Customer Reviews

Off the Hook

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The "Ghetto EnVogue" (as some critics called them) return with their sophomore album, "Off the Hook". I don't think that there is ANY album out there that has the most appropriate title. These girls and this album are both off the hook.

There aren't any uptempo tracks on the album, but that certainly doesn't take away from it. The midtempo songs fare perfectly, starting with the excellent remake of Isaac Hayes' "Do Your Thing". The girls come strong with "Feels So Good", which shows both their ruggedness and their sensuality with the lyrics and harmonies, respectively. "Hard To Say Goodbye" is a very good song with marvelous harmony. The sexual "Can't Hang" provides a challenge to men who claim they are effective in the bedroom, but turn out not to be, lol. "What Can I Do" brings to mind the New Jack Swing movement that was evident on their debut album, but still does not take away from the album. "Keep It On the Real" sounds a little off, but the harmonies keep you interested and will make you sing along (if you can learn the words to the hook).

Of course, Xscape is best known for their singing ability, and if the midtempo songs were any indication, Xscape does NOT disappoint on the slower ballads. "Who Can I Run To" has to be the most memorable remake of the 90s (and still prevalent today), and definitely should be. The Scott sisters (LaTocha and Tameka) deliver well on the leads, and the background harmonies are PERFECT. "Do You Want To" is an excellent song that brings to mind to slow grooving times of the mid-90s. And the harmonies are excellent. "Do Like Lovers Do" is a good love-making song with the thumping beats and sensual lyrics. "Work Me Slow" is self-explanatory! A very good song. "Love's A Funny Thing" is a beautiful song, with poignant lyrics and excellent harmony.

Xscape is probably one of the most underrated groups. With album content like this, the album should have definitely garnered the girls numerous platinum certifications and music awards (Grammys, Moonmen, AMAs). This is definitely an album you can play without skipping one song, a rarity in any music genre. A classic album for ANYONE to own.

I love this album . This is Xscape's sophmore album it is just as good as the others it has a lot of wonderful songs on here . Every last one of these girls can sing. This is a great cd I love it. I like every song on here. They did a remake of "Who can I run to? by the Jones Girls and they did it very well. My favorite songs on here are: Can't Hang, Feels so Good, Who can I run to?, Do You want to?, and other great songs buy this cd you will be very glad that you did!!!!

Xscape's follow up was released back in the fall of 1995 when I was in eight grade. I remeber all the girls used to go crazy over Who Can I Run To but there were other killer slow jams like Work Me Slow and Do You Want To.

"Off the Hook" is a must have for R&B lovers. This album has some of modern R&B's esstential songs such as "Who Can I Run To?" and "Do You Want To?" Xscape hails from Atlanta and recorded this album while on SoSo Def Records. They got the name "Xscape" from a hair salon that they frequent in Atlanta. This group is definitely one of the most memorable R&B groups of the 1990's. Their harmony is a very good one and they had a successful career.
I enjoy this album each time I listen to it. They are vocally strong and consistent and their lyrics are also very nice. They are quite sexual on this album, which is fine, because they are definitely tasteful. An example of this being "Work Me Slow". Though the ladies are blatant, they have a certain amount of class about themselves, something R&B fans knows is growing more and more rare with the passing of time. "Feels So Good" is one of the album's better cuts, although everything about it is rather simple, including the lyrics, production and vocals. It's a nice mid-tempo track to follow opening cut "Do Your Thang", also a good song. "Do You Want To?" is a nice ballad and one of the songs that this album will be remembered for. This song is about a woman wanting to make love to her man, and she wonders if he, too, wants to. The group showcased some of their best vocals on this song, maybe their best song vocally. "Who Can I Run To" is just beautiful. LaTocha does a great job leading the group in this song. The song is a ballad and received a lot of airplay; music listeners loved it. "Love's a Funny Thing" and "Keep it on the Real", while both decent, are not the best way to end an album. Traditionally, an R&B album is ended with a ballad, I guess they wanted to be innovative.
The good truly outweighs the bad in this album, but there are a few mentionable errors. The songs on this album are basically all the same tempo, and for many, that would make quite a boring and bland album. Also, the group needs to let Tiny, Kandi and Tamkea sing just a little more and LaTocha needs to back them more often. She does have a nice voice, but so does the rest of Xscape.
All in all I really like this album and I would say to potential buyers, go ahead and invest in this one, it's a keeper.

Mikeisha's Top 5

1. "Who Can I Run To?"
2. "Do You Want To?"
3. "Do Like Lovers Do"
4. "Feels So Good
5. "Can't Hang

I wasn't exactly the biggest fan of Xscape, but their debut album was good, and "Feels So Good", this album's first single, really caught my attention. My brother and I went into a music store one day and we heard this album playing, and all we heard was one other song and that was enough for us to buy the album...which isn't always a wise decision. But it certainly was in THIS case.

