Customer Reviews

Miss Thang

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

14 year-old Monica Arnold emerged onto the urban music scene hot on the heels of her future arch-nemesis, Brandy Norwood. While Brandy's mystique was sweet, fun and innocent, Monica's voice, style and image projected a maturity that magically transcended her tender young age. Urban headz simply couldn't ignore this young lady when "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" was released -- it masterfully wrapped LL Cool J's [then recent] "Backseat (Of My Jeep)" beat around strikingly mature subject matter for a 14-year old: PMS. Producer Dallas Austin was definitely experiencing a surge of creativity during this time period -- he had just completed duties on TLC's mega-watt 'CrazySexyCool' a year earlier. Now let's get to this album:

'Miss Thang' opens up confidently with the sassy title track, sonically reminiscent of LA-based rapper (then current) hit W.C.'s "West Up". Next up is "Don't Take It Personal" which continues to skillfully communicate the gritty brilliance of mid-90's urban music. "Like This And Like That" is a decent hip-hop infused cut (featuring a cool rap by Mr. Malik) along with the mid-90's grit of "Get Down", a solid album track. "With You" is a 'too-sensual-for-a-14-year-old' R&B track that should have been a single anyhow...it's an early highlight of the album that has never (!) been skipped in the eight years I've owned this album. We continue with "Skate", a fun jam that bounces along like kids at a roller rink; it cleverly samples "Cutie Pie" by One Way.

"Angel" is an uptempo track that also could have been a single, it reminds me of Brandy's "Baby" except this has more of an ATL (thanks to background vocals by Debra Killings) vibe to it. "Woman In Me" is a plush interlude that perfectly segues into "Tell Me If You Still Care", a stunningly on-target cover of Jam & Lewis's song performed by the S.O.S. Band. Pre-'My Way' Usher Raymond joins Monica for "Let's Straighten It Out", a bluesy duet featuring live instruments and some of the most impressive vocals either vocalist has ever laid down (for Usher, think Donny Hathaway).

"Before You Walk Out My Life" was Monica's vibrant second single, and is (to this day) a great sounding midtempo not to be missed. "Now I'm Gone" is a bittersweet ballad with a misty (yet warm) vibe to it. But it's "Why I Love You So Much" that had me floored the first time I heard it. Produced by ex-LaFace collaborator Daryl Simmons, the old Babyface sound (think 'Tender Lover-era') gets resurrected one last time for this wonderfully sincere ballad (and radio single). "Why I Love You So Much" is never *ever* skipped by this reviewer. Ever. The sheer beauty continues with "Never Can Say Goodbye" (not the Jackson 5 song), a pretty ballad that softly glides the listener back to earth after soaring among the clouds during "Why I Love You So Much"...

The "Don't Take It Personal (remix)" samples Jermaine Jackson's "Don't Take It Personal", creating an interesting mix. We end the album with "Forever Always" -- a jam featuring an acoustic guitar, delicate percussion, and trademark ATL background vocals by Debra Killings (her voice is most recognizeable on TLC songs like "Creep" and "Hat 2 Da Back"); leaving the listener ultimately satisfied. This is easily Monica's strongest album to date, and at 70 minutes long, is soooo worth your hard-earned benjamins, scrilla, fetti, pesos, greenbacks, paper...you get the picture. 'Miss Thang' is an album that Monica, Dallas Austin, Rowdy Records, Arista Records, and Clive Davis ought to be very proud of. The best (and most solid) Pop/Modern R&B album by a female recording artist in the year of 1995. Grade: A+

Best Regards,

Andrew Knyte

I love Monica's "Miss Thang" album. I first had it on cassette and played it so much that eventually you could hear both sides playing at the same time. I really wore it out ! Since then I have replaced it with the cd version of it.
Monica's mature voice at such a young age shows how truly talented and blessed she is. My favorites are "Before You Walk Out of My Life" and "Never Can Say Goodbye".
I would recommend this cd to all Monica lovers !

This a great album for a fourteen year old starter she really had this album together. Good for your Money.

This album is great.First lets look at her vocal skills.Monica on this album was mature and had windpipes that blew all of her competetors away,..>>>..Aaliyah..brandy and mya.This album is much more mature than what the others have put out and this is what really classifies her into the category of SUPERSTAR..Classically trained vocals polished all up and beautiful.......this is just the beginning of her career at age 14......Remakes of songs that she makes her own thats how you know a true singer...Songs that will make you say...(HOW OLD IS SHE AGAIN?)

STANDOUT JOINTS::
*With You
*Angel
*Before You Walk Out My Life
*why I Love You so Much
*Tell Me Do You Still Care
*Let's Straighten It Out (feat Usher)
*(Just One Of Them Days)

Monica's Miss Thang is one of the best albums of the 90's.This album defines the sound of the mid 90's where baggy jeans and braids were in fashion.Unlike her teen counterparts Brandy and Aaliyah, Monica's album has more maturity and productivity.Some of my favourite songs on the album include chart topping hits like DONT TAKE IT PERSONAL (JUST ONE OF THEM DAYS),BEFORE YOU WALK OUT OF MY LIFE,LIKE THIS AND LIKE THAT AND WHY I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.The collaboration with Usher on LET'S STRAIGHTEN IT OUT takes you back to Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell days.Another favourite of mine is the remake of S.O.S Band "TELL ME IF YOU STILL CARE" which Monica puts a lot of soul in and made her own.This album is full of great songs and definitely gets a five star from me.

Back in 1995, there were some high expectations of then-14-year old Monica. This album certainly meets and exceeds them. "Don't Take It Personal (Just One Of Dem Days)" is a 90s old school classic, as is the slightly uptempo ballad "Before You Walk Out Of My Life". Though not a charting hit, "Skate" is also a great song that really should be played at skating centers.

