You'll Never Be Like Him - Brooke Hogan, Accetta, A.
One That Got Away - Brooke Hogan, Barker, Y.
Redemption
Finish Line
2009 sophomore album. Brooke Hogan is an entertainer and star of her own VH1 Reality series Brooke Knows Best. With her VH1 show, a second single ' Hey Yo' featuring Konvict Live artist Colby O'Donis, a third single 'Ruf... more »f Me Up' featuring Atlantic Records superstar Flo Rida, the release of The Redemption album, and an international tour right around the corner, Brooke Hogan is ready to rock the world!« less
2009 sophomore album. Brooke Hogan is an entertainer and star of her own VH1 Reality series Brooke Knows Best. With her VH1 show, a second single ' Hey Yo' featuring Konvict Live artist Colby O'Donis, a third single 'Ruff Me Up' featuring Atlantic Records superstar Flo Rida, the release of The Redemption album, and an international tour right around the corner, Brooke Hogan is ready to rock the world!
"I personally love this album. I played it while in my prison cell and, lo and behold, right away lots of the other inmates were commenting on how much they liked it. Most of the guys on death row even loved it, except for one guy who has an attitude problem.
Another inmate bought some of Brooks music videos and now we practice her dance moves in the rec yard during our one hour exercise break. We even have altered our prison outfits to resemble the outfits in her videos. No one seems to mind that the scimpy outfits reveal a few scars, tattoos, hair, and some beer bellies. Believe it or not me and the guys can do a pretty good rendition of Brooks moves, though the sexually provacative moves tend get some guys in the rec yard a bit too interested in our practice sessions.
This CD and Brooks music videos have made rec time a lot more fun. Thanks for the great music Brooke!
Inmate # 2234422-333 Pelican Bay Prison."
Brooke Falls Short of 'Redemption'
Antoine D. Reid | Durham, NC United States | 07/21/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Brooke Hogan makes her second musical showing with 'The Redemption'. Don't entirely judge this release by the rather lackluster album art - the contents aren't as bad. Upfront, this is better than the rather abysmal and dull first effort. I admit it is far more catchy and pleasing to the ear than most tracks on the first release 'Undiscovered'. But, that being said, 'The Redemption' still sounds like an amateur act. Brooke Hogan definitely put more effort and more of herself on display in this release, with the 'Intro' highlighting all of her family drama that's been played out in the media and television (listen to the dirty-laundry Linda Hogan diss track 'Dear Mom...' for a demonstration of Brooke Hogan's willingness to put her private life on display for all to marvel at).
What makes 'The Redemption' a bit less than average is mostly Brooke's voice. It's just okay, it's mediocre. On many tracks, she sounds as if she's coming off too much like a Britney Spears impersonator without the autotune and computer manipulation (not a good thing). While I did enjoy the variety of sounds and styles Brooke played with, the release a s whole felt a bit unsteady and like a collection of songs with no real connection. It's mostly pop ('Finish Line') with a dab of hip-hop ('Dear Mom...') and R&B ('Falling') Yet, all of these styles compete against eachother giving the overall cd a rather amateur, less than polished feel to it. More consistency and songs in one genre would have helped because many of these songs sounded as if Brooke Hogan had no real connection to the music she was singing, making her less authentic as an artist.
With that being said, there are some catchy songs. 'Ruff Me Up' is a fun, upbeat pop song that reminds me of Spears' 'Womanizer'. 'Trust Me' was another surprise and stand-out track with a Carribean-flavor that I felt actually fit Brooke's voice the best. 'Finish Line' is probably the best pop song Brooke's done thus far in her career - catchy, pop orientated, whimsical and simply fun.
In all, 'The Redemption' is just average if that. The production isn't great, it has an overall amateurish feel to it and many of the songs don't do much to show off her voice. The skippable, filler-tracks far outweigh the good on the cd. Due to the mediocrity of the music, voice and overall product, would only recommend purchasing the good tracks rather spending money on the whole cd.
