Customer Reviews

All Eyes on Me

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This version of her third album was not released in the USA (other than bootleg and over the Internet). "After The Storm" is the revised version of this released in the USA with some new tracks put on it, including "Go To Bed Mad" w/ Tyrese and "Knock Knock".

The album highlights are "All Eyez On Me", which samples "Pretty Young Thing" by Michael Jackson. It's a great get-your-groove-on song and Rodney Jerkins does a great job with the production side of the song. Other tracks to look into on the album include "Too Hood", which allows Monica to tell you how she feels about pretty boys and what she likes. Jermaine Dupri does a great job with the production side of the song. "What My Heart Says" is a great slow song. Monica really shines vocally with songs like this along with "For You I Will". It allows her to put emotion into her singing about the love you can have for someone despite disapproval of people trying to govern it. And also "Ain't Gonna Cry no More", which I think is a great song and she also had the chance to write, because it's just a Monica-styled song all the way. Rodney Jerkins works his production wonder again with this song. More eccentric tracks include "If U Were The Girl", which has a sample of a C-Murder song talking about a man being in a woman's shoes when she finds her man cheating and lying, "U Deserve", which samples 2Pac's "Hail Mary", "I'm Back", which samples B.I.G's "Hypnotize" introing her return to doing an album since her second album "The Boy Is Mine", and a heartfelt song calling about of her past boyfriend Jarvis Darnell Weems, who committed suicide in front of her with "I Wrote This Song". It was a tragic, yet emotionally awakening experience in her life. I'm glad she overcame the experience, not ever forgetting it, and continuing to live and be the best person she needs to be as a woman (1) and musician (2).

Truly appreciate Monica's real-girl attitude and emotion when she sings. She truly can hold her own as a female vocalist and woman and I fully wish nothing but success and happiness in her life.

Buy the album and appreciate it for what it's worth. Support true talent like this.

All Eyez (and ears) are on monica on this album. its just too bad it will not be released in the states. but she does have another one called after the storm being released on june 17.
this album was just a breath of fresh air. it let us know that our girl was not just sittin around and not wanting to put anything back out for her fans.
but to me, some of the songs werelike a more grown up version of some of the songs off of the boy is mine. for those who has the cd youu may agree.
for instance street symphony has what could be a after affect song or two on the new album. the songs you shouldve know and i wrote this song can be what happened after all of the things fromm street symphony. aint gonna cry no more can be another version of ring the bell. but my favorite song on this album what hurts the most is like the song inside. its like she finally has realized she has to let go to her ex. dont get me wrong, this is not a bad thing that these songs are similar, becase although they are similar, they still stand out as different songs.
all eyez on me is just a hot album.
she put her heart into her writing and it really shows especially on i wrote this song. she allows the listener to see how much she misses her boyfriend after is suicide.
so as i said before, this album is just hot

It's a shame that this album wasn't released in the states! Even though I had to purchase it as an import - it was well worth my $... The 7 previous reviewers were right on regarding in their reviews of this album. If you're a Monica fan this is a must have for your collection.

Okay, so Monica hasn't quite been in the limelight lately. If listeners reward talent, she will be once again. This Japanese Import is quite different from her American release (which will be released sometime in May, I believe). Most of the songs (if not all of them) will not appear on the U.S. version. I only say this to emphasize the importance of buying this import if you're a Monica fan. It won't be available later.

