Customer Reviews

Blaque Ivory

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

If you want this cd Sample it please I know they could have did better than that. this album is so Corny I like three songs out of fourteen and that's not even average. If you want this album buy it used. not brand new i payed 16.99 for this album. I was very upset with this group. Everyone told me that I need to trade in this album. And no the 808 bumpin remix is not on here. If torch is relesed, Which I hope will be. I hope it's better than This.

Blaque's debut project was a major smash. The production of this record is amazingly universal. You have Soulshock & Karlin who produced "Roll With Me," a head-nodding joint, (great way to begin any cd) a ballad, "Don't Go Looking For Love," produced, arranged, and composed by Mariah Carey and Cory Rooney (exceptional arrangement), the first single, "808" produced & written by R. Kelly (need I say anymore??) and other cuts like the irresistible "Bring It All to Me," the vivaciously romantic, "Right Next to Me," and the schmaltzy ballad, "When The Last Teardrop Falls" give this debut some heavy diversity. It could have been more successful if they trimmed the heavily re-made Cyndi Lauper classic, "Time After Time." People just do too much of the same stuff in this game. Don't get me wrong, it was a pretty decent recovery of the hit song but everybody does it!! Oh yeah, they're creative control was put to work, as well. Natina, Shamari, & Brandi have as much chemistry as some other popular R&B groups from the early 90s. (i.e. SWV, TLC, etc.) They work pretty well together and they have intellect beyond their years. Despite the fact that "Time" is used so much and their live performances weren't great, they have a number of hits on this album that stick in your memory. Can't argue that. They should quietly be a mainstay in the R&B/Pop market for years to come. Looking for your long-awaited sophomore project, y'all!!! Keep up the good work girls!!!

My aunt had given this cd to me cause i guess she hated it, so i was all excited because i liked 808. Tell me why none of the other songs sound like this??? The 1st song sounds like your typical destinys child uptempo song and thres really nothin special about it. I do sounds like a fricken theme song to a kids tv show, leny is just plain boring, rainbow drive is kinda cheesy but i liked this song cuz the music. 808 is the standout track and its the best on the cd. What pisses me off is that they lazily re-did time after time when an artist name I no J or whatever re-did that song and made a hit. Bring it all to me is corny but one of the stronger cuts. mind of a king sounds like a cheesy attempt to sound like prince. And then the album ends with a bunch of boring, filler, cheesy balads and i think the last song was also a remake. If u r into girlgroups, i recommend tlc, total, destinys child 702 or swv. However this album floats on nothing but cheezy meaningless songs. The album is just plastic, it's totally wack. Im glad i did not buy this cd. The only good songs are 808 and rainbow drive.

This album is ok. It's cute and classy but some of the songs really lack creativity.They seem pointless and pop.The highlight of this album has to be 808.This song is so hot and has great background vocals.IF u like the r&B/Pop songs then go ahead and buy this album but if you don't want to be risky then maybe you should get the single or burn the cd.

Blaque hit the big time in 1999 with the radio smash second single "Bring It All To Me", featuring a guest vocal from *NSYNC heartthrob JC Chasez. The track is best of infectious R&B pop, and the best of this debut album release. Other singles from the album include "808" and "I Do", both of which did better with quite a bit of reworking. The former was totally redone practically, with the familiar line "She ain't got the boom like I do". The latter was vamped up with a guest rap from the late Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, who had made the girls her proteges. The cheesy uplifting "Rainbow Drive" is a surpisingly strong cut. The rest of the album is weighted down with dismal slushy ballads. None of them are stand-out, even the cover of Cyndi Lauper's pop classic "Time After Time" is totally stale. Maybe after so many cover versions, the song just can't stand up for yet another reworking. Either way, the album in general is totally bland dissapointment. It's a one listen album IF that. Buy at your own risk.

I feel this album would have been alot better if Natina had more creative controll. The songs that she wrote or helped write sound very unique (I do, Rainbow drive, mind of a king, Lenny)Some of the songs would have been more enjoyable if they could sing better. I think they have potential.

I am so glad that I borrowed this CD from someone at school. I wanted to record the songs "Bring It All To Me" and "I Do" on a tape, and I listened to the album. "808" which was supposedly their first single was OK, but I don't remember hearing the song on the radio. The intro is cool but most of the other songs I could take or leave. I think Left Eye was trying too hard to create a TLC Jr. and not being that original. Even 3LW had better stuff then Blaque. So sorry girls but the CD just wasn't worth it and as I stated earlier, I am SO glad I only borrowed and didn't purchase it. Hear's to a better and more original release from Blaque in the future...only then I would be more inclined in purchasing their album.

Ah, 1999-when female groups ruled the airwaves. There was 702, and there was Destiny's Child-two groups whose sophomore efforts turned into chart-topping pieces of work. A new group that hoped to join those ranks was Left Eye protégés Blaque, composed of lead singer Shamari Fears, rapper Natina Reed, and Brandi Williams.

Their first single "808" did pull them into gold territory, and "Bring It All To Me" broke into the top ten. Unfortunately, this is one of the many cases where the only songs you'd really want to listen to are the released ones. Not to say that the rest of the songs are necessarily BAD, but most of them sound like they're supposed to be on somebody else's album. For example, "Mind Of A King" and "Release Me" sound like they were borrowed from Enigma. Also, there are several of those unnecessary interview skits where people diss the group, and their remake of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" sounds good until they add party music for the chorus. (Aren't we tired of hearing "Time After Time" remakes anyway?) The last two songs on the album, "Stay By Your Side" and "When The Last Teardrop Falls," ARE good. In fact, they're so good you'll be wondering what happened on the rest of the album.

And now, on to the production. Production credit was given to Track Masters, but there surprisingly weren't many samples to be found here. It was odd, however, that they actually sampled an adlib for "Stay By Your Side" (they sampled "I'll be there/I'll be right there" from Boyz II Men's "Please Don't Go"). Also, the lyrics to "Rainbow Drive" turn it into a public service announcement, but Poke & Tone's beat added to it makes you wonder if the song was borrowed from Sesame Street.

Blaque claims that they're R&B, but then other people claim that they're bubble-gum pop. What do I think? I really can't tell. "They have their own style." I guess we'll have to go with that for right now.

another typical girlband trying to make it in the pop world. this was not anything that I expected it to be. i listened to this cd and the only song that caught my attention was "Bring it all to me." Not at all surprisingly their only hit. to me, they are a one-hit wonder.

this album surprised me in being a lot better than i expected it to me. i still wouldn't say it is a work of art though. of course, how often do people have perfect debut albums? there are a lot of female R&B groups out there, but blaque's album stand out as being one of the better ones of the bunch.
some tracks that stand out are
"bring it all to me" - i'm sure you know this song, it was their big radio hit. funky beat and nice chorus, a bit too repetitive though.
"808" - nice smooth song, these girls can harmonize very well
"leny" - a slow jam, really nice vocals
"rainbow drive" - funky guitar track, the girls can really sing!!
i would have to say their cover of "time after time" turns out to be another countless boring remake though. as the albums continues, you might become bored, as the best tracks are mostly stacked at the begining!
if you like most r&b/pop music you hear on the radio nowadays, then this is an album you'll probably enjoy.