts

I skip this one although her vocals are beautiful. The instrumental does not work for the vocals.......

11. Prettiest Girl 

I love this one! Super cute...a celebration of love and how a man can you feel like the prettiest girl in the  world. "I want to say thank you, for making me feel like the prettiest girl in the world, no matter what I got on." This serves as Tamar's version of Beyonce's "Love on Top".  

12. Sound of Love 

I skip this song s well......it is similar to "Where It Hurts". 

13. White Candle

I love the message of this song. It is about keeping your love going and not letting it die. I like the metaphor of not letting the candle melt away...something so white and pure s candle (dope idea)! Tamar's vocals are also very clean on this one. It works perfectly. - Golden Track 

14. Thank You Lord

I love how this song is dedicated to the Almighty! It's beautiful but I expected a little more soul for this one! Me and a friend discussed how we thought it would have a "Destiny's Child gospel feel". I thought Tamar would take us to the Baptist church where we would catch the Holy Ghost! I wanted that Black church energy but it was not delivered. Despite what it lacks, it is still  a smooth way to close out the album. :) 

Tamar Braxton's Love & War can seem a little lost and depressing at times...but in a odd way it balances itself out. A few features could have given it more spark. I am looking forward to her next project! I am excited that Tamar is finally here because she deserves it. She is very talented, serious, and dedicated to this music biz! SHE DID THAT! 

Chrisette Michele "Better" Album Review - A Lady Just Wants To Be Loved

Hola! Chrisette Michele is back with her fourth album titled Better. A journey of a woman who has flipped the script and changed her mentality of love, she seeks it again with this album. Full of love songs, the album also details the frustrations of being in a relationship, winning someone's affection, not being the right one for someone, being single and happy, it offers a twist to your typical love song album. 

Tracklist:
01 – Be In Love
02 – A Couple Of Lovers
03 – Let Me Win
04 – Rich Hipster (Feat. Wale)
05 – Love Won’t Leave Me Out
06 – Interlude (In My Head – Better)
07 – Better
08 – Snow
09 – Visual Love
10 – Charades (Feat. 2 Chainz)
11 – Interlude (My Heart – Convo With Boyfriend)
12 – You Mean That Much To Me
13 – Supa
14 – Interlude (In My Bed – Sleeping Alone)
15 – Get Through The Night
16 – Can The Cool Be Loved (Feat. Bilal & Dunson)
17 – Ten Foot Stilettos
18 – Interlude (Perch Yo Girlz – Phone Convo)
19 – I’m Still Fly
20 – Love In The Afternoon (Feat. Nello Luchi)

1. Be In Love - 

Chrisette opens the track by simply saying "I can do this, I wanna be in love." A great opening to the journey Chrisette will take us on. It serves as an intro to the album. Has an old school feel to it and may make you want to be in love again. She sings about how she is ready for love again, admitting something that a lot of people never want to admit. Everybody always tryna be all hard and about that single life - but not Chrisette. It''s a hopeful record as well, "Love will put me first this time, it will feel so right, forget the past, I'm open again."  It's a great segue way into the lead single of the album "A Couple of Forevers". 

2. A Couple of Forevers - 

The lead single from the album! I love this song! It's so romantic. This is a song for the hopeless romantics out there. It's about wanting the feeling of love to last forever and ever. She is singing to her significant other about how strong they are together and she wants it to last, not just forever, but a couple of forevers. Whats so magical about this record is that it sounds so smooth and old school, like a 60's soul record.  A Golden track from the album

3. Let Me Win - 

Ever been in a relationship or in a situation where you are trying to win someone's affection and they won;t open up? They won't let you win. She pleading for this person to give her a break in this game of love, as we all have probably been there before. I love the beat to this song and the message. It sounds like a cut from her first album "I Am". The game of love is a gamble. 

4. Rich Hipster - 

Taken form her mix-tape "An Audiovisual Presentation: Audrey Hepburn" This is one of my favorite cuts. I'm not all that familiar with hipster culture, but this song is about being free. Getting a tat if you want, traveling the world, you feel rich, but not financially rich, rich on the inside. You are completely satisfied and doing whatever you want. It's also about getting along with everyone, making new friends, accepting the unusual, and truly embracing unity. "Wave you love when you wave your flag!" 

