Customer Reviews

Ev3

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The departue of Funky 4th member Dawn Robinson during the recording of this album was a bad sign. Even worse was the fact that she called her new group Lucy Pearl. Not only was she mad enough to leave one of the world's most successful groups, but initial indications of the first single without her (she sings on Don't Let Go - one of the most brilliant songs ever) Whatever, were not good. Fortunately there are plenty of tracks which make up for that song which is very awkward & not very good at all. Let It Flow is En Vogue 2 da max - makes me smile, while Too Gone Too Long is superb. Written by Diane Warren, the gals let rip on an offending lover & mark his goodbiye cards for him. Foster & McElroy only work on part of the album (having co-written & prduced all of the first 2) & if the truth be told, their contributions are slightly lacking. There's not enough grit on them to make them work. The first 7 tracks are really where it's at & if the album was released with only those 7, you would say it's a masterpiece. You're All I Need is uplifting vocally, & Damn I Wanna Be Your Lover is rich & textured. The overall flow of the album is not as layered & quirky as Funky Divas. This has probably been EV's intention - to give their fans something new to listen to. The girls are all loved up & it does show. A few harder hitting trax in the vein of Free Your Mind or My Lovin may have been what the doctor ordered. Still, a commendable work. Worth buying alone for Don't Let Go & Too Gone, Too Long

This album title got a double meaning, it stands for their third album but also the group getting reduced to a trio after the departure of Dawn Robinson. After the magnificient Funky Divas that featured the unmistakable hit singles "Free Your Mind" and "My Lovin (You're Never Gonna Get It)" the band took a 5 year hiatus and alot of things happened in the music industry during that time, their brilliant fusion between R&b, Dance, Hip Hop and Rock was no longer that trendy and 5 years is long enough for any group to lose it's popularity, but the three remaining members do the best of the situation and together with trademark producers Foster/mcElroy they're still able to satisfy most listeners. What differs is that they only produce half of the songs here and the rest is giving to in-demand producers/writers like David Foster, Dianne Warren, Organized Noice and Babyface. "Don't Let Go (Love)" ended up being one of their alltime biggest hits, reaching #2 on the charts and still to this day a very enjoyable power-ballad. Babyface's slick contribution "Whatever" is one the other hand one of his alltime weakest and lack a great hook or melody that his songs normally have. "Damn I Wanna Be Your Lover" sounds almost exactly like "Don't Let Go (Love)" and not too surprsingly it comes from the same producers. Dianne Warren's power-ballad "Too Gone, Too Long" on the other hand is a standout and one of her better songs, eventually becoming a top 40 hit. "Let It Flow" with a guest rap and "What A diffrence a Day Made" is perhaps the closest you get to the sound of their past. Other then that most of this album is adult contemporary ballads and from time to time even a edgy power-ballad. However, there are many good numbers, and En Vogue without Dawn Robinson still manages to make a good album.

The trio of diversity, talent, and, class shown brightly through this exquisite piece of vocal art work is mind blowing. The album titled EV3 appropriately targets each and every member and rocketing them to public notability by just three symbols~EV3~. The act of one member leaving the group does not place the other remaining three in the less credibile category -Hot R&B & Pop Gal Groups- of the music buisness. En Vogue is in the category of -Divas That Can Sing- all types of lyrical genres and handles acapella, major music industry CHANGE and can with stand the absence/exiting of a longtime member and still hold their heads up high to proclaim that they produce an interesting diversity of songs, lyrics, beats,tones and, styles all of their own. You could say the new trio has a whole new P.O.V to their approach to their music these days that they will introduce to their FANS slowly,piece by piece or little by little every album release (or yearly). All I know is that En Vogue has style, class and, the ability to harmonize like no other female vocal group the music industry has had in the last 15-20 years, while not selling out to the commercial/glitz side of the music industry. This trio can diversely sing anything just listen to the following spectrum (array of different) of songs on this C.D. EV3:"Don't Let Go(Love)"(had one of the rawest/cutting edge music videos on BET and MTV the year it released), "Right Direction", "Damn I Wannabe Your Lover", "Too Gone, Too Long", "Sitting By Heavens Door", "What A Difference A Day Makes", ecspecially listen to "Eyes Of A Child", and make sure you give special attention when listening to last but, definitely not least in any way, the absolutely beautifully harmonizing acapella EV3 song "Does Anybody Here Me".********

One side note about this album, now that I'm older and able to use my hind site/retrospect (my adult wisdom), I did notice while memorizing every single detail of every song in my adolesence years of my life of being a fan I had began toget hints here and there that some of the songs sound at some points like they have the same instrumentals.In rating this C.D. I took that in to consideration and thats why I had to score it with four stars and not all five. However, EV3 wasn't En Vogue's non-deliverer; it just threw a whole new type/angle of En Vogue at America and some fans were just reluctant to accept change (difference). This album speaks volumes of love, so give some and check it out!

