Search - Faith Evans :: Keep the Faith

The Sweetest Voice In R&B

D. Connally | Aurora, Colorado United States | 10/17/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Faith Evans returned in 1998 with her sophomore disc entitled "Keep the Faith". It produced three smash singles including the Grammy nominated "Love Like This" but the truth be told, it's not her best work. I love Faith Evans, (see my reviews for her first and third albums) but this album is lacking in many areas. It doesn't allow Faith to show all of her talents. But the blame is not hers alone. I blame it on the fact that Bad Boy records wanted to portray a somber R&B diva after the death of her notorious husband and that's why Faith didn't shine as resplendently on this album as on her others.The album starts off in grand style. "Love Like This" was arguably the best uptempo R&B song of the year. Using a sample of Chic's "Cheer", Faith's vocals glide over the track and her harmonies are so tight. This song is still played at clubs and roller rinks (Faith provided inspiration for skating in the video). It is easily the albums best track. The follow up track "All Night Long" also burned up the charts and received mass cross over. The third and final single from "Keep the Faith" was "Never Gonna Let You Go". An unlikely hit, it amazingly bounded 40 chart positions from number 57 to number 17 on the strength of a cd single release. It also became Faith's first SOLO number 1 R&B single. With lush production by Babyface and Faith's soothing soprano, it became THE wedding song of 1999. The rest of the album is surprisingly dull. Songs like "No Way" and "Anything You Need" never seem to hit home. However, there are some hidden gems here. "My First Love" is completely believeable as Faith's sorrow is palpable as she laments over a lost love. Equally moving is the gospel tinged "Keep the Faith" which really proves that Faith grew up in the church. Also noteworthy is the Diane Warren penned "Lately I" which should have seen a commercial release. Note- there is a promo version available with a PDiddy remix. But with the additions of lackluster songs such as "Sunny Days" and the far too saccharine "Caramel Kisses" which never show Faith's true emotional heft, "Keep the Faith" now seems somewhat dated and incomplete. In all, this disc is not one of the best by Faith Evans. She righted herself with 2001's stellar "Faithfully". She is truly the best R&B singer to surface in the past decade and with the right material Faith can truly claim her place as R&B royalty."

The Best C.D. I Bought Since The First One

D. Connally | 11/17/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This c.d. is as good as the first one! Faith is the best! I wish her much success. I can't wait for the next album to hit. It's going be a challenge to top two great albums! I love Caramel Kisses and Anything You Need! I'm Keeping the Faith with her love ballads."

"Gotta Have Faith"

D. Connally | 04/12/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Okay...I think Faith Evans is the best thing since apple pie, happy meals and slice bread. I've followed her career since her first single dropped, "You Use To Love Me" and then when I heard her on Biggie's song "One More Chance"...I knew she was cold. The way she just delivers such soul and purity in her vocals with moans and soulful rifts and lets not forget...the humming puts me through something. People say that the new cd is not as good as the first, Whatever!; I disagree. I don't think of it like that. I think that the two albums are totally different. This new album shows you that her soul come nowhere, but from gospel...thats all i hear when I hear Faith Evans and Kelly Price. As for Kelly Price, people say that she is too big...so damn what. I bet can't NOBODY (and when i say nobody, i mean it) mess with her vocals. I love Faith, Kelly and Karen Clark. Faith put me on Karen because thats who faith studies because Ms.Clark is the coldest. Back to my star...Faith's singing different on the two albums; they represent something totally different from the other. Even though I have not been through none of the things she has...I can still feel every word she sings. I simply put myself in the situation and live it. I live to hear a Faith run. All my friends and I have a lot...know that I'm crazy about Faith. I tape every music event/program that she is on whether she is singing, talking or just there. Now...I'm not obsessed . I simply love her talent and hope to someday meet her. I'm into music myself and hope to someday be an artist as well. I'm gon pull a Faith Evans on'em ha! I know all of Faiths songs--I can sing them on the spot. I know every riff, run, lick in her songs...I love her. I buy other artist albums just because she has one little verse on them...I mean, I'm a real Faith fan. I bought her first album over because i found out that Mary J isn't singing the duet with her on the Cd nomore so i heard Faith's overdubbing and had to get...there is a difference between Faith singing the second verse and Mary J. Faith has inspired me to express myself musically and that is what i"m going to do as soon as I graduate in May 1999...Faith Forever...I'm sorry that this wasn't a review. It was more like my own personal statement on Faith Evans. Keep the Faith."