Listen To These: 'Finish Line', 'Trust Me', 'Dear Mom...'"
Underrated
rocky49152 | Lyndhurst, OH USA | 01/15/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I don't care what anyone says. This is the ultimate B-Girl Strip-Hop record good for a night with your favorite groupie or blow-up doll.
The production is laden with hooks and beats that you will stick to you like a vinyl chair in a seedy nightclub. "Falling" brings back the bouncy hip-hop rap/bgirl-vocal tradeoff that made Ashanti a huge name. "Handcuffed" is a good thumping club-type track that will have you singing along while feeling the beats shaking the floor. "All I want is you" should have been the theme for the new teen coming-of-age comedy coming out next week. What's that called again???
All in all, this is one of those that you don't know why it's good, it just works! But GAH! the cover art is horrific! - They must have given the album cover contract as a prize at the Starving artist expo.
"
A lot better then I expected
Weather Warden | Auckland, NZ | 09/06/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I'll admit, it was pure curiousity that brought me to listen to this album. I'd only ever heard "About Us" from Brooke before, but I thought it was only okay.
To my pleasure, I found this album was a lot better then I thought it would be. Brooke has produced a very entertaining album with all kinds of songs on it - slow songs, angry songs, upbeat hip hop tracks, sexy tracks etc.
I especially love "Finish Line" - the album's closing track. Although the version from her Judgment Day mixtape is a bit better (it's almost acoustic, without all the electronic sounds in the background, but is ruined by a voiceover from a rapper at the ending), this is still gorgeous. It's Brooke's ode to her supporters, saying she won't give up on them. The lyrics are very meaningful, and the song is gorgeous. I love this one.
"Dear Mom..." is another favourite. Brooke wrote this one about her mother Linda, ripping into her for things she's done over the years. The song is slower, but Brooke puts all her power into it. It has a spoken conversation between Brooke and Linda in the middle, which is very angry. This song is surprisingly catchy, especially on the chorus. Definitely give this one a listen.
"Strip" is the album's first proper track, and it's HOT! Very electronic sounding, this song is very reminiscent of what's popular right now. The lyrics are really cool and Brooke's vocals are very sexy.
"Hey Yo!" features Colby O'Donis (who's sung with Lady GaGa) and was the album's second single. It's a very cute track, catchy and singable. This was a good single choice, but unfortunately it flopped.
"Redemption" is a very weird song, but for some reason I like it. It's quite repetitive, but it does work. The only way I can think to describe this song is a dance/rock hybrid.
The intro of the album is really cool, it sounds a lot like the intro to Christina's Aguilera's Stripped album, with people talking about Brooke and her family. A very cool way to open the album.
There are some weak tracks, but nothing is horrible and everything is worth a listen or two.
Favourites = Finish Line, Dear Mom... and Strip.
I was going to give the album 3 stars, but Brooke worked hard on this album and Finish Line is fantastic, so 4 stars is it."
Don't knock it 'til you try it!
Dave Allan | Donalds, SC USA | 08/22/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I very reluctantly purchased this cd after hearing a few of it's tracks and after reading all the negative reviews on Ms. Brooke's previous material, etc., and let me tell you....I can't stop listening to it!
All the haters who say "she has no talent, blah blah blah", obviously do not realize that this young lady has had a dream, has worked very hard at achieving her goals and actually co-wrote a majority of the material here.
I can think of a TON of other so called "artists" out there who merely walk into the studio, rehearse a bit, record their voice over pre recorded tracks and call it singing or talent; many of them whom I won't waste my time listening to exactly for that reason.
Forget about who's daughter she is, nevermind the drama her family's been through, quit comparing her to other so called "artists". I guarantee if someone played this cd for you and you didn't know who it was, you'd like it as much as I do.
In the words of Alice Cooper, "Give The Kid A Break"!"