There weren't many female groups around back in '95, so Xscape didn't have much competition (if any). In the long run it didn't matter, because this is one album that true R&B fans shouldn't be without. Jermaine Dupri spun out great production in jazzy tracks like "What Can I Do" and "Love's A Funny Thing". "Feels So Good" is something everyone can enjoy even though it's technically geared toward the ladies, but then there's the playful "Can't Hang" that has them challenging the men...and it turns out we're up to that challenge (I am, anyway).

For those listeners looking for ballads like "Understanding" on here, you're in luck. My personal favorite, "Do You Want To", is a great straight-to-the-point song about making love, while they do a remarkable job on The Jones Girls' "Who Can I Run To". And I hope you didn't forget about "Work Me Slow". That's right up there with any Silk song for baby-making music.

I'm not sure if the last track, "Keep It On The Real", is a song on an outro, because it sounds like a lengthened version of the intro, "Do Your Thang". Also, those weird notes Tiny tries to hit (especially in "Do You Want To") are a little irritating. But that doesn't ruin the song, and it definitely doesn't ruin the album. The verdict is in: Off the Hook is indeed off the hook.

This was one of the top 25 of 50 best R&B albums of the 90s. There were a couple of weak joints, but the hot songs, 'Work It Slow', 'Hard To Say Goodbye', 'Who CanI Run To', were sooooooo smooth that I have to give it a five anyway. JD really laced the slow jams!! They are equivalent to JE's 'Let's Get Married', 112's 'Now That We're Done'. I think 25 years from now I will pick this CD up out of a pile and listen to tracks 3,5,9,10,& 11. The best songs on this album are some of the hottest slow jams of their time. But the album as a whole isn't as good as their first effort, 'Hummin Commin At Cha'. Oh well, maybe I should've given it a 4. But you listen to the aforementioned tracks and tell me if you agree!

This is one of my all time favorite CD's!! Every song is HOT! The only bad thing about it is that it doesn't last long enuff!! I can't get enuff of Xscape. A couple of the songs have helped me through some times in my life. This is a MUST HAVE!! I remember sitting in the car in the Target parking lot when this CD came out and heard "Who Can I Run To?" for the first time. I got out the car, went in, and bought the cassette. I wore it out so I had 2 buy the CD. I luuuuuv it!! From start to finish. I think my favorite song is "Do You Want To?" That's really helped me through some heartbreaking times. True and REAL R&B.

Xscape didn't really make me a fan until they broke up. That was my fault (I favored SWV)because these girls can blow!
On Off THe Hook the girls mostly concentrate on slow jamz that capitalize on their stunning harmonies. Although Kandi is the member that stood out all of the girls vocals are good. This album was filled with sensual and slow grooves that will satisfy any R&B lover. The mood is slow but not all the songs are making love ballads. Feel so Good and Can't Hang are party songs you can bump to!
Favs: Can't hang, Who can I run to, Do you want to, and Work me slow
It seems Xscape maybe making a new album. I have heard new music so I'm excited.

Sophomore Jinx, please, I think not. "Off The Hook", the sophomore album from these blended harmonies. In 1995, they've nailed it, once again with Jermaine "JD" Dupri, writer, Manuel Seal, writer/producer Daryl Simmons & producers Organized Noise. Track I: "Do Your Thing", is cool. Track II: "Feels So Good", It's an upbeat feel, have you partying like you haven't partied before. Track III: "Hard To Say Goodbye", fun to listen to. Track IV: "Can't Hang" (featuring MC Lyte), is self-explanatory. Track V: "Who Can I Run To", a Jones Girls' remake is a-okay with me. Track VI: "Hip-Hop Barbershop Request Line" (Interlude), it's funny as hell you will enjoy that. Track VII: "Do You Want To", a sexy ballad. Track VIII: "What Can I Do", this an understatement. Track IX: "Do Like Lovers' Do", another sexy ballad. Track X: "Work Me Slow", need I say anything. Track XI: "Love's A Funny Thing", a nice song. Track XII: "Keep It On The Real", the final song is an upbeat, but I love it! This is an exceptional album, no one could do it like them. These girl had abilities and they used them. Buy this album, today..

This is a great album. It is not my favorite Xscape release because their debut album pushed out top notch R&B classics. Off the Hook was very popular at the time, but a lot of these songs have faded in memory. You're more likely to find someone who remembers " Just Kicking " and " Understanding " from Xscape's first album than songs from Off the Hook. It's a great listen for Xscape fans and lovers of R&B-90's style. But it doesn't compare to their smoking debut release in any way, shape or form.