Monica - After the Storm

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Free Music Notes for After the Storm

Free Music Review: Monica comes out on top!
Hit: 5 Stars

Disc 1:

1. Intro - It's got Missy, it's funny, and it's the first hint that this is a completely mature album for Monica.

2.Get It Off - Whoa. The beat is hot to death, Missy is all over this track, and Monica has her game face on. This song is on point, it's very hot, and a great start for the album. The refrain is the best part. Reminds me of the title track of TLC's "3D".
score: B+

3.So Gone - You all know this song, one of the bigger R&B hits of the last couple years.
score: A

4.U Should've Known Better - Kept from the scrapped "All Eyez On Me" album, and with good reason. You can start to tell that Monica's new album has some meaningful lyrics, and songs that tell stories. Not just vapid trash that says oh baby I love you, or why did you do me wrong.
score: B+

5.Don't Gotta Go Home (f/ DMX) - This is actually a slower tempo joint. The lyrics are different, it also tells a story. DMX voice sounds too harsh for it though. But that's made up for by the fact that the hook Monica sings is slick and catchy, very nice.
score: A-

6.Knock Knock - Missy's stamp is all over this one. Monica's delivery is unique; her voice is stronger than ever and, if possible, she has more control of it than ever before. This song is incredible though, it is true R&B and somehow sounds like Motown and Dirty South at the same time! Monica and Missy are working on a remix to this song as we speak.
score: A

7.Breaks My Heart - Held over from the scrapped album, not a surprise at all. It's hard to make a ballad today that doesn't sound either trite or the same as a hundred other ballads. This is an amazing one though, dare I say on the scale of "For You I Will". Flawless vocals.
score: A

8.I Wrote This Song - Also held over from the scrapped album, this song stands out. When's the last time a song, moreover an R&B song, had such revealing or poignant lyrics? Listen to them. Monica wrote it herself. The beat is also very original.
score: B+

9.Ain't Gonna Cry No More - One of only two songs out of the sixteen on the album that has standard lyrics. It truly does sound reminscent of Brandy's "What About Us?" but the vocals are still strong. The beat is actually infectious, and the chorus is nice.
score: B

10.Go To Bed Mad (f/ Tyrese) - Okay, let's see. The chorus takes some getting used to because it is so understated. But when was the last time we had a duet like this... the lyrics are memorable, Tyrese and Monica sound like they were born to sing together. This has to be one of the prettiest songs I've heard in ages.
score: A

11.Hurts The Most - I still love this song (it's held over from the scrapped album), the guitar on it is awesome, the lyrics are mature, and I think it has some of Monica's best vocals on the album.
score: A-

12.That's My Man - This song might be considered "neo-soul" and it definitely sounds like India.Arie could have done it. Monica's delivery is original and plays nicely with the guitar. It has the least popular appeal, but I'm feeling this song.
score: A-

13. Outro (So Gone remix) - Some of you may have heard this on the radio, or on the internet. The versions floating around on the internet do not do it justice. Here on the album you can hear it better and it's even more amazing. A great remix, approves on the original. That's why it gets this score.
score: A+


Disc 2:

1.Too Hood - Held over from the scrapped album, was actually the second single but it flopped. Definitely the worst song anywhere on this album, but still not awful.
score: C+

2.Down 4 Whatever - Monica actually wrote this one. It's got one of those beats that uses a water drop, that should explain just about everything. Except that once again the vocals are very nice, she did 100% of them herself and it works really well. This isn't single material but it's an awesome album track.
score: A-

3.What Part Of The Game (f/ Mia X) - The beat isn't anything special at all, but Monica is doing one of the rap/singing things on it, and Mia X's rap is very good. In fact the lyrics are pretty entertaining. Not single material again; maybe that's what this second disc is all about. But it's enjoyable.
score: B

4.Searchin' - Held over from the scrapped album, it's a gospel song. Monica can sing gospel. And she also wrote this song. If you know anything about gospel you know that it's about feeling the joy and the pain, and showing the emotion. Monica can do that, you better believe it.
score: A- if you like gospel, C if you don't

5.So Gone (Video) - Who doesn't like this? Monica makes good videos.
score: A

Recap: Monica has grown up, in every way. But not only that, she's gotten BETTER. I'm impressed with this album; I knew I would love it no matter what, I'll be honest. But I found myself jamming along with the fast songs, grooving to the slow jams, and loving the ballads. And I can tell that she's done it again, only more so. This album in all fairness should do better than her last two, because it's easily her best. It keeps the best values of "Miss Thang" without losing the qualities that made "The Boy Is Mine" great while bringing more to it. Vocals are stronger, lyrics are WAYYY stronger, and she was provided with top notch production. As you all know, that means it's a great album. I expect multiple Grammy, Soul Train, Lady of Soul, MTV, BET, and Billboard award nominations for this album. And hopefully some wins, too.

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