2-1/2 stars -- Well, I guess that's what hoping gets you
Anthony Rupert | Milwaukee, WI | 10/02/2003
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I've always been a fan of K-Ci and JoJo, and although I don't own all their albums, I have at least listened to them all. But the only one I was really impressed with was, of course, Love Always. It's Real was "ehhh...okay", and X was slightly better, but THIS album? Well, let's just say it may make you Emotional in a negative way.The album starts off with a pointless intro, and by the way, it feels like they use the same intro on all their albums. Then comes the badly written "This Very Moment", which I'm sure most people have heard: "I can't believe it's true/I'm standing here in front of you/And you are here with me." And the song doesn't get any better later on. In fact, that's the main problem with this album. The songwriting is really lazy. This is also proven in tracks like "Special" and "I Don't Want", but it's most evident in "Say Yes", where the chorus goes: "If it's feeling good to you, say yes/ If it's feeling good to you, say yes/ If it's feeling good to you, say yes/If it's not feeling good, then say no." That kind of ruined the mood.There are some songs where the lyrics are a LITTLE better. "Love Me Carefully" is okay, but it seems like K-Ci and JoJo are too old to be singing lyrics like that (listen to the song to see what I mean). And "How Long" is aiight but it almost sounds like a country song. But it still sounds better that some of the other songs that are terrible all the way through - specifically, the Rodney Jerkins-produced "It's Me".The only songs really worth listening to on this album are "So Emotional" and maybe even "How Can I Trust You". And saying that is really disappointing, especially from people as talented as the brothers Hailey. Bottom line: if you can actually make it through this album, then it'll be easy to "Say Yes" to throwing it out your window "This Very Moment".Anthony Rupert"
Bring Back JODECI!!
Adrian G | Dallas, Tx | 02/19/2003
(2 out of 5 stars)
"K-Ci and JoJo- EmotionalWhat's funny about these dudes is that as ghetto as they are their music continues to mature. Unfortunately tooooooo matureee. It's like Jodeci meets Perry Como or something. The love songs are just too...too..too sappy! That's the best word I can come up with. The CD starts off lackluster at best. Track 2 "This very moment" has a nice guitar arrangement but really isn't much to write home about. The CD has it's highlights on tracks 5 and 6. Track 5 "I Don't Want" is one of the better midtempo cuts they have ever did as a duet. It has a track similar to Case's "Missing You". Track 6 "Say Yes" continues that same pace. Once again their vocals are all good and the beat works well, especially with the chimes in the background. The best track on the CD is track 9, the title cut, "So Emotional". It's a D'Angelo organ grindin type jam. Nice song but in no way should highlight a CD. The rest are sappy love songs that have wideeeeeeeeee appeal, in the same mode as "It's real" and "Crazy". I hated those songs! These dudes are a classic case of doing something from the heart and tryin to recapture the same sentiment. It just don't work that way with Soul Music. On the classic CD "Love Always" they hit a home run with "All My Life". Even though that song had great crossover appeal(due to them sounding like Peter Cetera) it wasn't meant to be that. It just happened. Now they are tryin to force that magic. Hopefully the much anticipated JODECI reunion CD will pull these boys back...."
