Customer Reviews

Naked

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I think with this album Marques tries to give us just the right amount of music that we need. Some might think that 11 tracks is a short album but if all the songs are hot then it is ok. It is kind of like Jaheim's new album Ghetto Classics in which it only has 11 tracks but you can play it all the way through. This Marques Houston album is pretty impressive in that it has the right amount of slow songs and dance/club records. It has music for all types of moods so that is why I give it a 5 star rating!

It's almost amazing that Batman has made it this long. Yes, I said Batman because that's who I remember him being. You know you remember him as Batman from the group Immature (or later known as IMX). Some younger folks might remember him from Sister Sister too. So what has been his secret for lasting this long and still being able to maintain a relatively successful career? Well in Immature, he and the guys targeted the screaming teenage girls that instinctively gravitated to popular teenage boys. In IMX, they targeted the older teens and those young adults still not old enough to drink. Even his first debut solo album MH was geared to those same girls and maybe those that could finally get in a club. So, it seems he's basically followed the same group of girls throughout his career, and Naked is no different as all those same girlies are now in the 'Grown & Sexy' stage.

It may be a shock to many people who never thought Marques Houston would end up being a serious R&B singer. But with songs like the title track "Naked" and "Sex With You," he doesn't come off as some kid star purporting to be some sex symbol. Marques continues the smooth talking with no problem on the songs "Everything" and "Do You Mind." He has even refined his "club" sound to more agreeable tunes like "I Wasn't Ready" with a surprisingly decent verse from Rufus Blaq, a blast from the past that went virtually unknown in the mid nineties. Another carefree song is the debut single "All Because Of You" featuring Immature/IMX alum Young Rome (better known as Romeo).

There are some minor missteps like "12 O'Clock" featuring the long-forgotten rapper Joe Budden, the "immature" sounding "I Like It" featuring RaRa & Dame, and the weird suggestions given on the song "Marriage." For the most part, the ballads on this album are on point and that is exactly what Marques should focus on for the future. Marques Houston has the formula for success right in the palm of his hands...he just has to make sure he works it to his advantage like he has been doing for years.

I usually don't buy albums from artists that used to be in boy bands (i.e. NSYNC, IMx, etc.), but this CD is good. When I first saw the first video, I knew it would be promising but not this good. After hearing this one, I now wonder what I have been missing. Nice slow ballads are featured on this one. Marques has a nice voice and shouldn't be slept on. This CD is much better than Mario's or Omarion's.

i was second-guessing myself when i was going to but this because i was really looking forward to his first album "MH" and i was really let down when i found that most of it was filler... this was NOTHING like that..i even read the reviews before i bought this one and i listened to the clips...definatly listen to the clips before you buy because if you dont like those...you wont like the cd...but i LOVED them.. i was also wasnt going to buy it because it only has 11 songs...but i bought AKON'S cd "Trouble" and it had only like 12 songs and it is still one of my favorite cd's to this day...because it has no filler...just like this...when artists put out albums with 17 or 18 songs...MORE than half of them are filler that arent even worth a listen..which is why im glad he cut back on his 11 songs...because there are ABSOLUTELY NOOO filler...there is only one that is not my taste..but it still isnt filler...heres a track by track break down 1 being bad and 10 being the best

1-All because of you-8\10- this one has a GREAT beat by the corna boys but the lyrics just dont really follow and match the beat...his first single off the album is a dud...i hadnt EVER heard of it before i bought this cd.

2-sex wit you- 15/10- this one is NOT for the kids but it is one of those uptempo slow songs that flow REALLY REALLY well..this is definately my favorite off this album. The beat on this matches the lyrics this time.

3-marraige-7/10- this is not really my type of song...he sings well...but the chorus is REALLY kinda lame..and that kinda kills the song for me...the verses are good though.

4- 12 O'Clock-10/10-I love this song..its a great uptempo beat and just overall really good..he REALLY REALLY sounds like AKON in this song..they sound exactly the same..and i love akon so its great that he sounds like him! joe budden is a great rapper/producer! just great

5- naked-10/10- this is the reason i bought the cd...i love this song a lot..it is great for just falling asleep to..i love that type of music! nothing to really say except the video is kinda lame..sry mh...i just dont wanna see ya naked in your video.but isnt that ironic...(hehehe)

6-do you mind-10/10- i like this one too..i love the chorus..it is very catchy and will get stuck in your head for a while..at least until you listen to another song on this album. this sounds like something that he put on his first album..this song is VERY sexual so dont let the kids listen to this one.

7-cheat-5/10- i really dont like this one..he sings to fast and doesnt show his singing ability that well..at least not like the others...and the chorus doesnt really make sense..he says this right in a row..."cheat...cant say i wont do it again, what would i do without you?" why would you cheat... but love your girl at the same time..i just dont like this one..but this is the only one i dont like.

