"Got 'Em Hittin' Notes That Mariah Couldn't Carry An ambitious double-disc lp that doesn't quite come off. There are some stellar tracks on this release but there are also many songs that don't do enough also, particularly on disc two which doesn't heat up until the last few tracks. Disc one opens well though with the hip hop themed 'Home Alone', and then the next three tracks are all good without being supreme R. Kelly. I think I'd like 'Spendin' Money' more if I hadn't heard Naughty By Nature's 'Holiday' which also samples 'A Lover's Holiday'. 'When a Woman's Feed Up' though is a classic Kells build-up track as is 'If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time' later on, which takes a while to reach its climax, but it's worth waiting for. 'Turn Back the Hands of Time' actually dates back before R. Kelly even had a deal. He played an early demo of it to Barry Hankerson. 'We Ride' is a good slow vibing hip hop track, I don't know what 'The Opera' is exactly, I think Rob just wanted to have fun... The rest of the tracks are your usual Kell's slow jamz, until What I Feel / Issues which is a very emotional R. Kelly being backed by electric guitars. As mentioned disc two is weaker. It begins with 'The Chase' interlude about two haters wanting to take out R. Kelly - "Hater One, this is your Captain Player Hater, what is the talent's position?" The following track, 'V.I.P.', is fairly boring though and anticlimactic. The two hip hop featuring songs here 'Dollar Bill' and 'Ghetto Queen' don't work. As don't many of the ballads here like 'Looking for Love' which need more build-up and change to keep me interested. The only things really worth going back to on disc two are the final three tracks and 'Did You Ever Think'. Overall, R. Kelly could have produced one outstanding disc but instead has created two inconsistent ones. But when an artist gives you twice the material compared to the usual album, I don't think you should be too critical and expect 29 excellent tunes. Best Tracks D1: Home Alone, When a Woman's Fed Up, We Ride, Half on a Baby, Only the Loot Can Make Me Happy, If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time, What I Feel / Issues. Best Tracks D2: Did You Ever Think, Money Makes the World Go Round, I'm Your Angel, I Believe I Can Fly.

This album returns to the grimy New York sound DMX's first three albums have, as opposed to 'The Great Depression' which went for something a tad different in the beats for the most part. Lyrically, it's what DMX has done in the past, some introspective/religious type tracks, an anthem or two such as 'Get It on the Floor', and just your gangster hardcore tunes such as the brilliant controversial 'Where the Hood At?' which was my first taste of DMX. While as usual there is some good stuff from D, and not much bad music, there isn't enough great stuff for it to be 77 minutes in length. I'd say this one is for fans, as the great moments such as 'Where the Hood At' are sparse. Best Tracks: Where the Hood At, Get it on the Floor, Rob All Night, The Rain, Thank You, X Gon' Give It to Ya

Love Never Felt So Good ★★★ Remix ★★★☆ The original is just Michael with a piano and his own percussion sounds. I think the remix is better. It gives it more funk and the breakdown/bridge improves it too. Chicago ★★★☆ Remix ★★★ The original is better, it feels eerier and suits the lyrics better. I don't like some of the production changes they made. I don't love either version though. Loving You ★★★★ Remix ★★★★ I'd say this has the least difference between the original and remix so far. Both are great. A Place With No Name ★★★★ Remix ★★★☆ The sample is more of a feature in the original, whereas, with the remix, it is mainly noticeable on the chorus. The original wins this. Slave to the Rhythm ★★★★☆ Remix ★★★☆ The original sounds fairly fresh for a Dangerous era song. Like the aforementioned album, it goes hard. I love some of Michael's vocals here and they are the best part of the song. Great energy (See 2:54)! The original wins comfortably. Do You Know Where Your Children Are ★★★★ Remix ★★★ Where the previous songs sounded fresh, this is very '80s. As with the previous remix, it sounds more like a dance song. Again, the original wins. Blue Gangsta ★★★☆ Remix ★★★☆ The remix offers something fairly different and doesn't sound overproduced like the previous remixes almost do. The breakdown at about 2:50 is better in the remix. A close call... Xscape ★★★★ Remix ★★★★ Both are dope. The original sounds more reserved, but still bangs, but the remix amps it up. I'm choosing the remix here. Great at times, but you can understand why most of these didn't see the light of day as the quality is a touch below most of the tracks that made his albums. While 'Slave to the Rhythm' is the best thing here, I still don't think it's knocking any of the upbeat songs off 'Dangerous'. If you have only listened to the version with the remixes, make sure you check out the original versions as they are more often than not the better songs.

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This had been on my to listen to list for a minute. However, the negative reception it has received, due to The D.O.C.'s voice, had made me stay away. For those who don't know, The D.O.C. released an outstanding debut album, but he was then in a car accident and his vocal cords were severely damaged. From there, subsequent rushed surgeries, in an effort to get back on stage, only made it worse. He ghostwrote a lot for Dr Dre / NWA and claims that he was never compensated for his work. He was apparently working on the Cube/Dre album, 'Heltah Skeltah', and used some of that for this album. So this album is somewhat of a "fuck you" to Dre and his previous labels. Knowing what Dre is like with releasing records, maybe it would have never happened anyway, but damn, I would've loved a mid-90s Dre and Cube album! The album kicks off with 'Return of the Livin' Dead' which basically uses the same instrumental as his hit 'It's Funky Enough' and the following song samples 'For the Love of You' by The Isley Brothers, so the production, handled by The D.O.C. and Erotic D, isn't an issue at the beginning of the album as it isn't throughout. It's funky, dark and hard. There are some nice production touches and some of the transitions from the verses to hooks are dope. Forgetting about his raspy voice, which I don't really have too much of an issue with, (you could say that it almost fits some of the dark lyrically themes), the problem is that at times it has been mixed too low making it a challenge to hear the lyrics. The worst and only close to boring song is 'Erotix Shit' with its monotonous production and uninspired rapping by the rappers featured on it. Some of the interludes and stuff at the beginning and end of songs is also something I loath that brings the album down a notch. I don't think The D.O.C.'s damaged voice ruins the album like many other listeners would have you believe. This is a lot better than I expected. Even with the damaged voice, he flows and rhymes well, and the production is well above average, but I'm a sucker for mid-'90s west coast beats. Best Tracks: Return of da Livin' Dead, Secret Plan, .45 Automatic, Brand New Formula