Song of the Moment

J. Cole - Lost Ones

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Chris Brown - F.A.M.E



Pop music and pop culture always seem to go so hand in hand together. There probably isn't a hotter gossip story right now than his episode on Good Morning America yesterday. If you were stuck in a closet at any point, he was charged with felony domestic violence charges stemming from while he was dating Rihanna. I'm sure he pleaded down to some community service, but Brown became a bit of a social pariah and a poster for anti abuse ads. Well, that happened at least a year ago now, and some reports still want to get answers on what happened. He was asked by Robin Roberts yesterday, and he reportedly flipped out. Tossed a chair at a window, got into verbal and slight physical altercations with security and producers and left the building shirtless. Very nice. His Twitter post quasi confirms the incident here - ”I'm so over people bring this past s**t up!! Yet we praise Charlie Sheen and other celebs for [their] bullsh**t.” Extra nice. This album dropped just yesterday, but I didn't really want to give it any attention. Since this happened, it's already getting plenty - so what's one more? From a music standpoint, Brown is kind of stuck between this R&B and hip hop purgatory. He'll put tracks that make you want to think he's going for a hip hop motif, but then the rest of his stuff is poppy nonsense. It's really hard for me to listen to his record top to bottom, because they're so poorly arranged. I certainly don't respect him as a person, and given what I've heard on his albums, he's not getting any of my hard earned cash anytime soon. This album is about on par with the others, where it'll have a couple "hits" on the pop charts, and the rest of it is essentially a throwaway. If you like his albums - please let me know. I simply don't get it.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Deuces
2. Up to You
3. No BS
4. Look At Me Now
5. She Ain't You
6. Say It With Me
7. Yeah 3X
8. Next 2 You
9. All Back
10. Wet the Bed
11. Oh My Love
12. Should've Kissed You
13. Beautiful People
14. Bomb
15. Love The Girls
16. Paper, Scissors, Rock
17. Beg For It

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Beautiful People (nice Benny Benassi beat)
2. Deuces
3. Yeah 3x

FINAL RATING:
1.75 out of 5 stars

4 comments:

  1. Feel like I haven't commented in a minute, so "Time For Some Action"

    I think it's tough for me at times to evaluate an album and keep personal issues of the artists separate. However some cases are inseparable, and this is a prime example. For starters, I really like the beat to 'Look At Me Now', I think it's pretty sick.

    Two, I understand that he wants that whole incident a year ago to remain a thing of the past. In turn, I think that if those events could translate into an album worth while then things might pan out a little smoother. Who knows, he may bounce back after this release but we'll just have to see.

    Pop music, POP ALREADY!!!

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  2. Yeah, it has been a while!

    Normally I don't care...and even with this, I don't think I based my opinion of the album on his lackluster personal values.

    I just don't like his music. Never really have. Mostly overplayed and overhyped. Just my two cents.

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  3. I see what you're sayin.

    I feel I may be jumping off topic a bit but my mom feels the same way about Beiber. She just doesn't get the hoopla about him. She'll say," I do not like him or whatever he's made". I'm like are you sure you don't like HIM, or you just don't care for the music? She always says BOTH. Hahaha, she's honest when it comes to things like that. Back to the subject though, This whole pop music of the 2000's doesn't seem to be hittin' that hard with the exception of maybe SOME singles and a select handful of artists.

    I think about your post: Rant #13 - "You And Me Could Write A Bad Romance", and how usually have three songs you feel to be the best from the bunch. I know everyone will essentially have that one, two, or three that they love from the CD, but maybe one day we can like the whole thing. I'm positive Mr. Brown is capable of creating a piece that's amazing. Just that everything's a bout money now and like your Rant #13 mentioned, the record executives want something that's good for now instead of 10-20 years ahead...It sucks.

    Like you, I don't care too much for some of the actions and antics. You could say that's a work in progress type thing...

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  4. If you really break this down, it's got that classic wanna be rap track in 'Deuces' - which honestly isn't all that great. Genre 1 attempted.

    My number one track is trying to appeal mainly to dance crowd lovers. Semi good, mostly fail. Genre 2 attempted.

    Lots of pop music on this record that would appeal to teens. Genre 3 attempted.

    Couple slower songs, maybe going for the mood crowd.

    I could keep going forever. I think if he stuck to the classic r&b stuff, he'd be better off. He's going to sell more albums making songs like 'Forever' and whatnot, but I don't think a lot of people take him seriously as an artist. This is why I'm nervous for people like Bruno Mars or B.o.B. They could fall into this very trap, instead of making music they're passionate about.

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