8-i wasnt ready- 12/10- another corna boys song..they really picked it up from the first one the produced..i love this one a lot..this was the second reason that i bought the cd...great chorus..and there is just something different about the way he sings on this one..i really like it a lot...listen to the sample for this one! the rapper in it is not very good but MH makes up for it.

9- something else-7/10- this sounds like something the neptunes or pharrell would produce..maybe he did? i dont know but it is ok..its not the best track...skippable but not always..you might have to let this grow on you...nothing else to say about it.

10- i like that-12/10- this is the best party song on here...the chorus is sooo fun! makes you want to get up and dance! just overall...great!!marques is O.K. on here but the guest stars outshine him on this one..which is not a bad thing as long as the song is good...which it is!

11-everything- 12/10- another great slow song...now as you can tell..the chorus really makes the whole song for me..and this chorus is absoltely PERFECT in this one. he is telling his girl that he would do anything for her and he promises her...just a great song..i know you will like this one when you listen to it..GREAT SONG!!

there you go...now you have it...definately go out and buy this one..dont hesitate..im not one of those guys that are paid to do these reviews...im just and average joe that LOVES music...believe me..if you like R&B...you will love this..if you like brian mcknight...you will like this one...this is a VERY sexual cd..but he can pull it off...do NOT get the edited version..because it will definately wont be as good...GO GET IT NOW!!!

Solo artist Marques Houston has done what others said was impossible, he has created a quality, mature, and intriguing album. Despite his constant battle with breaking out of the kiddy pop circle, "Naked" slated to be released May 24th has stimulated quit a buzz within the R and B/ Hip Hop circuit.

The 23 year old from California surpasses his previous endeavors with group Imx by growing vocally and lyrically. The album "Naked" is truly a confessional journey of a boy becoming a man within a relationship. With the first single off the album "All Because of You" maintaining a position within Billboards top 30 for weeks now, the lets make it right anthem has undeniable street credibility. The second single has already made a rave impression on fans and skeptics at www.Marques-Houston.com where the video for "Naked" shows the star actually naked in a flash back D'Angelo `how does it feel kind of way.'

The new single and video happen to be hot and definitely sexy so much so that B.E.T banned the video! Mr. Houston has finally laid a foundation for his audience to know that he is grown and sexual. Such songs as "Sex With You," "Do You Mind", and "I Like It" will help set the mood with your partner but beware because these songs are quality baby making material. "Marriage and "Cheat" actually show the male point of view on problematic relationships with a catchy ass beat as a heated bonus. All of those that thought "Naked" was titled that just for publicity reasons are completely wrong. Mr. Houston strips down to bear his honest sexual soul and reveals his inner problems and feelings about relationships. His vocal ability on this album is phenomenal except for the beginning of the second single Naked. Yet the album is worthy of the repeat button. I give "Naked" 3 ½ out of 4. This is definitely something you need to pick up as soon as possible!

Literally Yours, (Like Literature...think Deep)

Ms. Jessica-LaShawn

(...)

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I must say that I have not always been a Marques Houston fan. I was never into Immature, so it always irked me when I younger that all the "kiddy" concerts were headlined by...Immature. But anyway, this CD is great. It took a while for me to catch on, mainly because I was and still am against the strong marketing of this album towards teenagers. Marques Houston, as with Bobby Valentino (another great cd), should not have been on the Scream Tour. I feel like this is an adult singer, who is singing about VERY adult situations. I think women will love this cd, once they get past the fact that this cd is NOT for teenagers.

Marques Houston is almost a veteran in the music industry as he has been out for over ten years as a part of Immature who then became IMX and more recently as a solo singer. He has also had television success with Moesha in the mid-1990s and then more recently in film with "you Got Served" and "Fat Albert." His sophomore effort, Naked, has suffered the same fate as his solo CD. While he has singles that do considerably well on the charts especially the R&B charts, that does very little for his sales which is evident taken that after almost 6 months, the CD has sold a little less than 250,00 copies.

All Because of you-Produced by Tha Corna Boys and containing elements of "Living Together in Sin" performed by the Whispers, featuring Young Rome (Romeo from Immature/IMX, everyone), this mid-tempo is what R&B needs. It has nice energy. A rap that fits. A message that is positive. Good vocals along with a nice subdued instrumentation that brings a certain spin to the song. This is the primary reason I bought the CD. A+

Sex Wit you-Produced by the Underdogs, this mid-tempo with the obligatory bassline is a simple song about Marques saying what sex with his girl is like. I do not like the explicit message of the song especially as this is swirling in circles as a potential third single. This is not something that should be played on the radio. However, the arrangment/music of the song coupled with the vocals and the catchy hook is radio-friendly: R&B/Urban radio friendly. Marques sings the song well, but after a while you get tired of hearing that word, "sex." A-

