NUDEsic Review: Two Eleven, Brandy Norwood

This week is full of my favorite songs and albums on my playlist. Well, one of the reasons that I want to show you guys the NUDEsic Reviews on songs that doesn't necesssarily the Hot 100 Billboard hit, or top 40 on the radio right now across the world, but the music that can interpolate feelings, happy or sad and making us, the listeners are more into the stories of the songs. And one of the albums that has been on my top R&B list for now is the legendary, Brandy Norwood's "Two Eleven". Have you heard about her? She is one of the royal R&B queens, aka the Vocal Bible, praised by most critics for the outstanding vocals and her trademark layered vocals that has been an inspiration for the new generation of singers.

After a series of  downturns, she came back hard on the latest new album, Two Eleven. The new album boasts on coming back to her old sound, the traditional R&B sound that made her a star on the 90's, but still keeping it current with mixing dance and contemporary sound. The lead single, "Put It Down" is one of the proof that this new album has been a new-old sound to keep her relevant as one of the R&B divas today. Collaborating on popular acts like Chris Brown, sampling Lykke Li on the track "Let Me Go", Rico Love, Bangladesh, Sean Garrett and many more, she kept it real class and sassy on this album, which is much more interesting as she finally showed more choreo on her performances. 

My favorites from this album, is the second single, "Wildest Dreams", in which she told us how she handled her past bad experiences that took that as a stepping stone in finding her man and how that wasn't in her wildest dreams. The sassy midtempo is also a throwback to her old sound, circa Afrodisiac and Full Moon, which is a love. "Without You" is one of my favorite as well, because it has a soulful tale about longing for the one she loves that she can't live without his boo. The album is mostly filled with sickest beats so far, like "Slower" and "No Such Thing as Too Late", which reminds us of Kelly Rowland's "Motivation". "Scared of Beautiful" is truly of the higlights, not only because it is written by Frank Ocean, but also Brandy's vocals are very raw and inspiring, over the mellow beats.

With many critical acclaims on this album, but sadly it doesn't project so well on the charts, which is a shame that the solid R&B album that managed to debut on top of R&B Albums for a week, with 65,000 copies on its first week. However, she is Brandy after all. So, just watch her in concert to get amazed by the talented lady.

Lips Rate: 4 LIPSS!!!

Must-Checkouts: "Wildest Dreams", "Put It Down", "Scared of Beautiful", "Wish Your Love Away", "Without You".

Check out her performances via YouTube below:

Put It Down (Featuring Chris Brown) MV:

Wildest Dreams MV:

NUDE by Arnandt: NUDESic Review: Hello... My Name Is... Bridgit Men...

NUDE by Arnandt: NUDESic Review: Hello... My Name Is... Bridgit Men...: Her album has been on my playlist for quite a while now, but I have yet to see this young girl with a great soulful jazzy voice ruling ...

NUDESic Review: Hello... My Name Is... Bridgit Mendler

Her album has been on my playlist for quite a while now, but I have yet to see this young girl with a great soulful jazzy voice ruling the charts again after bombarding the charts with the hippy uptempo "Ready or Not"   a few months ago. The lead single is just a preview on what her debut album sounds like, and "Hello... My Name Is..." by Bridgit Mendler is so much more diverse than that.

"Formulaic at its best!", is what I gotta say for this album, because:

First, the album follows a formula that was inspired by Lily Allen, Cher Lloyd, Kesha and even a little funky Joss Stone and still poppy ala Natasha Bedingfield as well. At first listen, I was already hooked on every song on the album. Even though, the songs are mostly had the same feel, but they didn't bore you at all. It's just keeps on getting warm in the ear, and you just had that feel good vibe coming from the Natasha inspired sound.

Second, the theme of this album represents her really well on how her life is a rollercoaster when it comes to being a rising star on the Disney Channel's "Good Luck Charlie" which earned her the title one of the Disney's sweethearts and also trying to balance her love life, fun times and also coming out as a real musician. But unlike Miley Cyrus, she took a new path on giving different by doing a pop jazz album that showcases her soulful voice in a good pop-ish way. Good, but not sounding too forced at the same time.

Third, aside from her charming personality, good looks and her awesomely good voice, the quirkiness of this album that was really got me into this album more and more. She took the song to the next level on the instruments that made the songs really different one to another. On songs like "Love Will Tell Us Where To Go" which had a japan inspired feel to it, "Blonde" that has a tingly beat reminiscing young Lenka and Lily Allen, and the rap-talk-sing "Hurricane" reminded me of Cher Lloyd mixed Natasha, which came out in a good and unique way. Watch it Pixie Lott, because we have a new contender here.

I am not saying that she didn't have the effort of being Bridgit, but her debut album is really speaking for itself on what kinda artist she wants to be. Although I would like her to do a breakout experimental sophomore album, and more British feel because I could see her success in Europe. If she ever wanted to do Adele-ish ballad mixed with Solange quirktastic beats, I would be blessed by God.. Amen!!

Check-OUTS: "Hurricane", "Blonde", "Top of the World", "Love Will Tell Us Where To Go", "Ready or Not", "The Fall Song"

KISS Rate: 4 LIPSSS!!!

Check out her live performances via Youtube here:

Ready or Not

Blonde (Live)

Hurricane, the next single here: