Search - Blackstreet :: Level II

Down To Level II

MJS | Vancouver | 08/08/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"It's been years since BLACKstreet's last cohesive effort. (This does not include 'Finally' in 1999...which was far from a good album) In the last five years, Teddy Riley has gone from a bad BLACKstreet lineup change/album(Terrell Philips replaced Mark Middleton on 'Finally'), a failed Guy reunion, a not-so-Invincible Michael Jackson album, a bankruptcy stage and now this: the return of the 'Another Level' era BLACKstreet (their most successful lineup to date)



What keeps this album from being better than good is that there is no real outstanding material. "Don't Touch" samples The Commodores' "Brick House", but that's all it does. You can only endure the beginning of "Wizzy Wow", owner of a largely annoying and lazy hook(I think Wizzy was supposed to be the 21st century version of 'No Diggity' but whatever). The good tracks are the ballads: the haunting "Look In The Water", the Human Nature-sampled "Why? Why?", the acoustic "Bygones", the sweet "How We Do", and the mid-tempo "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye".



There's no denying Teddy Riley's impact as an innovator/producer, or for that matter, the talents of Chauncey Hannibal, Eric Williams and Mark Middleton (who should've never left the fold in '98). But this effort lacks the luster that should take them higher than "Level II". TR is still a talented producer, and it remains to be seen whether he or BLACKstreet can re-capture their late-90's glory. Furthermore, question: how can Teddy keep this BLACKstreet lineup together this time around? Answer: a comeback hit or a great album. No Diggity."

Blackstreet taking us on yet another level......or are they?

I.B. | Westampton, NJ | 03/17/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This new one from blackstreet is a solid cd mixed with a few filler tracks but good enough to satisfy fans and maybe make some new ones. I think they could have came a lil stronger on this one since I wasent even expecting a new one from them. Its seems that time has taken the toll on teddy and it might be near the end. Blackstreet was and will always be one of my favorite R+B groups ...so in the end its good to see them at least out again. Now even though there are a few filler tracks ...there are some really good ones. Tracks Like:*Tickets to Ride
*Dont Touch
*Deep
*ooh girl
*You Made me --(very tight song......listen to the words)
*Its so hard to say goodbye
*Why Why
*How we do
*Bygones
*Brown EyesThese songs right here to me are the highlight of the album. Wizzy Wow could have been left off the album in place of something else but overall its a solid album. I dont think anything will ever match what they did with the "Another level" album. That one in my opinion will always be level II while this one is still lingering on the same level. overall fans and non-fans will want to give it a listen. Dont let the bad reviews steer you complelty away. There is something here for most everyone.......Listen and find out."

Another good album from rnb's finest

03/18/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With all the bad reviews going around about this album it needs to be said that this album is accually very good. It sounds more like another level than finally did, and is a big improvement on finally (proberly because mark middleton is back with them). Teddy Rileys production is nice the whole way thru, with more ballards than club songs. Best songs on would be "ticket to ride", "deep", "its so hard to say goodbye", "why, why?", "how we do", "bygones" and "fly" (which is on the UK version). Bygones is a nice reunion with dave hollister, although he should do more than just the background singing! i think the worst thing about the album is "wizzy wow", it just doesnt suite blackstreet and the beat is terrible! Its nice to see them making good music again after the disapointing finally, but were still waiting for an album to match another level."