Played Yourself - Brian McKnight, Daniels, Lashawn
Back at One - Brian McKnight, Mcknight, Brian
Stay or Let It Go - Brian McKnight, Daniels, Lashawn
6, 8, 12 - Brian McKnight, Barnes, Brandon
You Could Be the One - Brian McKnight, Mcknight, Brian
Shall We Begin - Brian McKnight, Mcknight, Brian
Gothic Interlude - Brian McKnight, Barnes, Brandon
Can You Read My Mind - Brian McKnight, Barnes, Brandon
Lonely - Brian McKnight, Mcknight, Brian
Cherish - Brian McKnight, Mcknight, Brian
Home - Brian McKnight, Mcknight, Brian
Quiet Storm never dies, although many of its love-man practitioners' discs blend together into a kind of ardent wallpaper. So it's a bit of a surprise to find Brian McKnight's fourth album, Back at One asserting itself as ... more »a committed, highly listenable sample of the genre. Putting his writing skills to work, McKnight manages to make one midtempo plaint after another stand out from its brothers on the disc. In combination with his assured but never overbearing vocals, songs such as the title number, "Last Dance," and "6, 8, 12" trump anything Babyface has done lately. McKnight makes a big claim on the style with this excellent album. --Rickey Wright« less
Quiet Storm never dies, although many of its love-man practitioners' discs blend together into a kind of ardent wallpaper. So it's a bit of a surprise to find Brian McKnight's fourth album, Back at One asserting itself as a committed, highly listenable sample of the genre. Putting his writing skills to work, McKnight manages to make one midtempo plaint after another stand out from its brothers on the disc. In combination with his assured but never overbearing vocals, songs such as the title number, "Last Dance," and "6, 8, 12" trump anything Babyface has done lately. McKnight makes a big claim on the style with this excellent album. --Rickey Wright
""Back At One" Review by Brian G. Jett, MRC Brian McKnight's newest CD is very good with his trademark background vocal harmonies. However, like his last CD, he has many hip-hop tunes on this new CD entitled, "Back At One." These tunes are good, but McKnight, I believe is missing the mark in terms of what he does best! His tremendous sense of melody is remarkable! It was evidenced with his past tunes such as "After The Love," "Still In Love," "Could" (Off last CD "Anytime"), and of course "One Last Cry." His newest CD offers some good stuff and merits being in your CD collection. Track Six (6) entitled "6-8-12" is a beautiful ballad and doesn't quickly lose its allure as the melody blended with clever lyrics keep the listener coming back for more.Brian McKnight is at his best when he writes ballads and sings ballads. He is multi-talented and clearly even a bad tune sounds good when he performs it.McKnight, like Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Peabo Bryson, Billy Joel and Elton John has staying power! His talent, like the aforementioned artists, will continue to make him a staplemate in the R & B world.*I give his newest CD a 4 out of 5 despite the hip-hop!* As a jazz musician, I do hope Brian McKnight remembers what sold him--melody and not canned hip-hop! I'd love to hear him play jazz. The cat can flat play! Period! Press on, Brian G. Jett"
Hey, Grammy committee: The man's name is BRIAN McKNIGHT!
Brian G. Jett | 11/23/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"For my money, "Anytime" was Brian's greatest musical achievement, but I am VERY impressed with "Back At One." My favorite songs on it are its title track, "6, 8, 12" (BEAUTIFUL song -- and I love that bridge! Brian must have used a pole vault to hit those high notes!), "Shall We Begin" (the up-tempo rhythm is catchy; the sensual lyrics are vintage McKnight), "Lonely," "Stay or Let It Go," and "Home" (the latest installment of Brian's beautiful legacy of putting a religious song on each of his albums). I was also impressed with "McNoche," Brian's acoustic-guitar-playing alter ego that appears on several tracks.Brian McKnight is hands-down the most gifted male American vocalist in music today. He's produced some of the most soulful and poetic music that I've ever heard or FELT. This man has an overflow of God-blessed talent. So why hasn't he won any Grammys?"
The King of R&B
Brian G. Jett | 10/14/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I bought Back at One expecting a great album. I was not disappointed. It is a wonderful piece of music in which Brian has returned to his romantic, ballad roots with his first two albums. I do not own Anytime because from what I understand it is somewhat of a departure from Brian's roots. It is a more urban, up-tempo album from what I hear. Back at One succeeds because of the incredible singing talents of Brian. Even on the ocassional up-tempo stuff, he shines. No matter how many times I hear, Played Yourself, I will never tire of it. It's just plain cool! You could be the One with its Cher-esque vocal tweaks is also a great up-tempo piece. But ultimately, it's the ballads that make Brian McKnight the premier R&B singer of his day. His best here include Last Dance, Back at One, 6, 8, 12, and Home. Also note that the songs Brian wrote with Brandon Barnes are the most engaging. I hope that partnership continues.I recommend this album for fans of Brian McKnight and for fans of musicians who can actually sing - unlike some of Brian's R&B contemporaries."
Raising The Bar On Creativity.
PePsI987 | USA | 06/26/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Brian McKnight is basically a virtual one-man-band, singing/writing and producing his own stuff. After the phenominal "Anytime" whoda thought he'd surpass such a great quality album? Well in "Back At One" he definately did. Don't listen to JUST the hit song "Back At One", rather check out a lot of the incredible other songs on the album. My favorite is a tie between the Rodney "DarkChild" Jenkins-produced "Played Yourself" and the Latin-inspired "Can You Read My Mind." Ballads such as "6,8,12", "Home", "Stay" and "Lonely" show off his emotion and creativity which puts other artists to shame. I REALLY urge anyone who is fond of any of Brian's work. This CD is great and he really did raise the bar in terms of creativity from an artist. Bravo!!"
Bump this CD to A Five STAR CD!
Brian G. Jett, MRC | Lexington, KY United States | 11/15/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When I first wrote my initial review, I must confess that I did not really listen enough to the CD, "Back At One", and thus provided an errant rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Having listened to "Cherish" and in particular, "Home", this CD is a 5 Star CD if all the other tunes were horrible which they clearly are not!"Home" has to be one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, and unlike one reviewer, this song brings tears to my eyes as it has much spiritual substance, not just numbers. Brian McKnight will be held to a tight rope to walk because of his faith in God, but he is not a selling out. This is why he is selling out every concert hall he performs at. I observed McKnight's concert in Louisville and many people were in tears in the row in front of me (all around me, me included) because of the powerful melodies but as importantly, the strong message posited through his lyrics.He is, in my opinion, the best R & B artist being promoted. One can only guess why he is not promoted as arduously as some other strictly secular artists--many songs dealing with the whatever "feels good" mind-set.Thanks Brian for writing "Home" and for standing tall. Fifty years from now, many a mind will likely be changed when they reflect on your spiritual tunes and perhaps, how they capriciously tuned these beautiful tunes out because of having more time on their side. Press on!"