Customer Reviews

Chapter 3: The Flesh

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I've been waiting for this CD to be released and bought it the day it was finally released. Syleena Johnson stated in a recent interview "the record company does not know what to do with me." I can't imagine why, because this woman has an amazing, amazing voice. I played this CD for two weeks straight!!! I've been a fan of this talented artist since Chapter 1: Love, Pain and Forgiveness.

Chapter 3: The Flesh follows Chapter 1: Love, Pain, and Forgiveness and Chapter 2: The Voice. Syleena gets more sensual on this album (The Flesh) which is different than her past albums, but I like it!!! She has a couple of mid-temp songs that will have you tapping your foot and singing along, and her signature "man is messing up" type songs. Hypnotic is good song. I find myself letting that song repeat a few times before moving on to the rest of the CD. R. Kelly and Fabolous make cameos on that track. She also has cameo's from Common, Anthony Hamilton, Jermaine Dupree and Twista on the CD.

Reading the reviews some people were taken aback by Syleena's song 8. Phone Sex and 9. Slowly. Personally I don't see what the problem is. Having been in long distance relationships I could totally relate to the Phone Sex song. I could relate to the lyrics on Phone Sex and Slowly which is why I can appreciate those songs. Syleena is a grown woman showing her sensual side, but it was not done in a tacky way. It was very welcome.

Another relationship is another song I thought was a good song. When she ended the song with "I'm carrying your child", all I could do was say WOW!!!

Apartment 4 Rent is a song about knowing when it's time to move on when a relationship is over.

This is a good album, but there are a couple of cuts I won't be playing much if at all. I was also disappointed the lyrics were not included like they were in Chapter 1 and 2.

Song 13 Leave me alone is another good song. The song is about a woman who realizes that there are no benefits to her being the OTHER WOMAN, and wants to end her affair. Some lyrics from the song:

What makes you think I'm going to wait 4 ever
When we both know that you never gonna leave her
What makes you think I don't want a man I can call my own.
What makes you think that I don't want a family
What makes you think I want to be unhappy
Boy I can't do this ,it ain't right
I don't you should call me anymore.
If you're not gonna be here for me, leave me alone
If you not gonna do shhhh for me, leave me alone
If you gotta girl at home and she's pregnant wondering when you coming home, leave me alone
Don't wanna know if you got problems in your marriage
If you think I'm gonna help you carry your baggage
Cause I don't want to share your love, I can do bad on my own.

To me lyrics like this are powerful, and should make people really stand up and take notice.

I sincerely hope more good albums will be made by this very talented, and wonderful artist. If you are a Syleena fan, then make sure you pick up this CD and add it to your collection. You won't regret it.

Favorite Cuts:

2. Hypnotic
4. Special Occasion
8. Phone Sex
9. Slowly
10. Time
11. Still Open
12. Another Relationship
13. Leave me Alone
14. Apartment for Rent

Sometimes it amazes me that this songstress has managed to last as long as she has. She has definitely represented since day one with songs like "I Am Your Woman" and "Hit On Me" from her debut mainstream album Chapter One: Love, Pain, and Forgiveness as well as "Guess What," "Tonight I'm Gonna Let Go," and the remake of "If You Play Your Cards Right" on Chapter Two: The Voice. Each of those albums represented the title all the way, with the main focus of Chapter One on relationships and Chapter Two expressing her own views and doing things her way. The newest album is entitled Chapter 3: The Flesh. It delivers a little eroticism that isn't as prevalent on her previous work, but Syleena doesn't stray too far from her forte of mid-tempo tracks and stories of dealing with no good men.

Syleena jumpstarts the first half of the album with a little energy. The first single "Hypnotic" features R Kelly and Fabolous joining with Syleena to give a radio-friendly track to the masses. Other more upbeat songs are the collabos "Classic Love Song" with Jermaine Dupri, "More" featuring Anthony Hamilton, and "Bullseye (Suddenly)" with Common. And the album wouldn't be complete without the Chicago steppin' song "Special Occasion" featuring R Kelly of course. But once Twista finishes his verse at the beginning of "Phone Sex," Syleena unleashes her sensuality. She follows the song with "Slowly," a song that will have any couple thinking twice about leaving the house. The sexcapade continues on with the casual flow of "Time" and the infectious rhythm of "Still Open." But Chapter 3 wouldn't be complete without a little heartache. Syleena delivers her signature sound at the end of the album with "Another Relationship," "Leave Me Alone," "Apartment For Rent," and "Only A Woman."

