Lyfe Jennings - The Phoenix
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Free Music Notes for The Phoenix
Free Music Review: An Honest Review
Hit: 3 Stars
Let me first start by saying I've been listening to Lyfe since I first saw him perform at the Apollo, with Nicole (his guitar). The First album, simply blew me away. Unbelieveable. I couldn't wait for the second. Now, I'm the type of person who belives in either 1 star or 5, and album is either good or bad. After listening to this album, let me say the following.
This is at best an Alright R&b Album. For a Lyfe album, i'm sorry to say, it's not good. His first album, you can just feel the hunger in his voice, the passion, soul, and drive. This album feels really wanna be commercial. Too much Over-Production, and not enough passion and drive. I know it's hard to follow up the first one, but it seems like he's just missing something on this album. The beats are just not him, at least in my opinion. I like 6 Tracks on this album (Which is overloaded with interludes, this boy loves talking).
Stand out tracks: goodbye, Lets stay together, ghetto superman, s.e.x, the river, and still here.
Everything else just seems average cookie cutter r&b to me.
One Love,
BRICK CITY.
Free Music Review: Excellent CD
Hit: 5 Stars
Lyfe Jennings' second CD is actually better than his debut CD. This CD is so refreshing an honest. I loved the realness of it without usage of unnecessary foul language. Lyfe doesn't have to gratuitously use foul language, he knows how to say what he needs to say. He admits to mistakes and tells you all about them in this CD. I really love the son "Biggie Nigga" and the remake of Tupac's song "Keep Your Head Up" (which is one of my favorite songs). He actually make the song better and his Son Phoenix singing at the end of the song is absolutely adorable. (My 17 year old son is also named Phoenix). This is a cannot miss CD.Free Music Review: it's ok
Hit: 2 Stars
Lyfe Jennings has talent as a Instrumentalist&Songwriter. vocally is where I can take or leave him. much of this Album reminds me of his debut. now "S.E.X" is a cool track,but way too many Interludes(Janet Jackson has the same Problem)and the balance of the album starts to lose me after a while.He kinda reminds me of Anthony Hamilton in that he knows his lane&stays within that base. I'd like to hear him expand more in terms of the music&whatnot,but he is Ok.Free Music Review: Keeping the Soul Alive; 3.5 Stars
Hit: 4 Stars
Lyfe Jennings instantly became one of the top on my radar in a breed of singers attempting to reinstate soulfulness into R&B music. Sure, R&B itself is still striving and those artist who aren't in the vein or mindset of keeping "soul" alive are not terrible musicians (there are some notable standouts), but it is those who choose soulfulness that have something special about them. That defines Lyfe Jennings, an ex-prisoner who found a love for Erykah Badu to a T. His debut LYFE hit stores peaked at a quiet #39, but went platinum, something some better debuting albums never do. LYFE wasn't perfect, but it was certainly fresh compared to a number of other things occuring musically. With that said, the follow-up THE PHOENIX is a consistent album, but it is flawed as well. It is better than most/many R&B albums this year, yet it lacks something that perhaps LYFE did better.
Lyfe of course sounds exceptional as always and one is glad to hear more of his exceptional, haunting falsetto. That aspect of THE PHOENIX trumps LYFE because Lyfe only sparingly exploited his falsetto. Furthermore, the gruff, raspiness of Lyfe's voice is preserved and is just as gritty as ever, again keeping that soulful timbre instated. Also, production is standout, just as it was on his first album with strummed acoustic guitar and enough synthesizers to keep it soulful without being too technologically innovative. However, listening to opening track "Slow Down", the listener that has become accustomed to Lyfe's more soulful productions will be thrown for a curveball as the semi-thuggish "Slow Down" plays with a guest cameo by Young Buck. As P!nk said, "who knew"?
Lucky for Lyfe, the collaboration works very well making "Slow Down" one of the strongest tracks on THE PHOENIX. "Goodbye" is another good track, though it seems a little boring. While you have the feeling that Lyfe was trying to attain the same purity of say John Legend's "Ordinary People", this track doesn't quite trump it, though how Lyfe "cops" the last line of Gladys Knights "Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The One To Say Goodbye)" totally deserves props.
Moving along, other tracks such as "Let's Stay Together" or "Ghetto Superman" easily stand on their own. As it should be, "S.E.X." is the true standout on THE PHOENIX making for one of the most interesting choices for a lead single as well as one of the best male R&B performances of 2006, easily. Unfortunate for Lyfe is the fact that while "S.E.X." is his "Must Be Nice" for this album, there aren't necessarily following "S.E.X." hits to that same caliber. Also, moreso than LYFE, there is a bit more of a tendency for filler material. What does save the album at anytime where the songs may not be "up to snuff" of the best is the exceptionally harmonized background vocals. Unfortunate again is that it grows predictable after the first few tracks.
Again, tracks such as "The River" (harkening Sam Cooke), "More Than A Girl", and "Radio" are definitely strong, but not as strong as "S.E.X.". "I'll Always Love You" is an extraordinary way to end THE PHOENIX, though it isn't the biggest hit of the album. What plagues this overall exceptional album is the narration between every track. After a while, it grows too annoying, even moreso than it did on LYFE. While you are interested to hear Lyfe's story and his commentary, it still grows to much and irritating for the listener.
Overall, THE PHOENIX doesn't bring anything new to the table from LYFE, but it is a very good album and should hopefully sell very well. 3.5 Stars.
Free Music Review: Can't stop listening!
Hit: 5 Stars
What a great follow-up CD. I have been anxiously waiting this CD and he did not disappoint. It's equally as great as the first one. I'm not a big fan of rap music but even the songs featuring Young Buck and 3 Six Mafia caught my ear. It's truly refreshing to hear good R & B music. My only criticism would be all of the interludes,otherwise a fantastic sophomore CD.