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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Occasionally hits the HOT spot, December 31, 2000
By A Customer
Melanie B is the 2nd (current) Spice Girl and 3rd overall (Melanie C and Geri Halliwell) to venture on her own and release a solo album. Melanie's debut album is no where near as satisfying as Geri's Schizophonic and Melanie C's Northern Star, although it does occasionally deliver. 1) FEELS SO GOOD (5:05) This is Melanie mixing pop and R&B and although it does drag on a little, it's a satisfying up-beat song that is something Janet might come up with and since it's produced by Jam and Lewis (Janet's producers) it's no wonder it has some resemblance. 2) TELL ME (4:33) One of the best songs of the album, reminds me alot of Toni Braxton's He Wasn't Man Enough. Angry lyrics, and an instantly catchy chorus, make this an album highlight. 3) HELL NO (4:18) From the title I was expecting an angry, not taking you back type song, but in fact it's a beautiful light ballad, that highlight the vocal talent of Melanie. 4) LULLABY (3:25) This is one of my favourite songs. Singing about daughter Phoenix Chi in a goregeous mide-tempo ballad, that was co-written by Melanie and Richard Stannard and Julian Gallagher, who have helped out on numerous Spice tunes. (Goodbye being the most recent) 5) HOTTER (3:14) This has a Dru Hill feel to it, and I suspect this is song Sisqo was attached to although he is not credited. Very american R&B sound changes the UK girl to a full-fleged R&B diva. 6) STEP INSIDE (3:59) Didn't appeal to me, doesn't suit her voice or style, appaling sound. 7) ABC I23 (3:13) Another Janet sounding tune, that is quite appealing,background singers lighten the chorus and it features a brief rap from Screwface (With a name like that I was expecting something vulga and full on, but it's a quite cute jamaican style rap). Although could've been better. 8) I BELIEVE (4:00) Truly awful song. It's like poor R&B country house sound. Absolute shocker. Not her finest 4 minutes. 9) I WANT YOU BACK (3:26) This was released way back in 1997 (I think) yet still manages to hold itself amongst new material as one of the better sounding songs. Missy Elliot appears not really doing much other than uttering "UH", and a brief "rap" at the intro of the song. This was Melanie's first and only UK #1 single. 10) PACK YOUR S**T (4:20) With this song Melanie wants to alienate young Spice Girl fans with her use of S**T and F**K, constantly through this bearable, but not quite acceptable harcore-wannabe type R&B song. It also features a male singer, duetting with Melanie. Although his identity remains unknown. 11) FEEL ME NOW (4:58) Once again Jam and Lewis help out Melanie, and once again it comes out like a Janet Jackson tune. Very sexual and sensual, but not quite a strong way to finish the album. Melanie's album isn't anything special, but it doesn manage a few good tunes. If you want quality R&B check out Spice Girls' new album Forever or the likes of Janet Jackson (The Velvet Rope) or Destiny's Child (The Writing's On The Wall). The only thing I found hot about this album is the unbelievably sexy shot of Mel on the cover and some inset pics. It's up to Emma Bunton and Victoria Beckham to restore our faith in solo Spice offerings. For now stick to Mel C and Geri Halliwell.
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~ Emma Bunton
DVD ~ Melanie Brown
~ Emma Bunton
~ Geri Halliwell
~ Emma Bunton
by Melanie Brown 
