Customer Reviews

Loverslane

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

 

 

MC Brains / Lovers Lane

Label: Motown

Year: 1992

Track Title

1. Oochie Coochie

2. Everybody's Talking About M.C. Brains

3. Brainstorming

4. Boyz II Men (The Sequel)

5. G-String

6. Brains Goin' Cra-Ze

7. The "B" Is Dumb

8. Don't Let Me Get Loose

9. Strawberry Lane

Now, let's not get ahead of ourselves. This albums' only downfall was that MC Brains' manager Michael Bivins did oversaturate his debut with watered-down R&B. Lyrically, MC Brains wasn't so "wack" (if you're one who actually knows lyrical skill when you hear it).

The first single "Oochi-Coochie" should have been a record for Bivins then signees 1010 (a two kid rap group), even thought it was a gold certified single. It was just too immature for a 18 year old when you think about an 18-year-old LL Cool J who released an album called "Bad" when he was 18. The second single "Everybody's Talking Bout MC Brains" was better, as far as rap songs go. Nice beat for dancing, lyrically, he hit the track runnin but sounded like during the session, Biv might have told him to tone it down and leave out a third verse and just shout out all the Biv connected artists. "Brainstorming" is the best of the two ballads on the album!! Should have been on a Boyz II Men album, though but, MC brains fits the mood with the jaded-but-still-cool-as-hell flow. "Boyz II Men (The Sequel)" was a good R&B record but, I do agree, the singing sound like a bad talent show audition and again, sounded like it should have been on a Boyz II Men album. Maybe if this were a PM Dawn album, the rapper-who-can-also-sing style would have been ok but, MC Brains is no singer, and THAT is what made this situation a "no-no" for a rap album. Unless you were INTENTIONALLY making a joke of it ala Mase featuring Puff Daddy on "Jealous Girl" remake slaughter.

The rest of the albums songs like "Brains Goin Cra Ze" is ok. Unfourtunately, after you have heard all the other songs, you might not be tempted to even listen to them which can throw an album off for some fans. Yes, even for its time, the production wasn't really inspiring, which I agree. Rico Anderson sounded too much like he was trying to be Dallas Auston who would have made this album a banger. The two biggest potential hits actually should have been credited to, and appeared on other artists albums as ____________ (featuring MC Brains) ala, "Why Me Baby" Keith Sweat (featuring LL Cool J).

"Oochie Coochie", "Everyboy's Talking Bout MC Brains", "Brainstorming", "Boyz II Men (The Sequel)", "Brains Goin Cra Ze", and even probably "G String" is worth the price of buying the CD reguardless of its shortcomings.

3 stars from me.

One of my favorites. He just goes off on that song Brainstorming with Boys II Men!

Tracks...

1) Oochie Coochie

2) Everybody's Talking About M.C. Brains

3) Brainstorming

4) Boyz II Men (The Sequel)

5) G-String

6) Brains Goin' Cra-Ze

7) The "B" Is Dumb

8) Don't Let Me Get Loose

9) Strawberry Lane

Where do I start here? Well, lyrically, MC Brains never really stood a chance in the rap game. He was backed by New Edition/BBD member Michael Bivins, so he had help from the likes of Johnny Gill, Boyz II Men, and other Bivins connects, but that didn't really help matters any. Brains just didn't have the skill set that was needed in order to stick around back then. The production is typical new jack/r&b type sound that Bivins is known for, so it really didn't stand out much. As far as what's wrong with this album, listing those things would require more than the three paragraphs I usually allot myself. It boils down to this: wack rhymes, a lot of wack production, and way, way, way too much R&B for this to be a rap album.

There are about three or four good songs on the entire album -- "Everybody's Talking About MC Brains", "Brains Is Goin' Cra-Ze", and "Oochie Coochie". "Boyz II Men (The Sequel)" is another dope cut if you dig R&B on your rap albums -- but with MC Brains singing here and not only is his singing horrible, but if my memory serves me correctly, that was a HUGE no no back in '92 (Boyz II Men do lay down some tight vocals though).

Lover's Lane is one of those albums that actually deserved to be forgotten after all the buzz wore off. One thing he did manage to do right was keeping this album short and not-so-sweet (9 songs at roughly 38 minutes). I recommend passing on this album unless you're looking for a couple of early 90's styled dance tracks. Everyone else should avoid this album at all costs.

Standout Tracks: Brains Is Goin' Cra-Ze feat. Johnny Gill & Boyz II Men, Everybody's Talking About MC Brains, Boyz II Men (The Sequel) feat. Boyz II Men, and Oochie Coochie