Wale added a little spark to the track, but I feel like Common may have been a better feature. Overall it's a golden track. 

5. Love Won't Leave Me Out - 

Similar to Be In Love, this song is vulnerable. Open. It's about self evaluating your self and your relationship to love. "See a girl with a broken heart, See a girl with the broken scars." The message is clear, you will fall in love and may get hurt, but you have to learn from it, self- evaluate, and learn that love won't leave you out. Be hopeful and open. 

6. Interlude (In My Head - Better) - Transition into Better. 

7. Better -

 Love will make me feel better. It's self explanatory. The rawness of this record is good and the positive outlook on love. It is the title of the album as well, supporting the concept correctly. Her vocals - just pull my edges out! LOL! But it's really an outstanding record. 

8. Snow - 

Now the sadness of love comes in, but with a twist. I honestly never heard a record where someone is telling there lover "Look, I'm not the one for you. I'm trying to protect you from me. You don't want to love me. I have a lot of stuff within me and a lot thats going on and I don't think you can handle me. I'm giving you a warning." I love this song...it's cold..a cold piece of work. It's melancholy and harsh feel supports those who are afraid to love someone, because they feel guarded, they feel as if they're hearts our cold and no one should want to be with them. It's a deep, powerful song. A certified Golden track! :) One of my Favorites. 

9. Visual Love - 

This song is funky, sassy, and real. Makes you want to get out on the dance floor with your girls looking fabulous. This brings a new concept to not falling for someone's BS when it ocmes to them saying they love you. Basically, this person is attracted to you only for your looks, hence the title Visual Love. "Your eyes tell me you love me, but that don't mean you do, and I;m not gonna let you hurt me when you SEE someone new." Love runs deeper than physical attraction. Many just throw the word around, knowing that they are in lust. A Golden Track. 

10. Charades - 

Comparing someone's bull crap and trash to a game of charades is an excellent metaphor. People can often be actors, playing characters and personas to win you over or romantically. But you know the deal, you can see right through it. That the perpective of this record. "I Ain't about that life.com period." 

2 Chainz is a complete mess on the record LOL. It's hard to know he did "ALL I WANT FO MY BURFDAY IS A BIG BOOTAY....." and rap with Chrisette. But he adds fun to the record.  

11. Interlude (My heart - Convo with Boyfriend) - 

This interlude is so deep and romantic. Just listen to it. Especially if your a hopeless romantic. It lowkey made me gushy, a little teary LOL!

12. You Mean That Much to Me - 

This song is about putting it all on the line for the one you love. It's good, feel good. It;s a love song about someone you would give it all up for. An offering. Beautiful song. 

13. Supa - 

She gave me Alicia Keys! This is about when your in love with someone and you have to tell them the good and bad about you. This is when your relationship starts to run into arguments and expectations. They get an attitude, you get one.  "I can't be supa all the time, with the S on my chest."  An honest and confronting record. 

14. Interlude - (In My Bed - Sleeping Alone) - 

"My favorite part of a relationship, is holding each other through the night - safety you know?" 

Poetry that details sleeping alone late at night - a perfect transition into the next track.

15. Get Through The Night - 

Now this song is a GOLDEN RECORD! It's so sad yet healing. It honestly helped me get through some personal things. So if you just broke up with someone and experiencing the pain of it, this is a good comforting song. You can cry to it, stare at a wall, and recover. "I know I'll smile in the day time, wait till the sunlight, everything will be alright, I know it will, just gotta get through the night." 

I love this song. Highly suggest it. 

16 . Can The Cool Be Loved - 

Chrisette admits her positives and negatives. "I'm only me, just cool."  Growth, swag, spreading light and love...this song is about being real with yourself and everything you do and also aksing "Can the cool in me, that side of me, just be loved and accepted?." In Chrisette's case, she is just another person in this world with emotions, a career, good qualities, bad qualities, and a muse for music. Bilal and Dunson bring that neo soul hip hop feel. One of my favorites. Overall it's a feel good golden track. The cool people just wanna be loved. 

