Brandy

Album:
Human
(Epic/ Sony)

Genre:
R&B, Pop

Discography:
Brandy (1994)
Never Say Never (1998)
Full Moon (2002)
Afrodisiac (2004)

Review:
The world of pop is cruel. Once, Brandy was the hottest thing on the charts, trading barbs with another singer called Monica as they fought over a boy. But that was a long time ago. In the intervening time, she’s been overtaken by (the late) Aaliyah, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Ashanti, Rihanna and probably another half dozen more divas.

This album starts off with the excellent, highly tuneful “The Definition”, but eight repeated lines into the second song “Warm It Up (With Love)” it becomes obvious that she still hasn’t really realised that melody is her strength. Songs like “Piano Man” and “Right Here” threaten to make the grade, but it isn’t until the album is nearly over that she hits her stride again with the awesome singalong “Camouflage”.

Unfortunately, this album is hit and miss, and not the confident, coherent work she needs to take her back to the top.