Afrodisiac - Brandy

Brandy grows up.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Heard the music? Review it
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Music details
  • Artist(s): Brandy
  • Genre: R&B
  • Label: Atlantic
  • Parental Advisory: No
  • Edited Version: No
  • Release Date: 07/19/2004

Parents need to know

Former teen queen Brandy, now a single mother, brings new-found maturity and sophistication to AFRODISIAC, her fourth CD. Mostly appealing "R&B-Lite," some of the lyrics come off sounding surprisingly needy, and could be a jumping-off point for discussions about self-esteem and peer pressure.

Message

Social Behavior:

Some of the song lyrics are fiercely independent; others surprisingly needy--kind of like real life?

Consumerism:

A couple of brand name and music references...nothing much.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Sex

No explicit sexual references.

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Kathi Kamen Goldmark

No longer a child star, Brandy delivers sexy R&B ballads with polished sophistication on AFRODISIAC, her fourth CD. If not the most exciting album of the year, it's appealing and pleasant. Brandy's lyrical messages veer wildly between feisty independence and extreme neediness (sort of like real life?); her voice is lovely and strong; the music tracks are produced with skill, care, and even a bit of imaginative playfulness.

Changes in Brandy's personal life--becoming a mother and ending a relationship with her baby's father--seem to bring depth and maturity to her performance as well as to her lyrics. "Just for the sake of my daughter/I tried to stick to the plan/But I had to get rid of the ring/on my fourth finger, left hand," she sings about her short "marriage" on "Who I Am." But Brandy has not only left this relationship behind--she's also dumped long-time producer Rodney Jenkins. This time around, she chose to work with Timbaland instead, and his influence is obvious and unmistakeable.

The first single from the CD, "Talk About Love," features Kanye West singing with Brandy in a Hip-Hop/R&B duet, and the chemistry sparkles. Another high point is "Sadiddy," an irresistable dance tune with wonderful call-and-response backup vocals and an infectious rhythm track. Brandy's vocals are skillfully self-assured; she also sounds like she's having some fun.

Is it any good?

4
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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

3


Posted on 07/23/04 by mc2004 Kid contributor, age 13

OK R&B album

This album has some good songs but there is a lot of filler. Nothing really original but it's nice ear candy. As for language there are two uses of "b**ch" and two bleeped "sh**". There is no sex, which is a pleasant surprise for an R&B album.

Adult Reviews

There are 0 reviews.

There are no adult reviews.

Kids Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

3


Posted on 07/23/04 by mc2004 Kid contributor, age 13

OK R&B album

This album has some good songs but there is a lot of filler. Nothing really original but it's nice ear candy. As for language there are two uses of "b**ch" and two bleeped "sh**". There is no sex, which is a pleasant surprise for an R&B album.

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