17. Ten Foot Stilettos  - 

One of my fav's from the album! I love how simple and classy the beat is. It's about making it through life, getitng it hurt, and walking above it in the end. You are high above the drama, the BS, the troubles of everything. "I'm a real tough girl, but I'm sweet at heart. Live in a real rough world, oh I can fall apart, but I just won't fail." If you need strength, put this on. Stand tall! Chrisette also sounds like Erykah Badu on this record! Golden Track! 

18. Interlude (Perch Yo Gurlz - Phone Convo)  - 

Reminds m on phone convos with my girlfriends! 

19. I'm Still Fly - 

I love this song! She sings about being single and still being fly. I like the message because sometimes when we are single we feel so insecure about it. Like we need someone all the time. It's good to just go out with your girls or boys and not expect any phone numbers or dates. Either way you are still fly. The jazzy feel of this record makes it a classic. Upbeat and to the point.  Golden Track. One of my fav's! 

20. Love in the Afternoon - 

This is also another one of my favorites. She sings about how people always make love in the evening. Well, what about making love in the afternoon? The beat and production is fabulous. This was also on her mix-tape last year. The rapper Nello Luchi brought a fantastic pop to the song. Its a nice smooth way to end the album. :) 

Overall, The album's slower songs about love can become repetitive in the messages they send but it's based off of love so it works. I found myself skipping some records. For example, I often play "Get Through the Night: or "Snow" when I'm feeling a little blue. But I mostly listen to the more upbeat records and the one's that reflect on love in a positive light. It's a great, solid, contribution to R&B from Ms. Chrisette Michele. I say get yourself a copy, it allows you to reflect on love, the good and the bad of it. 

Hugs, Kisses, and Wishes. 

"Talk a Good Game" - Kelly Rowland Stands Her Ground

What up peeps! I hope you have been enjoying my blog so far. I must share with you my love for music. It is so strong in me, vital for me to live. It's like water! I've never done an album review before and always toyed with the idea. So join me in my musical exploration. I recently purchased Kelly Rowland's "Talk a Good Game" and wanted to share it with ya'll. 

Kelly Rowland - Talk a Good Game Album review.

Track-listing
1.Freak
2.Kisses Done Low
3. Gone ft. Wiz Khalifa
4.Talk a Good Game ft. Kevin Cossom
5. Down on Love
6. Dirty Laundry
7. You Changed ft. Beyonce and Michelle
8. I Remember
9. Red Wine
10. This is Love
11. Street Life ft. Pusha T
12. Stand in Front of me
13. Sky Walker ft. The Dream
14. Put Your Name On It
15. #1

1. Freak -
A sexual song in which she sings about cameras, mirrors and how everyone is someone's freak. I view it as Kelly hanging in the the whole euro dance feel, and that sound is dying out but she wanted to still say "I can branch out, don't forget it, but I'll give y'all some R&B. and cross over to Pop. So I'm opening my album to show you how I can transition." I honestly don't like this song and have tried to. I found it cheesy. But at the same time it does make me dance and the lyrics are good. I give her points because it sounds weird. I'll give it a few more listens because I love Kelly. I think I'll begin to like it after a while because it is one of the most uptempo tracks Talk a Good Game Offers and shows Kelly branching out and not being safe with her music, which is what ARTISTS do, take risks. 


2. Kisses Down Low -
This song is cute, more of a solo version of motivation. I'm glad Kelly decided to release this a her lead single because there was no feature. No Lil Wayne needed. It was in the Top 10 R&B BillBoard Charts at one point. I feel like it deserved more attention. Over all it's a good (the dream) sounding track.


3. Gone- 
R&B is back with this one simply put! The pain in this song and the triumph is what attracts me to it. This is nice to listen to both when your not going thorough the situation of telling someone to pack their things a leave and when you are. One of my favorites from the album. And Wiz Khalifa makes it pop! It reminds me of that late 1990's early 2000's R&B which is what I miss so dearly! Those were the days! A golden track form the album. 