I love these girls. They have soul, spirit and talent. All the songs on the album are beautiful and catchy. They end the album with a wonderful acapella style song, with no music. Which displays their ability to sing well. Definately worth listening to.

A lot of fans were dissapoitned with the departure of Dawn Robinson during the recording of "EV3", but it's a shame it didn't sell well as "Funky Divas" because "EV3" is much better in my opinion. The production is less-outdated and there seems to be more shared vocals, putting newer groups like Destiny's Child and 3LW to shame. Dawn's vocals are present throughout the record, but she only sings lead on the massive hit "Don't Let Go (Love)" and the Diane Warren-written "Too Gone Too Long."

The first song and leading single "Whatever" produced and written by Babyface failed to do that well on the charts but fortunately gained enough popularity to let "Ev3" get at leased 1 million copies sold (but nothing compared to the astonishing 5 million of "Funky Divas"). My personal favorites are: "Eyes of a Child", "Does Sitting By Heaven's Door" and "Love Makes Ya Do Thangs." Anyone who appreciates pure R&B/Soul should get this album. If you don't like female R&B groups who are too commercial like Destiny's child and 3LW then you should get this album. It's one of those CD's that you can listen to all the way through without skipping a single song. It's also one of those CD's where you can appreciate the artist/group for their voices alone and less for their image. Maxine, Terry and Cindy sound great together. The production is beautiful and only one song ("Let It Flow") reminds you of the old En Vogue. I think most people went into shock with the fact that EV changed their style but I think it's great they always re-invent themselves. If you end up liking "EV3" then I also reccomend their next release after this "Masterpiece Theatre." Overall grade: A+ BUY IT!!

I remember this album when I was 10. I love this album. With this album, they have forged new musical terrain both as vocalists and songwriters. EV3 is En Vogue as we have never heard before(in 1997). This album showcases their trademark dynamic, soul-searing lead vocals and warm,ultra-tight backing harmonies. Dawn left for a solo career after doing two songs on this album. This album has been certified Platinum. This was the most forgettable album of 1997. Remember,this was 1997.

I am a massive En Vogue fan and that is all thanks to this album, EV3!

I knew nothing about En Vogue until i was on holiday in Mumbai, India and i heard the song 'Don't Let Go (Love)'. From that, when i came back, i went out and bought the single and album and i became hooked.

Songs such as 'Right Direction', 'Too Gone, Too Long' & 'Does Anybody Hear Me' are just a few of the stand out songs on the album along with my all time favourite song 'Don't Let Go (Love)'.

For me, EV3 doesn't loose a single bit of its freshness and vitality. Their previous albums 'Born To Sing' & 'Funky Divas' are brilliant and their follow up album to EV3, 'Masterpiece Theatre' were excellent albums as well, but they can't beat EV3 for me.

I just can't wait until their next studio album which is due to drop in autumn 2002 with new member Amanda Cole but without the little lady with the powerful voice, Miss Maxine Jones. She'll be missed but not for a single moment forgotten!

En Vogue 4ever!

Well the Soul Sistas of R/B have done it again with their album EV3 even though Dawn Robinson had left. Yet the music is so different from the mellow and sentimental through to the very funky stuff they stuff have in here in this album. I found it quite enjoyable indeed even though they have been around for a few years now. I never got a chance to a review on them but now I have so their music is great stuff... The En Vogue Soul Sista and Queen of R/B rule for sure! They have come a long long away from their early beginnings and I guess they are going to leave their mark with their music as well as their style of hair too... which is totally different from their previous images I have seen of them.

This Album Seemed Too Be More Factory Produced than Actually Made.it was Missing Strong Words&Music.EN Vouge seems Vocally a bit Lost on this Disc.COmpared too their first two discs this one is very Average at best.They are the best Female Vocal Group over the Past Decade Hands Down but this Material here puts them in the pack instead of Leading.Having Heard the New song their's Hope they will get back to form.

Just let me say that i am not a big fan of this kind of music in general- but there is just no denying the fact that "Dont Let Go" is one of THE best songs released in the last 10 years. Slinky, sexy, soulful, and incredibly infectious, this song will stay in my mind for a very long time. As for the rest of the album...well, with a song like that, who cares?