This marked the exciting debut of Monica Arnold, a true, talented R&B diva. I have bought all of her albums. I didn't care for her third, enjoyed her second but neither compare to her debut. With Monica you get no disappointments. You get excellent singing, mature lyrics, unforgettable style and grace. All of these songs merit a Grammy. Monica is defintely the most overlooked yet most talented R&B girl singer. She is the only girl R&B singer who can sing both powerful ballads and fast songs. Aaliyah and Brandy could not. Unlike Brandy Monica doesn't have to rely on studio tricks to make her voice stronger. And unlike Aaliyah ( RIP ) Monica doesn't have a lot of rappers and guest hooks. Monica is true to the game of soul. She stands behind Mary J. Blige as Princess of R&B. People unfairly put that title on Aaliyah but anyone with true knowledge of soul and great singing know that Monica Arnold is the only diva under thirty who can truly claim the title. New fans enjoy this freely, old Monica fans already do. Rock on, Mo!

This is an R&B Masterpiece!!--First Let's start off with her vocal ability, far beyond her years. Then we shall go to the hottest ballad of all time,'Why I love you so much'. Monica voice is on a whole different level on the song, 'Get Down'-- she says a line "....come play my game", her delivery on his line was amazing!! But her whole vocal concept was amazing, it was a cross between Toni Braxton and Whitney Houston. This is the training CD for all Female R&B artists that were post-Monica/Miss Thang a la Beyonce (who stole half of all Monica's Runs), Ashanti ( Who Attemted to sound like Monica on her song off of her Album 'Chapter 2'),Brandy,Mya(who is actually tone deaf)and all of the others who Id rather not name. Monica is the best singer ever, and this is not just coming from a fan, it is coming from a trained vocalist. Her vocal technique, everything about her voice. If for nothing else, buy this album to hear Monica's voice. It is AMAZING to her her delivery. Monica DO YOUR THANG MISS THANG

Monica has an amazing voice and can sing like few others can. This album is filled top to bottom with good songs and great vocals. It's hard to believe she was only 14 when this CD came out. But you could tell from the first listen that a future star was born!

Stand out tracks include great songs like "Don't Take It Personal", "With You", "Angel", 'before You Walk Out Of My Life"...every song on this CD could have been put out as a single.

In 1995, a sassy 14 year old with the mature voice of a woman joined Brandy and Aaliyah in the R&B teen world. Atlanta native Monica wasn't nicknamed Miss Thang for nothing. She was an old soul wise beyond her years, but more aggressive about it than Aaliyah. Discovered by famed producer Dallas Austin at 11, her debut took about 3 years to record and she was assertive about what songs would be chosen. Not in a bratty way, but she knew what she wanted.

The sly title track is a perfect introduction to the sassy one explaining how she got her moniker. "But it's all right for me to think it's all about me/Too many people tryin' to check but they can't see/I know you wouldn't wanna think that I'm naive/Said I may be young, but I'm experienced/In all I need to know, that's why I'm Miss Thang!"

If the first single Don't Take It Personal isn't grown, I don't know what is. Monica apologizes to her guy for her constant mood swings, but that's how she gets on "one of them days that a girl goes through". In other words, she's on her period. Could you imagine sweet little Brandy singing that? Me neither, but the lyrics are subtle in regard to the subject matter. The uptempo Like This and Like That is a fun slice of 90s pop with a silly rap from Mr. Malik (I have no idea who he is though).

A somber piano opens Get Down, but then quickly flips into a brassy Mary J. Blige styled thumper. Monica lets her man know that she does things her way and he can hit the bricks if he doesn't like it. "You gotta get down/With the way I'm runnin' thangs/Or you won't be around/You gotta get down with me!" Loads of tude! With You is a sweet slow jam about joyriding with the one you love. If I'm not mistaken, it samples an LL Cool J song and he drops a few rhymes. Love it! Skate is a flashy, carefree song about having fun at a roller rink with friends. It's not one of the most inspired songs, but that doesn't keep it from being entertaining. The finger snappin' Angel not only showcases one of Monica's best vocal performances, but also gives underrated backup singer Debra Killings a chance to shine as well. She sounds alot like En Vogue.

After the low-key Woman In Me interlude, Monica outdoes the SOS Band on her lush cover of Tell Me If You Still Care. Her vocals are drenched in soul and the backup singers aren't shabby either. "Yes, I know, that I still love you/You're forever on my mind/And it's so hard to let go, what I feel for you/You blow my mind/But you captured all my love with your sweetness/And you gave it to me baby, from your heart/Oh, so if we really care for each other/Then tell me baby, why are we apart?" She teams up with fellow "too big for his britches" artist Usher on the bluesy Let's Straighten It Out. I don't listen to it often, but it's an excellent duet.

Before You Walk Out of My Life finds Miss Thang regretting letting her boyfriend go. The chorus is catchy and fun to sing along to. "I never meant to cause you no pain/I just wanna go back to being the same/Well I, I only wanna make things right/Before you walk out of my life." She kicks a no good boyfriend to the curb for not spending time with her on the chill Now I'm Gone and praises a good guy for loving her the right way on the lovey dovey single Why I Love You So Much. Her voice shows even more maturity on the smoky Never Can Say Goodbye and Forever Always. The remix to Don't Take It Personal samples the glossy Jermaine Jackson song of the same name. It's more slick than the original, but just as good.

It's crazy to me that Monica's been virtually ignored outside the R&B scene. Her voice is even stronger today than it was in '95 and that's saying something. A talent like her's deserves all the praise it can get. Go head on, Miss Thang! *snap*