Customer Reviews

Changing Faces

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

THESE WOMEN ARE GOOD THIS ENTIRE CD IS GOOD THEY DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB FOR A DEBUT ALBUM FROM WHAT I KNOW THEY ARE BEST FRIENDS I AM STILL ENJOYING THIS ALBUM THIS IS A GOOD ALBUM AND THEY ARE MANY GOOD SONGS ON THIS ALBUM MY FAVORITES ARE : KEEP IT RIGHT THERE, FOOLIN AROUND, AND OF COURSE STROKE YOU UP BY R. KELLY !!!!!!!!

I first bought the CD-Single of "Stroke You Up" back in '94 and the tape when it came out and I wore the tape out until it broke on me. The album is the best and one of the best albums among the girl groups of the mid-90's and were criticized heavily by a lot of people because of one time when they were Video Soul, it sounded like there were lip synching and were labeled as "studio singers". No matter what this group could sing to me and had a string of three very good hits. The first two singles were "Stroke You Up" & "Foolin' Around" which were produced by R. Kelly and the third single was my favorite of the album "Keep It Right There" which had the urban touch and produced by one of my favorite producers DeVante. Some other highlights on the album was "Feeling All This Love", "Movin On", "Thoughts of You" & "Baby Your Love"(Produced by Heavy D). Overall this is a great album with a great soultry mix. This group may not have been in the class of EnVogue & Jade as far as vocals but they can still hold their own.

THIS RECORD WAS SO SLEPT ON WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HIT "STROKE YOU UP" FEAT/R.KELLY.THE ONLY REASON I COULD THINK OF IS THE FLOODED R&B MARKET,BECAUSE FIRST OFF THEY CAN SING,THERE ATTRACTIVE,AND THE MUSICAL CONTENT AND SONG IDEAS R STRONG.THIS CAME OUT IN 94 AND I CAN SAY NOTHING BETTER HAS CAME OUT SINCE NOT EVEN CHANGIN FACES 2ND ALBUM.THATS WHY 6 YEARS LATER THIS STILL GETS MUCH PLAY.THERE ISNT A SONG ON HERE I DONT LIKE EVERYTHING ON HERE IS TIGHT.THE ONLY RECORDS THAT CAN EVEN COMPETE WITH THIS IS MICHEL'E "MICHEL'E", KEITH SWEAT "MAKE IT LAST FOREVER", GUY "THE FUTURE", AND MARY J BLIGE "WHAT'S THE 411? THIS RECORD SHOULD GET A TEN BUT AMAZON WILL ONLY LET ME GIVE 5.I HAVE REVIEWED A LOT OF RECORDS AND FEW HAVE GOTTEN 5'S BUT THIS THIS IS A 5.SO IF YOU HAV'NT HEARD THIS GET IT IF YOU HAD IT AND LOST IT FIND IT OR BUY A NEW ONE LIKE I HAVE 3 TIMES.....

Changing Faces' recording career was off to a good start with this self-titled debut album. The name Changing Faces alluded to changing trends in 1990s R&B, which was moving away from new jack swing and toward a softer type of medium-tempo groove. In fact, pretty much everything on this CD, favors a medium tempo sound-- the New York duo doesn't overwhelm the listener with either slow ballads or fast material. Cassandra Lucas and Charisse Rose, collectively Changing Faces, are strong singers -- and while slow jams like "Thoughts of You," "Movin' On," and "Come Closer" aren't mind-blowing, they're pleasant enough. Not surprisingly, "Foolin' Around" and "Stroke You Up" (both written and produced by R. Kelly) became major hits.

In 1994, the R&B market was cluttered with girl groups in the likes of SWV, Xscape, TLC, En Vogue, Zhane, and Jade. Despite stiff competition, Changing Faces, a duo of New York songstresses, attained commerical success with their self-titled debut. This was due mainly to the superb lead single "Stroke U Up" (platinum single sales) and the follow-up "Foolin' Around", each produced by R. Kelly. In addition, both singers were capable vocalists, as displayed by interchangeable lead throughout the set.

Not only were the singles well-crafted, but the rest of the album held it own as well. Other highlights include: "Keep It Right There" (remix featured on White's Man Burden), "Come Closer" (smooth production and smoky vocals), "Baby Your Love" (midtempo treat/2nd favorite track), "Good Thing" (late-night sleeper) and "All Is Not Gone" (syrupy ballad/favorite track).

In sum, Changing Faces turned out an excellent record in the midst of the cluttered girl group market. Even though their debut was commercially successful, better records would later turn up for Changing Faces, namely their 3rd set, despite not acheiving the accompanying sales. However, this record is still very good. It has aged well, and continues to get spins from me and radio. A good-buy for the avid R&B follower.

Grade: B+

The first album of this girl duo with the R.Kelly hits "Stroke you up" and
others. It's a solid, typical R.Kelly, production with fine voices. Very
beautiful ballad: "All is not gone

Some tracks on this CD are really great! Of course their big hit "Stroke You Up", but their are also a few more song on here that really great mainly "Foolin' Around" witch IMO is the best song on the CD. I also like te song "Keep It Right There".

This,is the type(and caliber)of album that is(sadly)missing,from todays(pathetic)music scene!!"Foolin'Around"became an INSTANT classic,"Good Thing"is a painfully TRUE,song,and "All is not gone"is a beautiful,HOPE-instilling track!! The entire,album is good,but these three songs,are the CREAM of the crop!! I miss,the days,when women,such as these,were APPRECIATED,for creating thought-provoking beautifully sung ballads,INSTEAD of being lauded,for marketing,sex-appeal!! Oh,well,I can always pop this "gem"into my player,whenever,I'm craving quality musical offerings!!As it is,I'm going to be playing the surfacing,OFF,of this disc,in the following weeks!!

In 1994 R. Kelly introduced us to Cassandra Lucas and Charisse Rose, better known as Changing Faces. Their very first single "Stroke You Up" had men everywhere saying "Yes you can." Then came "Foolin' Around", and with songs like that already out, people were wondering when the album was coming out.

This album gives you a taste of solid R&B. Silky ballads like the two aforementioned tracks are accompanied by songs like "Come Closer" and "Keep It Right There" as well as the two best tracks, "Thoughts Of You" and "All Is Not Gone". Not one song here is fast-forwardable.

The only problem I could really see with this album is the lack of varied subject matter. For example, there are FOUR kick-your-man-to-the-curb songs ("Foolin' Around", "Am I Wasting My Time", "Movin' On" and "Good Thing"). Still, this album is a very good listen. Way to go, ladies!

I HAVE NEVER HEARD A BETTER TRACK THEN "FOOLIN' AROUND"