Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
'Faithfully' is right on time...and never disappoints, November 6, 2001
Faith Evans is more than R&B's most famous widow. She is a mature vocalist with great songwriting abilities and a phenomenal voice. 'Faithfully', Evans' first album in 3 years and the follow up to her 1998 disc entitled, 'Keep the Faith', is a disc on which the artist has experimented with a myriad of different musical genres. It is quite simply her best album to date. This accomplishment is indeed no small feat as her first disc is regarded as a modern day R&B classic. Evans opens the disc with an intro by her and her longtime producer Sean "Puffy" Combs on which he invites Faith to "do the damn thing!" And "do the damn thing!" she does! Faith then launches into the heartfelt 'Alone in This World' which samples a track used by her late husband. The next track is the sassy "You Gets No Love" on which the singer clearly lets her sentiments known to an errant lover. On the single for this song, Evans gives you a little freestyle rap...and does so convincingly without sounding at all corny! Perhaps Biggie taught her a thing or two! Yet instead, the album version of YGNL features guest appearances by Puffy and new Bad Boy artist Loon. The next track "Burnin' Up" produced by the Neptunes seems destined to be another hit as Evans breathes fire into the track...and does the Neptunes justice for a change! Ahem! Britney, listen to how a Neptunes track SHOULD sound! 'I Love You' is one of the slow jams on which Faith really shines. Writing credit is also shared with Jennifer Lopez. However, the most exciting track on the album is the disco inspired 'Back To Love'! My personal favorite, BTL has an infectious chorus and Evans' vocals glide over the track and the thumping bass.
Another standout track is the seemingly Biggie, Lil Kim and Charlie Baltimore inspired "Brand New Man" on which Evans dismisses a former lover and the women with whom he has stepped out. And equally impressive is the beautiful ballad "Where We Stand." Faiths vocals often recall a neo-soul Minnie Ripperton or Ella Fitzgerald in terms of her delivery. Yet she never fails to deliver Faith. In all, this disc is Evans' best to date. It is relativley free from overproduction and overdelivery. Faith simply sings. She doesn't try to grab you..just simply allowing you to become slowly overwhelmed by both the power of her voice and by the inspired tracks. Far superior to the lackluster releases by other R&B/Soul artists this year, 'Faithfully' is right on par with Evans ablities as an EXTREMELY capable and uplifting entertainer/chanteuse.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Faithfully, the best yet..!, November 8, 2001
When Faith was in the studio for this album, she said in an interview that was was working hard on each and every single track to make it a hit, to make each song memorable. Well she accomplished that on "Faithfully", her junior album. As stated by Billboard magazine, Faith truly proves that she has potential to be as big as Diana Ross or Aretha Franklin, because she has the vocals and the sognwriting skills to back it up. Each song on the album is a standout song, here are some highlights:Alone In This World - a fever jam that samples "Who Shot Ya".
You Gets No Love - the lead single, the album version features rap by Puffy and Loon.
Burnin' Up - a HOT club jam produced by the Neptunes, this song is original, one of the album's best.
I Love You - sweet vocals over a happy ballad.
Back To Love - a disco-flavored song that gets you moving, backed up with strong vocal arrangement.
Do Your Time - strong lyrics over a retro beat, one of the album's best.
Don't Cry - more typical Faith mid-tempo song.
Faithfully - old school jam, somewhat like her song "Good Life".
Brand New Man - a dramatic song like that on Kelly Price's "Mirror, Mirror" album.
Where We Stand - a unique ballad with very nice lyrics, one of the album's best.
Heaven Only Knows - best lyrics on the entire album.
Love Can't Hide - possibly the best song on the album, it show's Faith's growth as her vocals (the best vocals on the album) are layered; she does all the back-up on this one!
Can't Believe - featuring Carl Thomas, this was a hit for her a few months before the album's release.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Grade: A, November 8, 2001
There's nothing like that 'hoping' feeling you get while you're unwrapping a new CD, popping it into your player, and hearing it for the first time all by yourself, or with friends who are just as excited about it as you are. You might be in a parked car, with absolutely no intention of driving off until you're well into track #2 or #3; or you're at home, just happy to be jammin to it after a long day at work or school. My fellow Amazonians, that's how I felt when I bought this album. I'm happy to report that 'Faithfully' has totally lived up to my expectations -- no, it surpassed them.Starting with the intro, Puff presents Faith (over a hype beat) with mad enthusiasm. Next up is "Alone With You", an uptempo cut that contains yet another sample of Biggie's "Who Shot Ya", but it works. Then "You Gets No Love" creeps in with its slinky synth-bass groove, featuring complimentary verses by Loon and the Diddy. We close out the album's hip-hop side with "Burnin Up" (featuring Loon), a bubblin' Neptunes track that I feel musically exudes the same sexiness that Faith's new look conveys. "I Love You" is a quaint yet solid midtempo, and is my favorite cut on the album so far...and it's growing on me even more and more. I love the guitars, and the soft soul-power of Faith's voice...yep, methinks "I Love You" should definitely be a single. Kind of reminds me of Nona Gaye's "Things That We All Do For Love" from 1993 (remember that?). Anyhow, the "Everything" interlude is decent. "Back To Love" has a retro, 80s vibe...it samples "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life". The "Faithful" interlude keeps it real...the sistas will be feeling this one. "Do Your Time" is a midtempo joint with a 70s vibe to it...same goes for "Don't Cry". "Faithfully" (the song) features yet another luscious slice of "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume, and this joint is definitely tasty. "Brand New Man" features a pinch of neo-soul, a dash of classic Faith, and a little bit of Mary J (no disrespect to either woman...they're both legends in my humble opinion). The "Ghetto" interlude is cool on the hip-hop tip. "Where We Stand" sounds like it could have easily come from Faith's first album. "Heaven Only Knows" is a ballad that sounds as warm and plush as the mink coat Faith wears on the cover. "Love Can't Hide" is a jazzy ballad featuring that "neo-soul" sound a la Alica Keys or Jill Scott...actually, this might be my favorite. You've all heard "Can't Believe" -- an instant classic. We end the album with the "Love Song" interlude, a perfect ending to a perfect album. Thanks for reading!
Andrew Knyte
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