KCi amp JoJo - Emotional (13 tracks) +Album Reviews

Stuck to their formula.....

M. Vap | Nebraska | 01/17/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"K-Ci & JoJo, of the infamous R&B group JoDeCi, come again with a soulful pop album, that is if pop and soul can be done together. Their style is significantly different from the days of Jodeci, mainly because they don't have R&B genius DeVante Swing writing thier lyrics, but the style is still great. The two rely HEAVILY on their vocal skills. MCA brings in many producers who have hits, namely Rodney Jerkins, Babyface, and Mike Smoov. However, they also brought in some relatively unknown producers, such as Delite and Blacq. In my opinion, the production on this album is not the best.Again, K-Ci & JoJo try to make radio-friendly songs, which is the biggest difference between the duo and JoDeCi. There aren't any songs like All My Life, but there could be a few hits in marketed well. This album would be most comparable to Love Always because they slow it down for many ballads. Personal favorites include "I Don't Want," "Say Yes," "So Emotional" and "I Don't Mind."All in all, not bad, but not Jodeci, which is what any true R&B fan wants."

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"

Worth the wait?

Tramsok | Glen Waverley, VIC Australia | 02/02/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The duo of K-Ci & JoJo have now released 4 albums during their time apart from Jodeci. Although I have always been a huge fan of K-Ci and JoJo from their Jodeci days, one could only sigh when listening to this album. There are some outstanding tracks on the CD, but all in all it's the same old formula they have used on the last 3 albums. Commercial ballads, some which bore and put you right to sleep. It's Me, produced by Rodney Jerkins is the only uptempo track, and definately one of the standouts on the album along with I Don't Want and the Babyface produced track, Down 4 Life. This album of course means that the forever delayed Jodeci album is pushed back again. One can only wait for for DeVante and Mr. Dalvin to hook up with the Hailey's again to make some real R&B music."

Bring Back Jodeci Now

Tramsok | 01/04/2003

(1 out of 5 stars)

"The Hailey Brothers' fourth album gets off to a good start with "This Very Moment" --probably the bros best pop ballad attempt since "All My Life". Producers DeYon Dobson & Tim Owens craft a very sweet-sounding ballad that should get all the hustlers, playas, and OGs on the dance floor at all the proms and weddings this year. Things, however, quickly fall apart as the Haileys opt to keep it safe and rehash boring love ballad material that fails to leave any impression on the listener. Major clunkers include "Love Me Carefully" (which sounds like something Barry Manilow would be belting out at a broadway show), the very annoying "Down for Life" produced by Babyface and "How Can I Trust You?", crafted by Delite, who also produced "Crazy" from the album "X". And do you know what? "How Can I Trust You?" sounds just like "Crazy". More rehashed junk. Overall, the album sounds really tired creatively as the Haileys have seriously tapped out the pseudo R&B ballad genre. It's time to bring back Jodeci to see if the Haileys can find their soul.As a side note, the Japanese CD contains bonus tracks "Baby Yeah Yeah" and "I Can't Get Enough". It's kind of surprising to see both tracks left off the US release because they sound better than some of the wack tunes that were on the US album. The uptempo "Baby Yeah Yeah" could have easily replaced the really overrated Rodney Jerkins-produced track "It's Me". In "Baby Yeah Yeah" JoJo briefly sings part of "Come & Talk To Me". I do have to agree with one of the previous reviewers that the midtempo "I Can't Get Enough" does feel like a Jodeci-inspired song. The harmonies by the brothers with background help from Tim Owens and DeVere Duckett at times had me thinking DeVante Swing and Mr. Dalvin had put in a cameo appearence. The highlight of "I Can't Get Enough" (and why any Jodeci fan should pick up the import CD) occurs at the end when K-Ci sweetly sings the chorus to "Stay" accompanied by a Roger Troutman voice box. Ah the memories, it nearly brought a tear to my eye. This surprising track was produced with respect to all Jodeci fans by DeYon Dobson, Tim Owens and Jeffrey Freeman."

Didn't they release this kind of album before?

E.J. Rupert | Milwaukee, WI | 12/03/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have followed K-Ci & JoJo ever since they were in Jodeci. In fact, I have every album made by both groups. Emotional... is the Hailey bros.' fourth album, and yes, these guys can still sing and deliver at times. My favorite song has to be "So Emotional" and "Special" comes in at second. K-Ci still sounds like some kind of lunatic when he sings and JoJo isn't too far behind him, and that's what I've come to expect from them both.But what this album provides in stellar production and sing-along hooks, it lacks in originality. For instance, "How Can I Trust You?" can be compared to 1996's "How Could You"--actually, "How Can I Trust You?"'s production sounds too much like 2000's "Crazy", and go figure, they were produced by the same person. Also, songs like "I Don't Want" and "Say Yes" could stand to be rewritten a few more times. Plus, every subject matter that they dwell on have been covered numerous times on their last three albums in similar ways.K-Ci and JoJo have the kind of dynamics and showmanship to fly to Teddy Pendergrass status, but as long as they keep playing it safe with predictable ballads, they'll never get far. Emotional...is still a good album to play to pass the time but on their next album they need to come more original. I can't say "Bring back Jodeci" like everyone else because a Jodeci album in 2003 would sound outdated. But I can say, "Come with a better album.""

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