The CD starts with "I'm Back," a song that samples Notorious B-I-G's "hypnotize." I have to admit, although the chorus is extremely catchy, the song sounds too familiar to "hypnotize." This is probably the weakest track on the album. You then have her first single off this album, the title track "All Eyez on Me." This songs samples Michael Jackson's "PYT" (Pretty Young Thing). I love this song. I can hear it over and over. It's a great dance song that really gets you going. You'll even get to hear Monica and Michael Jackson battle it out in the very end of the song. "U Should've Known" follows. This song has *hit* written all over it. This is a great R&B ballad-esque upbeat song. The next song, "Too Hood" features Jermaine Dupri. Its a catchy upbeat song, but doesn't really show Monica's vocals. "I wrote this song" is a beautifully written song (Monica wrote it, along with the majority of the songs in this album) about her best friend/ex-lover's suicide. It's a sad song, but since its not exactly a traditional ballad, you'll find yourself singing along to it and possibly even dancing to it! The next song "U Deserve" samples Tupac's "Hail Mary." I love this song so much. It has this reggae sound to it. There's a great rap in the middle as well. Monica's voice sounds so mature in this song. The following song, however, is undoubtedly my favorite on the album--"Breaks my Heart." Monica has never sounded better. This song is so full of soul. Monica really lets it all out on this one. "Ain't Gonna Cry No More" is such a great upbeat song. You'll find it hard to get this track out of your head. This song, in my opinion, sounds a little reggae as well. If anything, this album really shows Monica's diverse talents. She really can sing *anything.* The next song, "If U Were the Girl" asks Monica's man what he would do if she were the one coming home late every night and spending all of her time in the clubs with her friends. Another great uptempo song that really shows Monica's famous sassy attitude. "What Hurts the Most" is really the only traditional ballad on the album. There are other ballad-type songs, but this is the only one that follows the ballad formula. It really stands out. You'll find yourself reminded of Monica's sultry voice in "For You I Will." All Monica fans have always wanted Monica to sing a gospel song. She finally does on this album. "Searchin'" in such a beautifully written song with such a great message. Monica's vocals prove perfect for the gospel genre (a task not all R&B singers are capable of). The last two songs on the album are previously unreleased LP tracks (although "Just Another Girl" was featured on the "Down to Earth" soundtrack; and the video for the song can be found on the DVD as well). "Just Another Girl" is a great upbeat song that can be sung by no one else but Monica. Monica makes this song her own. You'll definitely enjoy this one. The last song on the album, "What My Heart Says" still gives me goosebumps. Monica sang this song for the MTV movie "Love Song." Wow! That's really the only way I can describe it. Her voice is so deep and so soulful in this song. She really lets loose again on this song. Flawless song, penned by Dianne Warren.

Japan had the upper hand this time. You really should invest on this CD. Monica does not disappoint.

i don't know why japan always gets the new music first. and always with extra tracks not found on the U.S. release. I remember seeing her in the music video "don't take it personal" and only being 14! i am born the same year as her and its nice to see her gorw as an artist as i have grown. Monica reminds me of Betty Wright. Southern soul sista singer type. this is Monica's third album. on a different label and past 4 years since her 98' "The Boy Is Mine" album. This cd has a perfect mix of dance/pop, midtempo, and slow jams tracks. "I'm Back", "All Eyez On Me", "U Deserve", If U Were This Girl" all contains samples heard from popular hiphop tracks and 'All Eyez On Me" samples from Michael Jackson's "P.Y.T." ( pretty young thing). All fun to listen to. "U Deserve" samples from 2 Pac's "Hail Mary" which sounds kinda creapy for an R&B track; but the lyrics fit this dark song about being strong in a bad relationship and regret. "I Wrote This Song" shows off Monica's songwritng about a thug in her life and how she had to let him go. Also my favorite track in the album. Monica also co- written all the songs and co- produced them. Bonus tracks are: "Just Another Girl" form the Down To Earth Soundtrack and "What my Heart Says" a typical well done Dinne Waren ballad. Overall, this is a rare r&b cd where a person can listen to all the songs without skipping around the Cd. Monica always had the talent and I'm glad she is back! You Go Mis Thang!

I love the cd and the album is great I think everyone should purchase the album. Also monica is a excellent and talent singer.

This is the 13- track Japan Import released in 2002 with diverse stunning artwork, different songs, and omissions of others from her later release titled, After the Storm. This includes the glossy booklet with lyrics, obi-strip, and collector's worth. While the later release has "Get It Off", "So Gone Remix feat. Busta Rhymes"", "Go To Bed Mad feat Tyrese", "That's My Man", and "Don't Gotta Gome Home feat. DMX" this one has a different type of vibe. The featured artists from the other version are not here and the R&B styles are a bit simmered down to be more for unwinding, getting loose, or just kicking back. There's less hip-hop/rap and more blends instead. The ballads are sung very eloquently portraying the emotions to the words very impacting!

