Search - Isley Brothers :: Body Kiss

Where is the Oringal?

D. Harris | Kansas City, USA | 05/16/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I bet your wonderin' what the heck I mean by "Original"....and what I mean is where is The Isley Brothers!This whole album is R.Kelly'd out....and if you didn't know that just look at the back of the CD cover and it has R.Kelly written(typed) all over it!I must admit that R.Kelly is an amazing producer but fans of the old school Isley's will be a bit dissappointed. Don't worry though this album is pretty solid even if R.Kelly did most of the stuff for this album.If you are a big fan of the R. and Isley's than this album will blow your mind. Tracks like "Body Kiss" and "Lucky Charm" should be blazin' the radio soon. This album is also short.....I agree "Where is the Rest of it?" If the Isley's wanna continue making and selling music than drop the R. and do some of their own stuff.....I mean they really do have the talent to do so.....well that's my 2 cents! Peace!"

Hopefully after "Body Kiss", Mr. Biggs will be put to rest.

J. Highsmith | Mitchellville, Maryland United States | 05/15/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Once I heard "Contagious" from The Isley Brothers' 2001 CD "Eternal", I thought once and for all Mr. Biggs would be put to rest. Don't get me wrong, I like the song, but even some good things have to be put to an end sooner or later. However, after hearing "Showdown" from R Kelly's "Chocolate Factory" is still seemed as if Mr. Biggs was on life support. However, after hearing "Body Kiss" you will hope that he is put to rest for good. The first single "What Would U Do?" is classic Isley Brothers material. While fans of their older music won't confuse this with slow jam classics like "Footsteps In The Dark", "Groove With You", "Between The Sheets", "Let Me Down Easy", "Voyage To Atlantis" or "Don't Say Goodnight", this is still Ronald Isley at his best in the year 2003. "Body Kiss" is at its best when Ron Isley sticks to traditional Isley Brothers music: My personal favorite song on the CD so far, "Take A Ride" is a good example of this. This sensual slow jam will take you back to slow jam Isley classics of the past, especially when you hear Ernie Isley's guitar solo in the song. "Prize Possession" which is another laid back jam, also follows this same example. "Keep It Flowin'" will remind some people of Chocolate Factory's "Step In The Name Of Love" as Ron Isley has a nice midtempo jam with an old school feel to it. The Tim and Bob produced "I Want That" is another nice slow jam as well. When Ron Isley sticks to the sensuality of "Eternal" on "Body Kiss" those are the best moments. R Kelly writes and produces 11 out of the 12 tracks on "Body Kiss" and while most of the moments are worthwile there are some filler songs that result because of this. The title track is ridiculous. You almost wish R Kelly would have saved this track for one of his CDs because this track was not meant for Ron Isley. Then out of nowhere Lil Kim starts singing on the track like she did on La Bella Mafia's "This Is A Warning". I would definitely recommend fast forwarding this track. On "I Like", R Kelly, Ron Isley & Snoop Dogg take a wrong turn into the fantasy world of bling bling as Mr. Biggs tells us how he likes cash, cars and chics and R Kelly tells us how he likes games and DVDs in his Escalade. This track will also require a fast forward. The remix to "What Would You Do" should have been left in the studio as well. A remix is supposed to make the original track better but that definitely doesn't apply here. Overall, I think Ron Isley should have stayed with having Raphael Saadiq and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis producing the majority of the tracks as they did on "Eternal". Songs like "Settle Down", "Eternal", "Said Enough" and the uptempo "Move Your Body" are missing from "Body Kiss". R Kelly is a genius when it comes to creating, writing and producing songs but when he has the legendary Ron Isley singing about cereal and chocolate covered Cheerios as he does on "Lucky Charm" something has to give. He should have gave that song to B2K. However, you still have 9 out of 12 songs that are definitely worth checking out. Ron Isley is still doing his thing after 40 years in the business so you have to give him credit. "Body Kiss" is still worth having in your collection but "Eternal" is the better all around CD.James' Top 51) Take A Ride
2) Prize Possession
3) I Want That
4) Keep It Flowin'
5) What Would You Do? w/R Kelly"

The Isley Brothers ... marketing geniuses?

J. Highsmith | 05/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Alright, for those of us under the age of 40, who appreciate soulful music but who like to dance in the club as well, this cd is awesome.Before I get hatemail (not that you can send me any) let me just say, I've been listening to the Isley Brothers for a long time..my mom loves them, and was always and forever playing them in the car while I was growing up. I own a few of their older albums, and I *DO* appreciate the music.However, I like to dance to music with a hip hop beat. I couldn't be happier with this album. By keeping up with the times -- not being trendy but being current -- 'Body Kiss' has crossed over from an album that will receive airplay primarily in minivan cd players to one that will be heard in clubs, school dances, be seen on MTV/BET/VH1, and yes, Virginia, even be heard in some minivan CD players.So it's not the exact same sound that was heard when they came out. But it's not like they've sold out and gone techno or some other atrocity. The album offers a good balance of material that more than one age bracket ought to appreciate. For that, I believe that the Isley Brothers are marketing geniuses who have created a masterpiece, with or without the help of outside producers. Let's face it, they wouldn't be Billboard's Hot-Shot Debut, coming in at #1 in their first week on the chart, if it weren't for the fact that they appeal to more than just one demographic. It isn't often that there's a new album that I have to have that my mom has to have, as well."