My Everything

1. I didn't "download" this CD from itunes or anyplace else. I paid full price. I have not purchased a music CD that has not been downloaded in 3 years.

2. I started playing songs on it over and over again. The "My Everything" cut and the "My Everything-revisited" are my favs.

3. I read everything I could before the CD came out because I wanted to know the story behind the CD.

i'm 38 and hiphop is still my favorite genre of music primarily because of the beats. For so many years we have been getting this watered down R&B (exculding Ms Alica Keys and Ms. Jill Scott). I was getting plain sick of the genre...no more Luther, Sade is too infrequent with her releases. Will Downing has changed so much I don't know his music anymore. Toni Braxton seems to have fallen off the side of the earth in terms of musical direction.

Its soooo nice to have you back Anita. Your music really does fill such a large void out there. So nice...

Truth be known I had anxiously awaited Anita's new disc for quite some time ( along with a few million of her other loyal fans! ) and while any release from Ms. Baker is a time of celebration I must say I am having rather conflicted feelings toward " My Everything " A classic case of earnest desire looking reality square in the face.

Again, I am a huge fan of Anita Bakers previous works and still consider " Rapture " to be one of the few classic Soul, R&B discs ever released. But " My Everything " while it has its moments, simply pales in comparison to the best of what this artist has to offer. Beginning with the title track, an extremely radio-friendly song that has been playing on Smooth Jazz stations before the actual release of the cd, is pleasant and a nice way of beginning the disc but not exactly a classic in its own right. Nevertheless a nice enough tune and worthy of its presence on this disc. But problems soon arrive and disappointment also reared its ugly head. " How Could You " simply comes across as filler material and left no impact on this music lover whatsoever. Now things do ' heat up ' again with " In My Heart " a luxurious, sexy number that brings out the best in this singer and was unrepentant in its overt desires. For me easily the best song to be found on this cd. Unfortunately after hitting that high note ( no pun! ) Ms. Baker's release tends to collectively, song by song, build up speed heading directly down hill. " Serious " the one song not written by Ms.Baker is agin nice enough but rather bland and nothing that captured my imagination and " Like You Used To Do " a duet with Babyface, again pleasant enough, seemed rather forced and out of place. Plus, if you're going to have someone duet with the amazing Anita lets try to find someone who can match her amazing vocal abilities. Sadly, it certainly isn't Babyface who seems miles behind Ms. Baker in the talent pool. The rest of the disc, again competant enough and pleasant in its own small way, simply comes across as rather umm, well, nice enough but never seems to fully realize its true potential. All in all while each song poured out of my speakers it seemed as though not one really grabbed my attention and had me searching for my replay button. I kept pondering at the end of the disc, is that all there is?

Now admirers of Anita Baker may fault me for comparing this release with previous works but whats a music lover to do? After being a loyal follower for many years now I, like those loyal fans, have high expectations for what this singer is capable of and when a disc is released under her name I do expect a quality product. That's not saying that " My Everything " is a disaster, it certainly isn't that. But after being out of the public eye for quite a few years now I guess I was expecting that Anita would bring forth a disc that showcased her many talents and though her songwriting skills are, lets say competant, it seems as though she perhaps tried to do too much on this disc. And, sadly, the cd suffers because of that. Nevertheless, a fan I will remain and anxiously, yet again, find myself waiting for her next release.

I own all of Anita Baker's CDs and bought this one the day it came out without evening hearing it first - like SADE and LUTHER and other singers that have their own instantly memorable "signature" sound, this is pure Anita Baker all the way - that's good...and bad. While these songs are surely listenable and pleasant in Anita's patented quiet-storm style, one wonders why it took TEN YEARS for this? The title track (and its jazzy scat reprise!), the Babyface duet, and a few others are strong and earn repeated listens, but much of this is below Anita's high standards such as Sweet Love, Angel, Giving You the Best, Been So Long, etc. But I am glad to know that a singer with as much talent, style, and grace as Anita Baker can take off a decade and then release a new CD that tops the charts - good to know there is still a sizeable audience for QUALITY MUSIC instead of thw empty, throwaway padlum that passes for Top 40 pop music today.

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