4. Talk A Good Game- 
Confident yet vulnerable, this is my favorite song from the album because Kelly Rowland is so grown and sexy on it. Its CLASSY and SENSUAL. I feel like she is claiming her territory on this one, musically and personally. Vocally, she understands where she is and is no longer worried about anyone else or trying to sound like anyone. The beat is perfection. The lyrics are so honest. This song is about asking someone who you are in a relationship with to be  honest. "Yea you talk a good game, but be honest with me." It's a very jazzy, hip hop feel and some parts of the song remind me of a Brandy "Full Moon" record. I really highly recommend this track.  She sounds so GROWN AND SEXY ON THIS! It displays the concept of the entire album. Glad she went this route. :) 


5. Down on Love- 
This song has grown on me. It has a grown and sexy feel to it as well. It also offers vulnerability. I love the chorus. Each time I listen I feel different about it. I have a love/hate relationship with this one but it's a great song. I think it depends on what mood your in, what frame of mind you are in when you listen. It's sleek and sad. Classic Contemporary R&B. 


6. Dirty Laundry- 
Talk about airing it out! I like this record. It's a bit on the depressing side and I can only listen when I'm in a certain mood. But I do appreciate the sadness and somber mood it gives me.  I also love the concept. A part of me wishes the instrumental was a little better, it feels so empty when you listen, but maybe that was the goal of The Dream (he produced and wrote the record)? It's cold and harsh and serves it's purpose. One of the stand outs because it is a single, but falls short behind the other tracks possibly because of it's production? I don't know why I feel like it lacks something. But it's still a good record, 

7. You Changed - 
When this song opens I instantly smile because its the Fabulous ladies of DC reuniting. And it's new material. It's special because it shows the love/chemistry these girls have not only outside of the studio but in the booth. Also, I appreciate how Kelly Rowland really owned her vocals on this record, she is in the forefront. Beyonce fits magically into the song. Her sassiness really gave me Writings on the Wall days! I wish Michelle did more than a bridge, she should have had a full third verse. She still sounded devine on the bridge but I noticed she always does the bridges in each song the 3 do together. Overall this song is one of the golden tracks on the album!


8. I Remember- 
I like the message of this song. The instruments give me that fancy feel, it sounds kind of cloudy and fogged. Kelly Rowland's voice rides the beat. I think what makes this song special are the instruments. It's cute. Once again I think Kelly is saying "I can play with a sounds! I'm willing to test the limits of what y'all think I can do".  I'm glad this is an uptempo track.


9. Red Wine - 
When I first heard this song I didn't get it immediately but loved the instrumental and vocals. It was a weird and creepy track, giving me that 80's feel. After studying her lyrics and trying to discover why the song is called Red Wine, I fell in love. Kelly actually said the title has nothing to do with the lyrics
, they were just drinking Red Wine in the studio and it allowed them (her producers, writers, herself) to get Kelly in the booth and flow. Music making is like magic, it's like a dish being prepared. I interpreted Red Wine as getting drunk with someone you have deep feelings for and pouring your heart out to them in a tasteful manner while being tipsy. Not no sloppy drunk confessions. This is one of my favorite tracks- jazzy pop sound, sexy feel, a stand out track. Head Nodder. Vocals give me chills.

10. This is Love - 
I honestly don't like this song. I don't know why. It sounds corny a little. I think it's the beat. I think it could've been left off the album. But take a listen and see what you think. I'm one of those people where I constantly give music and artists a try, so maybe my feelings will change?


11. Street Life -
Kelly Sounds so Raw and Hungry on this track. She is gritty and I love it. The production was done by the one and only Pharell! Everything about this track is gold. What makes it so special is that Kelly discusses the struggles of the hood and people's perceptions of it. She defends education and staying on your grind. Being street smart and book smart. She also proves Obama in the track. And states how "Everybody round me tryna get to the MONAY, Including me!" And it's so true, if you look around you, you'll notice everyone is hustling, from the hood and not. No one will help you, you have to grind on your own. I love this song because its so real! Kelly is still on her grind just like us!

12. Stand in Front of Me -
(Nice & Slow) This is such a romantic, throwback track to what R&B once was. I love the sound of it. It made me picture me and my future boo at dinner, eyeing each other at the table , being fabulously in love! YASS! But Kelly sounds like an Angel as she coos "I'll be the king, as long as you stand in front of me." She is describing what a man is saying to woman as he is being romantic. His intentions are to be her knight in shining armor. He just wants romance. And she also tells the ladies how to keep there man! It's a magical record. A classic.

