Since I won’t be able to write formal reviews for all of the albums on my most anticipated list, here are some thoughts on the ones I’ve listened to thus far.

 September 9th

Eric Benet’s Love and Life: I may stand alone in this but this album just didn’t do it for me. Admittedly, I have only listened once. The only song that grabbed me is “You’re the Only One.” I feel that song like I felt his first two albums. Eventually, I’ll get around to taking another listen and maybe I’ll feel differently. For now, I have to give it a FAIL.

Kenny Lattimore’s Timeless: I wrote a full review for this one.

 September 16

Raphael Saadiq’s The Way I See It: Love, love, love this album. Although there are one or two tracks that I skip, overall, it was everything I hoped it would be. I’m strongly considering seeing him on tour along with John Legend. Now that I’ve got the album in hand, it makes me want to see his stage show even more.

September 23

September 30

Jazmine Sullivan’s Fearless: Again, I may stand alone here but this album just didn’t live up to my expectations. I compare all the hype surrounding the release of Fearless to Chrisette Michele’s I Am last year. Chrissy delivered ten times over. Every track on her album was bananas. Jazmine…not so much. Her voice sounds phenomenal but I’m not thrilled with the material.Unlike everybody and their Momma’s Momma, I am not that enamored with “Bust Your Windows.” I expect more from her next time around. Her voice is too great to waste on bad music.

Too lazy to change the graphic. We know that Common’s Universal Mind Control will be released the day after never.

Joe, your tomfoolery does affect my purchase of your album. Hell, I couldn’t even be bothered to bootleg it. Harsh? My tolerance for grown ass men acting ignorant is at negative zero right now. Check with me later.

Ledisi’s It’s Christmas: I have the album but am waiting on the holiday season to give it a first spin. I have a closed door office at work so it will be on repeat loudly throughout December. I’m sure it will work as Scrooge-repellent.

Jennifer Hudson: I put her album on the back burner after hearing so many bad reviews. At this point, I can’t even listen because I couldn’t be objective. I don’t think I could say anything bad about it. I know, doesn’t make sense. Hey, no one ever said I was a real journalist or anything.

Robin Thicke’s Something Else: I loved this album. He didn’t depart much from his signature style but it worked for me. No skips at all.

October 18

Foreign Exchange’s Leave It All Behind: This album is a sure thing to make my list of top albums of 2008. Another album where every single track just blew me away. Often I put it on when I’m leaving work and want to literally leave it all behind. I already have my ticket in hand to see them when they come to DC in a few weeks. I’ll do a longer review then with videos, once I come down from my high that is.

October 21

 

Kindred’s The Arrival: It really hurts my heart to say this but after one listen, I wasn’t feeling the love. I attended a listening party where they appeared to promote the album a few weeks ago and you just gotta love them as a couple. I know that has nothing to do with the music. However, it’s not always easy for me to separate the two (post coming on that later).  I’m hoping that a live performance will make the album grow on me.

 

October 28

 

I did a full review for this one too.

November 4

Q-Tip’s The Renaissance: Let’s just say there are many, many reasons November 4th can’t come fast enough!

The floor is open for comments.