Like I said in the beginning, I can't believe this woman is still around. It's nothing to do with her talent...she has just as much if not more than any other R&B artists out there (yes, this includes people like Mary J, Angie Stone, Patti Labelle, and Alicia Keys). I'm talking more about the way she has been promoted throughout the years. Most people would have been dropped from their labels by now considering the sales she has gotten from her first two albums. Maybe the third time will be a charm, and the record company will truly realize that they have winner in the flesh with Syleena Johnson on their roster.

Syleena Johnson has proven time and time again that she has what's missing in the music scene today. Syleena has the look, the skill, and, most importantly, the voice. Her music has been such an inspiration in my life and I highly recommend this album to everyone.

If only Jive Records could promote her more, Syleena would be one of the biggest artists right now. GET THIS ALBUM!!! YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!

FIVE STARS!!!!!

I was not a huge fan of Syleena Johnson when her first album was released. I liked the song "Guess What?" which was the first single from her second album. "Tonight, I'm Gonna Let Go featuring Flipmode Squad" made me take notice. I kept seeing this album everywhere: In friend's collections, Record Stores, Online, etc... so I decided to buy it! I'm so glad I did. Every song is amazing in my opinion. One of the rare albums I can play from beginning to end without skipping. She is simply amazing! Her voice is like silk the way it wraps around the music, so beautifully and effortlessly. A great and true soul singer! The production is top notch. Syleena is one of the rare singers who knows exactly what fits her voice instead of working with famous producers in hope of trying to appeal to a broader audience. This is an album for anyone who is a fan of Great Music!

Like Jill Scott's "Beautifully Human", Syleena Johnson shows a lot more versatility with her voice than she had in the last 2 albums. Just because you can SANG doesn't mean you have to belt every song out. She's using that soft supple side of her voice to make a point. On the intro alone she uses her breathiness to make you feel her urgency. On "Another Relationship" and "Apartment For Rent" she uses the strength in her voice to make you feel the pain.

Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! It kills me that the copy protect prevents me from listening to the CD at work. It's the first thing in my CD player, followed by Dwele's "Some Kinda" Charlie Wilson, EWF's "Illumination" and now Jaime Foxx and (I'll admit it) Ray J.

I've read the reciews and it's a shame that ppl are really giving her lower stars overs TWO songs. If you read her thank you, she clearly, let me say it again, clearly asking Gog to forgive her for her sins, that she is not perfect and that and I quote, "Chapter 3: The Flesh is my testimony, my confessions of my sins....," and if you're suppose to be such big fans of hers you would know that all of her music comes from within. So if she's been a naughty, so be it. Get over it. She is grown, an adult, whose admitted to making mistakes. This cd is really nice. It's terrible that ppl really give her low starts because of TWO songs that were not distasteful.

This has to be THE un-noticed artisted in the R & B industry. I have been a fan since her freshman album. She has a very unique and mature sound that is so refreshing. When I first got this album, I did not listen to anything else for the first week. I LOVE IT!!!!!!

I normally stick to the charts R&B singers.

I read a review on Amazon.com about this album.

When the album arrived from start to end it blow me away.

I must have phoned almost anyone I knew, jumping up and down.

One after another the songs blow me away!

Boy, this is must. Will impress most friends, especially the ones that tend to show you're their must, (You know the one's I mean)

Now it's your change to show off.

Wow! Is all they will need to say?

10/10 !

Okay..the music business is about sex appeal and sex. Fact. That is the reason that Meshelle Ndegeocello and Rachelle Ferrell aren't the best selling female artist on the planet. But the truth is we want to see a sexy body and pretty face on a video.

With that said, I applaud Syleena for doing what it takes to compliment her music. Yes, Phone sex is a little too direct in it's message, but nothing naughtier than discussions I have had with every woman I have been intimate with. This is a seductive album and she succeeds at seducing. My only complaint is against the producers and not Syleena. Why is it that when a woman is attempting to be sexy on an album that equates with purring (i.e., Toni Braxton, Brandy's latest offering, and now Syleena). I would have liked to hear her vocals a little more tigeress than sly pussycat on this album.

This album is not as aggressive in terms of beats and powerful vocals as Chapter 2: the "Voice" but that is why the title proclaims the "Flesh". For all those overly critical of this artist, please remember to review an album against the creative direction the artist has chosen to take. This is a sexy album and everything from the cover photo, inserts and full length album do a great job of seduction. Syleena, if your reading this then I hope chapter 4 will be the "Soul" and you can do more cuts like the blazingly soulful "Apartment for Rent".

Syleena Johnson is back, and she ain't pulling no punches. I love a CD I can just pop in and let ride, and this is definitely on my top 5 list. Phone Sex is my favorite track, but you can sit back and let this one ride. I muat buy!