Customer Reviews

Love Always

5 star:		(85)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After dropping three albums with Devante Swing and Dalvin, K-Ci & Jo Jo decided to step out on their own. The first K Ci & Jo Jo song that I ever heard was a song called "Beautiful" off of the 1st "New York Undercover" soundtrack. After hearing the song a few times, I realized that K Ci & Jo Jo were bound to make a great album. Then they released "How Could You" which was on the "Bulletproof" soundtrack. This was also tight but not as good as "Beautiful". About a month before the album was to drop they came out with "You Bring Me Up". This song was good but it didn't present K Ci & Jo Jo at their best, which is "bringing" the slow jams. I'm sure that there are only a "handful" of people that bought Jodeci's albums for fast songs. They got their big break when the song "All My Life" was released to radio. This was their breakthrough song and lead "Love Always" to its multiplatinum status. I remember when I was driving to work one time and I heard "All My Life" on three radio stations at one time. This song is a perfect example about what this album is about. "Love Always" is just that, it's all about love. Jodeci had a since of "raunchiness" with them. Songs like "Alone", "Freek N You", and "Won't Waste Your Time" are tight but you can't sing those songs all your life. It seemed to me that K Ci & Jo Jo wanted to break away from that, atleast for a moment, to make a whole album of songs like "I'm Still Waiting", "Cry For You", "My Heart Belongs 2 U" and "Love U 4 Life". "Love Always" is a brilliant presentation of that. Songs like "Last Night's Letter", "Just For Your Love", "How Many Times" and K Ci's remake of LTD's "Love Ballad" are all examples. The main reason why I like this album is because it takes a break from most of R&B's sexual overtones of today. I like artists like Dru Hill, Joe, Silk, and Chico DeBarge but every now and then you just want to listen to some good "love" music. "Love Always" is a good example of that.

Not to be funny, but I wonder if the group should have just been called K-Ci & JoJo even when there were four members. Anyway, when the Hailey brothers first released this album, some people were mad because there weren't any songs like "Freek'n You" on here. Maybe listeners weren't ready for them to mature just yet? In any case, this album was great.

The best songs would have to be "Still Waiting" and, of course, "All My Life". "Last Night's Letter" is also a winner, and they do a great job with their rendition of Mtume's "Love Ballad". And until now, I never paid that much attention to the lyrics in "Don't Rush". They're actually kind of funny.

My brother and sister never liked "You Bring Me Up". I used to love that song, but now that I think about it, it kind of sounds like a Jodeci song that was made while they were still backing up Father MC. And another thing (and I know some people may be tired of me talking about this), who was in charge of the liner notes? In the lyrics, there are all kinds of typos and omitted words and just plain wrong verses.

Oh well, this is still a great album. Truthfully, this is the only really good album K-Ci & JoJo made (X came close, though), so if you don't have it, get it now.

This ALBUM IS A CLASSIC. I would recommend this CD to anyone. True R&B and it is very very emotional and gets to your heart easily. These two guys (K-Ci & JoJo) are amazing. Have amazing voices and are just very talented. The beats are great in this album. The rhythm and flow iz just phenominal. "All My Life" of course is the top single in this album. But others like "Still Waiting"(great great song), and "Last Night's Letter", "How Could You", "Now and Forever", and "Just For Your Love" are just awesome. Those of course are my favorites. There are some upbeat songs like "Baby Come Back" and "You Bring Me Up" "How Many Times" and "Love Ballad" are also very worthy to listen to. This CD is a classic and K-Ci & JoJo's best. I'd buy this baby If I was U.

Love Always is a great way to end letters, but it's a great CD too. K-Ci and JoJo are so hot! It's the first song I like that isn't rap. I don't usually listen to any songs except for rap, but I heard the song on 105.7 and I had to have it. Well, I just wish the guys would get over it.

K Ci and JoJo pick up right where Jodeci left off. I think "All My Life" is the best R&B song eva. It neva gets old, and neither does this cd.

Love Always is a classic. If you don't have it, you should've had it a long time ago. There isn't a bad song on the record, there isn't a bad verse on the record. My absolute favorite is Don't Rush. Nothing more to say, go get it.

K-Ci and JoJo obviously put all their deepest emotions into their music. This CD is packed with heart-warming songs like "All My Life" - these songs make you want to cry. Share these songs with your spouse or boy/girl friend - they are such sweet love songs!

