"This time around Brown offers her second album. An effort created in her own studio for her own record label. L.A. State Of Mind is exactly what it says. The album is very laidback, sometimes excessively. She offers sunny optimism of the single "Today," slight attitude on "Bad Bad Girl," and chilled ice on the title track.
Brown expresses the California haze with "Stay In Bed Days" and sings to her daughter "Beautiful Girl."
The album is not eager to please, it takes its time to grow and does not have standouts, except for "Music Of The Night (Perdido)," which has an infectious Latin beat. Then she revisits sensual `80s staccato with "Sweet Pleasure" and ends with the bleak ballad "Hold On"
This album is to be approached with caution. However, that is not to say that it is in anyway dire.
"
LOVIN" IT
J. | NY | 07/08/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"1)Today Upbeat song makes you feel good 5/5
2)Stay In Bed Days ok song a rock feel but her voice sounds good on it could have done without the little kids 3/5
3)Beautiful Girl a heartfelt ballad for her daughter 5/5
4)Music Of The Night i think anyone can dance to this song i love it 5/5
5)If I Had My Life Again A song that makes you think about the past not one of my favorites but listenable 3/5
6)In Too Deep i really never listen to this song very much unless i'm listing to the whole album 2/5
7)Sweet Pleasure I do not like this song at all 1/5
8)L.A State Of Mind ok song again not one of my fav's 2/5
9)Say,Say,Say Dont really like this song but she sounds good on the song 3/5
10)Bad Bad Girl Sounds like it should have came out in the 80's 2/5
11)Hold On A great way to end the album 5/5
i think this a good album people should really buy it"
Absolutely fabulous!!
Paris Wong | Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom | 07/23/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've always like Mel B when she was in the Spice Girls, i think she's the one who can really sing (also emma), this album is really really nice! Just because they didn't have much promotion on it, but it's really good!
This album is sooo much better than her first solo album, Hot. Loads of great tracks in there, a perfect CD for getting ready for night out.
I especially like the song "Hold On", "Today" and "Say Say Say"... !!
It might be a bit crazy to spend $37.99 on a CD, but i think it's totally worth it!!"
A Good State of Mind
Lati@s | 05/07/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I finally got a hold of this. And to make it better, it's the CD+DVD edition that I bought, for a low price.
The most disappointing solo album from the Spice Girls in terms of sales; it does not mean it is the worst solo album from a former Spice Girl. With very little to zero promotion, the album performed poorly when it was released. Such a shame as the album is not bad at all.
Gone are the r'n'b uptempo songs that filled her first solo album "Hot". Acoustic tracks and ballads are very much present in "L.A. State of Mind". With the shift of dance tracks to slow tempo songs, a shift in topic and message of the songs come along as well.
Most of the songs have uplifting lyrics and music that will truly put a smile on your face (i.e., Today, In Too Deep, Hold On, L.A. State of Mind). Soft ballads If I Had My Life Again and Say, Say, Say really chugs your heart.
Finally, Lullaby and Feel Me Now (from her first album) are reborn in Beautiful Girl and Sweet Pleasure respectively.
L.A. State of Mind (the album) is like a rare gem. Only few have it, and those who do are very fortunate."
Better than most solo projects
Michael P. Derouin | Glen Burnie, MD U S A | 06/22/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Melanie Brown's second attempt at a Solo Album was a sucess. I LOVED every single song on this album. You'd be thick not to buy this."