13. Sky Walker -
It's a sassy track. Kelly shouts out Houston and The Dream shouts out ATL! It's smooth, clean, crisp, bold. Kelly is telling The Dream what kind of woman he needs. Independent, classy, and got her own! The female and male perspective in this record is "forget the rest, I'm the best. I'm on my stuff and I'm what you need in your life, Baby I'm a sky walker. I'm on a different level!!" Kelly boldly sings "I'm from Houston baby, can't you tell?"

14. Put Your Name On It -
"Lets get lost in this place, oh love, where they can't find us for days, oh whahh."
This is also one of my favorites. Her vocals match how powerful the instruments are. It's classic R&B and Kelly is giving on of her best vocals on this one in my opinion. She sounds strong. You can HERE HER! It still has that two step feel, so it can be played in the club.  I honestly want this to be a single and for her to shoot the video on an exotic beach or island! (I already got it panned out! Lol). This is also one of the golden tracks of the album and allows it to come to a smooth close.


15. #1 -
Last but not least, this is R&B banger is sexy and bold---it's Talks a Good Game-- Kelly is not having it with her lover and tells him "I'm not playing second fiddle, if I'm not the one, I guess I'm not for you. Won't play number 2." That's right you claim yo territory GIRL! I like songs in which women claim their men. It also makes sense to close the album with this record.


Overall I really like the album and the more I listen to it, the more it puts a hold on me. We see Kelly in a different light. She is more comfortable. More vulnerable, honest, sexy, feminine. I also like how classy and lady like she is. Such a lady. The producers, writers, and Kelly mesh well together. It is cohesive and conceptual. It's about the things women experience in relationships- the love, the pain, the loneliness, the togetherness, the late nights, the club. It picks at things we go through  in life, which is what music should do. I love the honesty on this one, Kelly found herself and has grown. She is Kelly Rowland, not Beyonce, Rihanna, or anyone else.
So Take a listen and tell me what you think! 

Hugs, Kisses and Wishes!

Beyonce - "Standing on the Sun" Review

(World Renown Music Starlet) Beyonce's new promo single "Standing on the Sun" is a welcoming, fresh, sunny delight to the summer ahead of us. The song was created for her magnificent H&M campaign in which the commercial was released as a mini music video back in May! Recently, Beyonce debuted the summer hit in a performance on her Ms. Carter World Tour and the BeyHive went bananas! 

My take on it-

This song is pop royalty! I feel like this is a new and fresh sound for Beyonce, which is what I've been dying for. It is a much needed turn around from the heavy horns and drum use. The record was written by Sia, who also penned Rihanna's hit single "Diamonds" from Unapologetic. 

I've noticed that Sia's lyrics are very honest, romantic, earthy, and just everything! At first I felt like the song was meant for Rihanna but Beyonce made it hers! It fits her and I hope she allows it to be a single for her fifth album. Standing on the Sun just does something to you once it comes on. It's a sensual, laid back, and hypnotizing. 

So take a listen. Do you think "Standing on the Sun" should be Beyonce's new single? Will her fifth album be world shattering? TeamBeyonce are currently still deciding on what the official single, direction, and drive of her fifth album will be. I beleive team Beyonce jand Beyonce her self just wants to deliver this product as it is her debut album. She is taking her time, focusing on delivering the right meal to her fans! We can't wait Beyonce! 


Give me those thoughts of yours!! Please share! 

Lighthouse, Shining on a World That's Moving Fast

"Tryna shut me up, Tryna hold me down, never turnin off  cause I'm a light!"

I am in love with Fantasia's Lighthouse, from her new album tilted "Side Effects of You". One of American Idol's finest, her new album is worth it. Fantasia sounds recharged and ready to go, it feels like she never took a break. Her best album in my opinion is her self titled 2006 release "Fantasia", remember the lead single "When I See You"?

Lighthouse-

It's a splendid and beautiful surprise from Fantasia. Positive, funky, and what I call "certified", it's a record of strength. Many artists don't make songs like that anymore , which makes it refreshing. 

So if your feeling down and need that spirit lifted up, check out "Lighthouse" by Fantasia.

Other tracks that catch my ear on her new album are Supernatural Love, if I was A Bird, and Without Me.