Customer Reviews

Floacism (with Bonus DVD)

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Throughout the DVD that accompanies this CD you can vividly see through intimate camera close-ups the sweat forming on Marsha Ambrosius' (the Songstress) face and flowing down her neck and upper body as she sings. Bottle it, slap a label on it, and I'd be the first customer to buy it and drink it up!

Extreme, yes I know, but there's really no other way to stress to you the degree of sexual energy and sensuality these two woman exude when they sing, particularly on their ballads.

You can get a visual preview of what this CD/DVD set has to offer on the internet -- their live-version video of "Getting Late" is featured EXACTLY as it is on this disc on various sites including Launch.com.

I'm a newcomer to this neosoul thing and I wasn't familiar with this group until someone recommended them to me. Oddly enough, it was through the aforementioned video that I came to know these extraordinarily talented women, and what an incredible first impression they've made on me!

The CD (tracks 4-14) is a recording of a live-concert they performed at the House of Blues in New Orleans and the accompanying DVD features the one-hour concert, with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews, plus their music videos.

They sing virtually all of the songs that are on their studio CD, Floetic, but had I been introduced to them through the studio CD I probably wouldn't have bought it, stressing once again the overwhelming effect produced by allowing your listening audience to hear you sing live, absent of the crutches that studio recordings tend to provide. I took the time to buy the studio version just to compare and sure enough every song sounds exponentionally better when sung live, with the exception of "If I Was a Bird," which doesn't include the background singers from the studio version. One must never underestimate what an impact background singers can make on a slow jam!!

A big shout-out to the rhythm section, too. From the use of brass horns instead of synthesizers to - - again, for the second time this month on a live-concert CD (Luther's was first)-- the perfect bass level achieved by the bass player and percussionist, it all was a nice touch and adds to the atmosphere of intimacy.

You're not likely to hear ballads performed better than this duo so if you're a lover of slow jams as am I, you're in for a treat.

A few soul elitists have sniffed at Floetry, claiming the duo is just another run-of-the-mill neo soul act jumping on a bandwagon for sales. I always found that claim both ungrounded and terribly unfair, as Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart do indeed possess considerable talent deserving of praise. "Floacism Live" is a performance including three new songs that kick off the CD. The strongest of these tracks are "Wanna B Where U R" (with Mos Def) and the solid "Tell Me When." Moving on to the live performance: it isn't flawless but they do manage to hold their own onstage with concert renditions of "Getting Late," "If I Was a Bird," and their biggest hit to date, the winning ballad "Say Yes." But some flaws remain. While the duo's energy is undeniable, the groove does fall flat in just a couple places, and their "Butterflies" only proves that Michael Jackson's version is vastly superior. But all in all, I'm glad I picked up this disc, and the bonus DVD gives you bang for your buck. It contains the hour-long concert, presented in fullscreen format and in lively 5.1 surround sound. There's also a 9-minute behind-the-scenes clip as well as 2 music videos. "Floacism" could have been a slapdash effort, but it turned out to be an overall solid performance with a pretty good DVD. Go with the Flo.

I would first like to point out that I am a Floetry fan and that I loved their album "Floetic", even dubbing it one of the best of 2002, but with this new release "Floacism", my opinion has temporarily changed. If they were really in a rush to release something... then this should've just been a DVD... and that's it. Releasing it as a CD just brings up high hopes only to be left misled & misinformed. The new tracks (Wanna Be Where U R, Tell Me When, Have Faith) are refreshing, but nonetheless average & ordinary at best, sounding like some tracks that were cut off the debut (although, Mos Def provides a very good verse in Wanna Be Where U R). One of the major problems I had with the live performances is that they lack innovation and distinctiveness from the studio versions. I'm not saying they had to sound completely different, but some individuality & uniqueness would've been great (If I wanted to hear songs from Floetic, might I add, better sounding and higher quality versions of songs from Floetic, then I would've listened to Floetic). I mean, THAT IS WHY I BUY LIVE ALBUMS; to listen to the artists sing their songs in different perceptions and perspectives. The only one in which they breached towards a different sound was "Opera" in which towards the end, the music changes. Another thing that bothered me was Marsha. On normal occasions, I love her voice. I find it angelic and beautiful. But at certain times when Natalie rhymed, Marsha wouldn't shut up. I understand she's trying to "flow with her" and trying to "give another perspective of what Natalie was saying", but sometimes It felt very annoying, almost as if she's trying to hog the spotlight. Sometimes, she did it so much, that her voice started to strain. Also, certain times when she tried to hold the note longer than needed, her voice would crack up. Seriously, we know you have a nice voice... but set limitations.

