Customer Reviews

Finally

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(23)

 

 

Teddy Riley and the rest of BLACKstreet have put out thier third album and it may be thier worst, actually it is. After a good debut, and a strong improvment on thier second album, they stumble back down the stairs on this effort. Thier first single Boyfriend/Girlfriend was good, it had the beat to get you up and on the floor, but that is the only such song on the album. Riley apparently loses alot of the production that made him succesful with the previous 2 albums and all of his work with Guy, and Wreckx-N-Effect. The album has some nice cameos from artists like Mary J. Blige, and Mya, but they are not enough to help this album stay afloat. Alot of the songs are repetative and dont have the beat that Another Level did. I'm Sorry and In A Rush are okay, and Can You Feel Me is alright but not even those songs are that great, but at least they are "Okay". Even Riley knows this cd represents the tombstone for BLACKstreet, as he is focusing on the return of Guy. Unfortunatly this album may spell the end of BLACKstreet, which is sad, because up into this album they were a good group. Mabye they can regroup on thier next album, should be any chance for that to happen. But FINALLY, back to album. My recommendation, wait to spend your money on the Guy cd and if Riley can regroup them, because this cd aint worth your GREEN money!

This must be the worst Record Teddy Riley has ever done. It sounds like he had to fulfill some contractual obligation, doing it with the least possible effort and the worst possible material he could come up with. Every single track in this set is totally void of any interesting idea - and that includes the third-rate Timbaland ripoff "Girlfriend/Boyfriend". All this stuff only makes me angry. Angry about not listening before buying, angry about being let down by one of black music great producers. I wonder if redemption will come with the new Guy CD - but I will definitely listen to that one before even thinking of buying another Teddy Riley record.

Once again, Blackstreet is missing one of the members they had on their last album, and they have acquired a new member to replace him. This is not a sign of stablity, folks. Admittedly, I was skeptical, but I had faith that Teddy's and the other's talents would prevail. What a let down! Most of the CD shells out beats that leaves the listener confused as to which they should do..."dance" or "just bob your head". It doesn't get you pumped enough to dance, then add to that those tired lyrics and whoa, what do you get....a painfully, pathetic 1-2 combination! The sad attempt of a duet with Mary J. Blige is just that....a sad ATTEMPT. Yet, I can't blame the total blunder of the duet on Blackstreet either. Unfortunately, there's only three decent songs on the album and two happen to be ballads..."Sorry" and "In A Rush". In "Sorry", you hear some of the strength, talent and possibly the original vision Teddy had for Blackstreet. "In A Rush" is a classy, heart-felt, flowing ballad that's the essence of true love. The other, "Your Love", is a funky, sultry, mellow number with a "right on the money" bass track....Teddy at his best. Besides those three songs, it's not even worth the time it takes just to consider the mistake of purchasing the album. I still believe Teddy is one of the most unappreciated and talented producers of our day. However, with work like this, who would ever believe it. It's times like these, when I truly miss Guy.

Whether or not it sold well, it's still one of the better CDs that R&B has offered lately. A better lead single might have been 'In a Rush','Sorry', 'Yo Love', or the 'Take me there' remix. These are all better tracks than 'Girlfriend/Boyfriend' which doesn't contain any trademark Blackstreet harmony, even in the hook. The hiphop of 'Can you feel me' is good sampling and 'Yo Love' works as "no diggity: part two".'Sorry' is my favourite, it features the power vocals of new member Terrell Phillips set against a retro soul riff. Along with 'In a Rush' it is typical of Riley's ability to deliver something classic on every recording. Whereas this CD doesn't contain anything as memorable as 'no-diggity', there are shades of 'Don't leave me girl' and 'Fix'. 'Hustler's prayer' is a bit ordinary, but it's appearance just before the gospel track 'Finally' is interesting. It almost seems Riley is being repentant of his worldly music while rationalising at the same time, "my soul is so dirty/I've been hustling everyday/but I gotta feed my family", but this impression is quickly dispelled by the dodgy 'Don't Stop'. I hope Teddy does make another Blackstreet album, even a hiphop gospel one, soul music needs the Spirit.

I remember this album when I was in the 6th-7th grade. I love this CD. This album is a definitive statement,the end of the 20th century. This record sets the template for what R&B must sound like as they entered in 2000. This album is about R&B that is willing to work without a net. It is confident and schooled enught to give the peeps what they want and deserved, like everything Teddy has touched in his years making music. It is that bag of chips and the possibilities and the promise of R&B, delivered by four of its soulful practitioners. This album has been certified Gold. Remember,this was 1999.

I think the first BLACKStreet Album is one of the best Albums ever. 'No diggity' probably top 3 of all songs that have come out in the last 8 years. And 'Another level' was Another level. Anyway, I loved this one also, especially the poetry that was in 'black and white'. Also Loved 'Im sorry.' It's almost too sweet. My criteria, Put it in the player, and you can listen to it over and over again.

On the cover I mean. That was a joke. Ok a stupid one. Anyways, I'm a big Blackstreet fan, but this cd was a failure. At least to Blackstreet standards. It's still better than a lot of other cds I've bought, but coming from Another Level to this is just sorry. I think a cd is worth buying if I like at least 3/4 of the songs. If less then that, I figure that I got ripped off. 5 songs. That's how many are good on this cd. The best is probably "Take Me There". If this song wasn't on this cd, I'd think they wouldn't have sold half as many albums as they did on this title. This song is so catchy. It made me feel like a kid in a Toy Factory or something. I love it when a song can make me "feel" something, and this one does. "Another good song is "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" This has a nice beat to it, but they needed Janet Jackson to show off her vocals more I think. She's not too great of a rapper. But the song is good and the tunes, it's catchy also. The three good slow Jams on this cd are #'s 7, 8, and 9. "Think About You", "Black & White", and "In A Rush". Funny how they came together. But these 3 songs really keep it real. I think if Blackstreet would have promoted these 3 songs more, this album would have been great. I don't know why they didn't make music videos after they made "Take Me There" and "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" If you liked songs like "Money Can't Buy Me Love" and "Never Gonna Let You Go" from their album "Another Level" then I'm sure you'll love these 3 songs.

I was looking forward to Blackstreet's third CD. I liked the first one and I loved the second one. Naturally I thought that I would instantly love Finally. The songs are weak and I was greatly disappointed that Finally was nothing that I hoped for it to be.

WHAT HAPPENED? BlackStreet has been one of the rare male groups that I like, that I thought could really *sang*. Their second album was an instant classic (I still listen to it) but this one is instant trash. I like "Think About You" but they sound like Jagged Edge or some other thrown together group. And what the hell is "Black & White"?! Trash, garbage. What happened to the beautiful, soulful harmonies of the days of old? This is a cd full of disapointment that guest stars could not save. I am with the person who said they were going to sell the cd to a used store. I only hope it gets me more money than that sorry 100% Ginuwine cd. Save your money for 112's Room 112.

I just heard that Blackstreet was breaking up . Why dont you go back to the days of the silent producer and bring back the rest of the blackstreet members . Maybe yall could do some Temptations type stuff .