Marriage-Produced by Rufus Blaq and Brandon Howard, this mid-tempo which talks about marriage not changing nothing but a name if both parties are not ready to take it to the next level. It is just a symbolic move in that case. This is a different topic that is not really discussed much in songs, as Marques is being honest about both of them not being ready just yet to take it to the next level. The chorus is catchy, and it hooks you. The lyrics paint a story. The flowing, rap-like quality of the verses also adds depth to the song. This could easily be a single. A+

12 0'Clock-Produced by Cory Bold, Marques Houston and Chris Stokes and containing a rap from Joe Budden, this cut is one of those club songs that sounds like an R Kelly production. The song has a good vibe to it and is very dance-friendly. It could even be released as a single and would probably experience success cross-format which is the kind of chart success that Marques has been needing since his debut. It works even though I skip over it. A-

Naked-Produced by the Underdogs, Marques' 2nd single which has made some noise on Urban radio but also with videos with the provocative video reminiscent of D'Angelo's How Does it Feel? The song is a traditional, R&B song but it is not boring. The falsetto that Marques uses in this simple song about making love is also very effective and fits the song well. This song reminds me of a dreary, wintry day in 1993 for some reason, but maybe that is just me. A-

Do you Mind-Produced by Lamont Lassiter and Marque Houston himself, a mid-tempo with the raindrop beat a prominent part of it. The song follows the mood of the latter as it is talking about "do you mind" if we get freaky. The vocals are good, and the song just works easily which is good because it does not try too hard. A-

Cheat-Produced by Rufus Blaq and Brandon Howard, is this trying to be like Usher's Confessions because it not only sounds like a song that Usher would sing, but the topic has been made so popular by Usher. It has an old-school vibe to it as Usher, I mean Marques confesses that he has cheated and that he may do it again. He does not know what is wrong with him. The falsetto he uses somewhat sounds like Michael Jackson especially during the second verse. B+

I Wasn't Ready-Produced by the Corna Boys and featuring Rufus Blaq, this mid-tempo with a strong rhythm and bass presence along with some good vocals and a nice topic of not being ready then but now being ready for a lady works well. It is a breath of fresh air from the songs that precede it. While they are good, they lack an energy that this song brings which has been missing since 12 O'Clock. Rufus Blaq turns in a nice appearance with his rap, and the chorus is also very catchy. The bridge also works. This is definitely not filler, but radio probably is not ready for it either. A+

Something Else-Produced by Chris "Rawdog" Denson, Marques Houston and Chris Stokes, here he sounds like Omarion on this faster-tempoed song that has a little energy even if it is somewhat old-school sounding. B+

I Like It-Produced by Cory Bold & Marques Houston and featuring Rara & Dame, this beat-heavy uptempo sounds like something that Timbaland would produce. That is why I was surprised not to see his name in the credits. Of all the uptempos, this one works the best and could easily be a club-banga. I can even see a video for it, and it probably could be released as a single. A

Everything-Produced by Tiger Da Beat Banga, a nice slow jam with Marques vowing that he puts it on "everything" that he will always be there for his love, his woman. It is a strong song that is catchy while simple. It is good filler that works, and it probably could be a single. A

Overall, Marques improves on his solo debut with this effort and the improvement is evident in both his two singles that have made more noise than either single release from his debut. Many of the songs on this release fall in-between "filler" and single. While most of the songs are not just useless filler, many are also not strong enough to be singles or would fit into what radio is playing now. Usher's influence is evident on the CD as his influence is evident on most R&B male singers' releases. That is natural taken that he is the R&B standard, but Marques does a good job and show that as long as he releases good material that radio and BET will support him. He just needs to release a single that is going to be a cross-format success and propel the CD to new heights.

First thing I thought when I saw his video was, "Look at Batman !! He has another album !!" Followed by laughter. Considering IMX is dead, and his last album flopped, I figured Houston was on his last legs. But alas, I quite wrong. I heard a few tight tracks and borrowed the album. Its actually not bad at all. He has some nice slow tracks to get your lady friend in the mood. They work wonders. What more couldja want ? {If you're a guy} Screw them other tracks. Not sayin they're bad .... I just don't bother with em. Gotta hand it to Marques though. He's nowhere near as popular as he used to be, but he refuses to give up. Making movies and shows, and now another album. I bet he's thinkin "I'ma make my money somehow" Thats tru hustla mentality.

Dis cd is without a doubt the tightest r&b cd dat has been put out dis year. He didn't try to put a bunch of hip-hop songs on his cd which is what a lot of r&b artists do today. I personally love rap and r&b but I hate when r&b artist have hip-hop sounding tracks of their cds. The lyrics are cold and the beats are cold. What more can you want?

Coming from immature to IMX to MH and now Naked, it shows how much he has grown in the industry. I consider myself as a true R&B conorsoiur and I know good music when I hear it. This album has most of the elements that create a great album. Smooth grooves, catchy lyrics and his voice doesn't hurt either. I am proud to make this album the latest addition to my 500+ collection of R&B greats. This album will be the biggest thing till...........TP.3 Reloaded by R. Kelly....