The DVD was good; it had more songs than on the CD part (they cut some songs out of the performance to fit the CD). They say things sound better if you see it... but even with that said, the live performance had me yearning to want more. Frankly, the performances were rather ... boring. The audience was dead, maybe giving a cheer here or there.

Maybe I'm being too picky, but I really saw no point to this CD/DVD. You would've gotten pretty much the same result if you added an echo effect on the studio songs. For one reason or another, it just didn't seem like Floetry calibur; on "Floetic", everything intertwined: the music, Marsha's Vocals, Natalie's Rhymes... but on this live CD, nothing combines, almost as if they are competing with each other... If you're a complete Floetry fan, then get it. But if you're yearning for something more or better quality, get `Floetic' or wait for their next complete release because this album is pointless and nothing more than a mere way for Floetry to "refresh" the world of their existence. Unfortunately, if they continue releasing material of this caliber, their existence will be nothing more than a memory.

If you like "Floetic" you'll certainly like the live version of it. Marsha (songtress) definitely flaunts her vocal ability on this cd and Natalie (floacist) speaks more powerfully than ever! The dvd is to die for, seeing that I was 1 year too young to see them at a 21 YEARS OR OLDER club this year, watching the dvd redeemed the chance I lost to see them live. The performance 'fantasize' proves my point further that FLOETRY are beautiful goddesses that reign in this industry.

First came Luther Vandross' live-concert CD and now this!! Oh my if only ALL gifted singers would do a live-concert CD and Oh Me Oh My if only all live-concert CD's by gifted singers came with a DVD...what a wonderful world this would be.

I rated this CD/DVD 5 stars exclusively on the strength of just 2 songs: Say Yes and Getting Late. After you hear AND see them (OH MY GOD when you see them on the included DVD) you'll understand what I mean.

The shock-and-awe campaign on your senses continues!!!

So let's have a little fun here, shall we?

The same question that had loomed large for the longest time over the head of Luther Vandross is the same question that, at the end of the day, has to be asked of these two women. And that question is...

Exactly WHO are these women singing to and/or about -- men or women?

You'll notice that their lyrics, in general, tend to be nongender-specific and their videos are laced with images of men and heterosexuality but let's put it like this and make no mistake about it -- if you're a female who swears on a stack of bibles that you're straight yet who fails to sexually connect with these two women when they sing Say Yes and Getting Late (particularly when you look at Floacist's eyes and listen to her rhythmic vocalizations on the DVD for Getting Late), then you might wanna pick a quiet corner somewhere and do a little more soul searchin' and self-reckoning because you're totally out of touch with your bisexuality. That's right, I said it. What are you gonna do about it, huh?

Ladies, these 2 sisters are all for and about YOU! And it's this same realization that takes their music to a whole new level. Sure there are other groups where one or more members use "spoken word" vocals as accompaniment while others in the group actually "sing" but nobody does it like these two -- woman to woman. Believe it. It's almost as if they've created a new genre.

I haven't even listened to any other songs on the CD. I swear I haven't. That's just how mesmerizing these 2 songs are. That's not to take anything away from the other songs, it's just that I've always maintained that ballads are the true test of an artist's abilities, showcasing both technique and creativity.