The album opens up with "I'm Back" not on the US version describing how she was gone for a while from the music industry but is back. A beautiful stand-out ballad is "What Hurts The Most" also not on the US release. It's about the pain associated with letting go of love and later realizing just how truly *special* that someone meant. Some words, "Baby what hurts the most is letting go/I just want you to know that I love you so/And though things are different now/You've gone and settled down/I thought for sure you'd always wait for me..." . The non US track here titled, "Too Hood" is available on the After The Storm double disc Australian Tour Edition. That has a hip-hop vibe with Jermaine Dupri and Monica singing back and forth in a very funky style regarding preferring a guy that's from the hood. "All Eyez On Me" is available in the After The Storm Japan Import as a bonus but not on the US. The tempos are mid to up with references to the club and the back and forth stares that go with it.

The other non-US track, "If U Were The Girl" talks about flipping the roles and having the guy stay home while the girl is out in the club or with the girls. Sort of like Ciara's Like A Boy and Beyonce's "If I Were A Boy" in a fast up-tempo style very hip-hop R&B fresh. The non-US track, "Searchin'" is about her faith in God and how she is searching for love in her darkest hours of loneliness. Some words, "Lord, I give you, oh, oh/Lord I need you, Lord I need you/I'm your child Lord/I'm standing right here in the name of prayer..." It's a very touching song to even the coldest of hearts. "Just Another Girl" and "What My Heart Says" are 2 other non-US tracks with the later being produced by Dianne Warren. "U Deserve" is not on the US release and is about how a girlfriend warns her friend about a certain guy that is no good but her friend goes for it anyways. Some words, "A man can only do what you let him and girl, it don't do you no good to just sweat him oh no, no, and girl you can't just let this man abuse you/I'll tell you what you should do/But if you choose not to Then you deserve..."

While the later release is excellent and also quite extraordinary, this one presents a diverse musical listening experience making it almost a completely different album. This is a must for the Monica die-hard fan and collector. The years have passed and the songs still have that classic style comparable to Mariah, Whitney, Brandy and other divas. Like her opening track stated, "I'm Back", Monica will be back and when she makes her return it will be like her usual signature mark: CLASSIC!

Well let me start by saying.... that when this cd was released I was waiting for it. no release in the states. I was wondering what happened I kept hearing that the cd was pushed back. Then six months later After The Storm was released. I thought I was done then I found that All Eyes On Me was an Import. I must alot of the songs are the same on the US release. But the ones that are not are very good I am glad that I got this Import it was worth the money. If you are a fan of Monica's or as us hardcore fans call her as well as JD...Mo is back and if you have both cd's its like a double cd with the bonus songs on the US version that do not appear on the Import version you get two extra songs that are not on the Import you get "What Part Of The Game ft Mia X and Down For Whatever" which both are good songs it total if you get both you have 23 songs total. Also if you have an Ipod you can get special edtion remixes of "So Gone,Set It Off,Knock Knock" the remixes are a raw unedited version of the songs with Mo telling you how she feels without the beeps

Monica's All Eyez On Me Album is the best album from her so far. She so beautiful and talented. The Album Should've Came Out In 2002, but only get released in Japan. I waited a year for this album because the dates kept changing later she rereleased the album called After The Storm. I can't wait until next year when her new album comes out. Anyways if you are a Monica Fan you'll love it. All The songs are good it even has just another girl on it her the soundtrack of Down To Earth Movie. It is worth the money totally.

Monica's album "All Eyez On Me" is a Japanese version of her "After The Storm" album which was released in the US. "All Eyez On Me" featured new songs not seen on the American "After The Storm". "I'm Back" features beats from B.I.G's "Hypnotize" which is so slick and sexy. "All Eyez On Me" is a remake of Michael Jackson's "Pretty Young Thing" which was a single I believe from the album. "Too Hood" has a Dirty-South feel on the bass line. Monica says she doesn't want anybody but a man who is hood. "U Deserve" (which is the best song on the CD) uses the beat from 2Pac's "Hail Mary". It is so great. "If U Were The Girl" is a bass-booming track which is definently on point. You should DEFINENTLY pick up this album if you already have "After The Storm" because these tracks should have replaced some of the tracks on that CD.