The album was primarily a solo album;but it allowed them to really show their talent. Most of the songs were soft and relaxing, which was great because their voices blend well together.The CD was awsome. I lost it and it was so good I had to buy it again.

HBI tells it all for a guy who is really shy can goout and buy this song and give it to someone who is specia to him.Followed by Last nights letter it again gives a guy who is at a lost for words in expressing how he feels about the special woman in his life canrely on this song to tell t all.Baby come back allows him to realize his mistake and try to whoo his woman back and if after a little candlelight wine and this CD Love Always any woman would be willing to give her man a second chance. ThisCd says it all. The selections were cafefully chosen they are all along the same theme and is a must have for any avid R&B fan tohave in there collection. Keep up the good work guys.

Upon the break up of the group Jodeci, members and brothers K-Ci and JoJo Hailey released their debut album Love Always together. The album sold millions, in large part due to the smash hit single "All My Life." Was this success justified? How does the album stand as a whole?

The album begins with the, for all intents and purposes, title track. While the title isn't in the song name, "Last Night's Letter" gets things off on the right foot with smooth vocals, and reinforces the implications of the albums title as being a love letter. The track introduces you to the two vocalists, highlighting K-Ci's rougher sound to JoJo's silky smooth.

The next two tracks carry the same message but in a very different manner. "Baby Come Back" is a fierce uptempo track with strong vocals. The singers are wishing their lover would come back to them after they chased her away. Unfortunately, the song is a bit longwinded, playing the chorus over and over in the end. "Just For Your Love" has a similar message of wishing for a lover back but in a much different fashion. The song is slowed down and is incredibly sweet.

"Now and Forever" keeps up the silky smooth feeling with a nice loving message. The singers explain that they won't listen to other people's ill feelings about their lover as they know she's wonderful. The song is an incredible love song and has some great lines. One such piece was when JoJo sings "You see you can tell a tree of love/ By the fruit that it bears/ And from where I'm standing/ You see my field is yielding."

The album returns to high tempo with two decent tracks. It's clear the group is better at the ballads but nevertheless, they manage okay with the uptempo songs. "Don't Rush" is an interesting role reverser as the guys complain about a female friend who badgers them for sex. It paints a neat story and is catchy but just doesn't compare with the slower songs. "Bring Me Up" falls in a similar boat as the guys complain about a lover who used and abused their love. It's catchy and a pleasant listen but just seems to be missing something the slower songs have.

The next song "Still Waiting" is a throwback to Jodeci days, as the song opens with DeVante and is produced by him. The song has a GREAT beginning with K-Ci and JoJo alternating couplets. However, about two minutes in, the track falls from its position as one of the best on the album by repeating the chorus 6 times in a row. It would have been nice to just make the track short than to drag it out.

After the back and forth style of "Still Waiting," the next three tracks on the album are solo pieces. "Love Ballad" is K-Ci's offering and frankly, it's disappointing. Don't get me wrong, the lyrics are great. However, the song is a cover track and it is clear. K-Ci seems to lack all feeling as he just reads the lyrics from the sheet.

JoJo's solo offerings start on a disappointing note as well. "How Many Times," like K-Ci's piece, is a beautiful track with some great lyrics. However, it sounds uninspiring. Without K-Ci's enthusiasm, the track is lifeless. This seems to be recognized as about halfway through, K-Ci appears just to shout and emphasize lines.

It's JoJo's second solo, that stands out as an incredible track and is what most people recognize the album for. "All My Life" is executed perfectly in every manner. The song opens with a beautiful violin piece and then a simple, yet similarly moving piano piece. When the lyrics start, they are on point and rich in emotion. The song works wonders and conveys the feelings of love.

After such a strong piece, the group fortunately, continues with another solid song and ends the album on a high (albeit sad) note. "How Could You" is just as powerful as "All My Life" only evoking tears instead of smiles. The track is about losing a lover and sitting alone waiting for the day they might come back. The track is well done and the lyrics are strong. A great way to end a solid album.

By The Numbers (out of 5)
1. HBI
2. Last Night's Letter- 4.5
3. Baby Come Back- 3.5
4. Just For Your Love- 4.5
5. Now and Forever- 5
6. Don't Rush- 4.5
7. You Bring Me Up- 4
8. Still Waiting- 4.5
9. Love Ballad- 4
10. How Many Times- 3.5
11. All My Life- 5
12. How Could You- 5

Total Score: 48 / 55