Natalie Stewart (Floacist) delivers her spoken word vocals so velvety smooth that it puts Barry White to shame!! You can just picture her talking on the phone somewhere at 2 o'clock in the morning in total background silence as the world sleeps and the person on the other end just getting completely brainwashed and manipulated until all resistance is futile!! Men, take note: this is how game is supposed to be laid down!!

Marsha Ambrosius (Songstress) is clearly an angel on loan from God who's gonna be catchin' the first cloud back home any minute now. She's got some control/pitch issues in certain spots but her range, depth of emotion, and yearning when she sings overshadows those minor glitches. She's definitely got the right idea about what and how her accompanying role needs to be done. Heaven-sent to describe her voice on these 2 songs is a gross understatement.

As good as just listening to the CD is, you've got to see them on the DVD to appreciate how totally in synche they are with each other. Fourteen years of singing together has that effect!

Screw this. Enough talk. Just go buy da damn thang.

OK, im a big fan of Floetry and had starting hearing about the live cd two months before it came out....and a brother was pumped! then i saw the video for "Its Getting Late" and i knew i had to have the cd!!! A funny thing happened before i could get the Live cd, i got to see them in person. These sisters put on a show that was OFF THE FLIP...so i had to get the live cd. they could have left off some of the new unreleased stuff and had more live material, i still enjoyed the cd....and the DVD, well that just takes it too another level cause that just made me want this cd/dvd more.....two great things for the price of one!!! A FAN FOR LIFE.

ONELOVE

Floetry is awesome. I have a friend who plays the DVD every night b4 bed and I had never even heard this live before. Marsha has vocals out of this world. She flat out sang, never wavered with her strength, stamina, condition of her voice. She was hitting all types of notes. Honestly, I'm not used to Brits being talented. You should see the mockery of true talent with bogus musicians on "X Factor". That's why I know there was only space for Floetry to shine in the U.S. Natalie was flowing and there was a point and time where they tag teamed like ad- libbed word for note. That was tight. Only problem was sometimes Marsha would over-kill with runs and not settle down. Plus, I have a problem if you can only play a CD or DVD from Track 6 and on....

What others fail to realize as they review this disc is that Natalie and Marsha were sharing the experience of Floetry. That is what they do...before they had a record contract, or even a live band they were their vibing together, and putting on a spectacular show. There are some who don't think that the arrangements were orignal enough and others think they're too original. I take it for what it is: the music of Floetry...they say it on the disc; it their "feelings and emotions", it's their words and songs, it's them. I for one love the fact that Marsha lets loose on "Getting Late" and "Say Yes". Those two songs were my favorite from the studio cut, and they're my favorite here. I love that her voice cracks a little...it shows just how real they are, and it sounds great...just compare it to if you heard Whitney, Mariah, or Celine crack...their material is based around their voices...whereas Marsha bases her voice around her OWN material..."It's Getting Late" is quite possibly the sexiest thing I've ever heard, and I love that note at the end; I think the climactic nature of the live version is just as brilliant as the smoldering recorded offering..Some of the songs sound the same like "Sunshine" and "If I was a Bird", but those songs are so beautiful that they didn't need reworking. As for the three new songs: they're only forgettable if you don't want to remeber them...if you're a true Floetry fan, then you know they follow in the same vein of the compositions from "Floetic" and are easily appreciated in the same way--I know all the words and I made no conscious effort to memorize...All in all, I think this set is great, and I must admit I love those gals...They don't give shows, they give themselves...And I accept them with open arms.

Won-der-ful! more than a floetic adventure but a cosmos of love, experience and Mos Def-initely a CD worth playing over and over again. Like the music you listened to on Saturday morning with moms while cleaning the house; its makes ya feel warm inside. Qui

I like this album better than the first... It just seem so real to me when I listen to it... Even though its kind of the same songs on the first... But it gets better being that it is live.... I would definately recommend people to buy this album..... Its great