"Do do do do dooo do do do do do do do/Shut the fuck up bitch, you can't sing/Ya sound like a kid playing on a swing (Fuck you)" I couldn't not think of Tim Dog's scathing lyrics from 'Fuck Compton' as I played this. However, when Michel'le really sings her ass off, on songs like 'Something in My Heart', and the final minute of 'Keep Watchin'', she sounds amazing.
There are some tracks that just meander through like 'Silly Love Song, 'Close to Me' and the shout-out track that were an unfortunate trend of the late '80s/'90s with 'Special Thanks', where we hear Michel'le's speaking voice that is very high which she is well aware of. - "Everybody say I sound like a baby, but I'm 100% woman." And then with the reprise of 'If', that is just an uninspiring instrumental, the album ends limply.
The funky and new jack swing influenced production by Dr Dre and Andre "L.A. Dre" Bolton is all okay, particularly considering it's not in Dre's main wheelhouse of hip hop. It is though a front loaded album, and while I do enjoy Michel'le's voice, some of the songwriting isn't quite there with some tracks lacking enough change or build up in the songs and others like 'If' sounding forced.
Best Tracks: No More Lies, Nicety, Keep Watchin', Something in My Heart
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