Customer Reviews

Still Climbing

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In 1993, three soulful sistas referred to as Mimi, Nicci and Maxee released an album called From The Bottom Up. Each of the four songs they released (in order, "Pass The Lovin'", "If You Love Me", "Grapevyne", and "I Can't Tell You Why") became hits on the R&B charts as well as on the pop charts. Nothing seemed able to stop Brownstone until Mimi had to leave the group due to a health problem that affected her ability to sing. For the second album Kina Cosper was recruited, and she helped deliver one of the most overlooked albums in 1997.

The album starts things off right, particularly introducing Kina to the world on "Let's Get It Started." Then they move on to the first single, "5 Miles To Empty", which easily sailed its way up the charts. Further along on the album you'll hear them talking about things like the how-to's of relationships ("In The Game Of Love"), indecisiveness ("Foolish Pride"), and, well, revenge ("Revenge"). Then there are songs like "Around You", "Baby Love", and the aforementioned "5 Miles To Empty", which are just plain dope.

This is one of the cases where everyone loves the artist's songs but for some reason no one buys the album. Maybe Brownstone is overlooked sometimes because it seems like they release an album every million years...okay, every FOUR years. So my question is, WHERE'S THEIR 2001 ALBUM???

I don't understnd why the masses don't take interest in good talent like Brownstone's talent. This cd is a great continuation from where the last album left off. This time around we get introduced to a new member of Brownstone named Kina Cosper. This made Brownstone a vocal powerhouse trio that no other group could touch. Only one single managed to make the airways at radio and the album went into exile. This cd would end the run of the group Brownstone. The ladies have gone their separate ways. Kina and Nicci both released solo albums in past few years, both of which managed to do poorly at retail even thought they were both good albums. So check those out if you can.

Brownstone is a very talented group of singers. I love this CD. It didn't receive as much airplay as the first, but it was just as good. 5 Miles to Empty, Baby Love, Kiss and Tell, Around You and Foolish Pride are my favorites on the Disc. I can't wait until their next one drops. I know Kina has a new solo project out but I hope they are still together. Shout Out to Nicci from Detroit.

This album is one of the best albums I have ever heard in life period. When I first heard their song "Pass the Lovin" from their last album I was waiting anxiously for it to come out. When I saw the video for "5 Miles to Empty" after they had been gone for a while I was thoroughly excited because I enjoyed their first CD and I was ready for more from them. They did not hesitate to impress me and excite me and take me through a journey even though they had a member change. This Cd is awesome and contains some of the most powerful vocals that you will every hear. Every song is good, "Baby Love" and "Kiss and Tell" are my faves, and it is just a shame that they are not together anymore and that the did not get the recognition that they deserved. Heck Michael Jackson thought that they were good, they were on his label.

Sometime in the latter part of this decade the 90's will go retro. 60 seconds after that happens the World will rediscover this trio of SINGERS! The fact that they didn't make it passed two albums should not stop you from IMMEDIATELY BUYING BOTH OF THEM! It's a purchace you'll never regret.

Put simply, these women can SING! I mean, SING!

This 2nd and last album by Brownstone was just as strong as their first one. They still continue the soulful singing on here. And the writing and music are just as strong. There are a lot of midtempo songs and ballads here this time. One of the best songs on here is Revenge, where the woman aggressively goes after the other woman who stole her man. It is so powerfully done, funky song, and dramatic break at the near end where the woman confronts the other woman and chews her up in a calm, but cold manner. I also love 5 Miles to Empty and the soulful closing remake of If You Play Your Cards Right, perhaps a strong swan song for the group. I wished that they'd make more albums after this, but TLC was already hot, En Vogue had their 3rd album ramped out and the other girl groups were in influx back in 1997. A solid followup!

Brownstone have always came out with the best. I have rarely heard poor songs from them. I especially liked "Revenge", "If You Play Your Cards Right", and "5 Miles to Empty" Keep making the hot tracks!

these gurls sing good together and sound very beautiful nothing like compared to todays music you don't get the good stuff no more like brownstone.i love the song 5 miles to empty my all time favorite.and you give good love and baby love.i like the song if you play your cards right.they are all good tracks the gurls did a good job herei wish they were still around,i even got one of their songs on my cell phone voicemail message can you tell which song it is?

This is a fantastic well done album from Brownstone. These ladies can really sing, they were obviously born to sing. Every song on Still Climbing is strong, no weak tracks. Brownstone really delivers big time on this second effort. The album is really good but not as good as their first. I miss the original member Mimi, who isn't on this project. Best songs on this CD are: "Five Miles Too Empty," "Baby Love," "Kiss & Tell" and their remake of "If You Play Your Cards Right." I havent heard from them for a while but am still listening to their music. They were suppose to release a third album called "Still Rising" but that never came out and instead they released a collection of their love songs. This is a must get if you don't already own this CD, then make it your next buy!

I initially bought this album in 1997 after seeing the video for "5 Miles to Empty" on BET. I loved the song itself, but it was the only song I listened to at the time.

Five years later, I started to play this album and have fallen in love with it. I agree with reviewer Anthony Rupert who said this was the most overlooked album of 1997. I totally agree. These girls still continue their excellent singing with an album that could have easily established Brownstone as a force to be reckoned with (IMO, they still are).

The uptempo cuts are fantastic and will get you moving. "Let's Get It Started" does just that, opens you up for a listening experience. These girls come with it in the vocal department, doing some serious shouting and vocalizing, all in with the harmony. "Kiss and Tell" is really a nice little song, even though I didn't like it at first. But, it's still a good listen. "All I Do" has that catchy feel to it...I didn't like it at first, but after a couple more listens, it really grew on me, especially the bridge that is well-sung - "Now that I realize the sacrifice you made, can we make it like it was before" - with that classic Brownstone harmony.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am serious critic when it comes to harmony in the slower songs, because you have to be on point or the whole song sounds shady. Not so with Browstone. "5 Miles to Empty" is only a prelude to the slower songs' harmonies and vocal ranges. "Baby Love" has some really good lead vocals, and the harmonies never falter. "Around You" is a lower-register song that still sounds believable in the singing department. "You Give Good Love" has the classic Brownstone-style harmonies....straight from the church. It really sounds as if a choir is backing them up on this song. And the remake of the classic Alicia Myers song "If You Play Your Cards Right" showcase new member Kina Cosper's vocals to the ultimate. And the harmonies! So high and so precise! Beautiful.

This album is better than the first in that it seems like someone actually took the time to write some decent lyrics to really showcase Brownstone's full vocal ability. It's just a shame that these girls never achieved the super-stardom that I truly believe they deserved.