Album Review: Miguel Kaleidoscope Dream

[RCA Records]

Overdose in the freedoms in life. The creative freedom of Miguel’s Kaleidoscope is a mind trip of uninhibited expression. Even before of the release of this second offering, Miguel was faced with the intimidating Prince comparison, which I admittedly raised an eyebrow at. This album’s similarities to Prince’s Emancipation are undeniable building my curiosity into his future development. For now just enjoy tracks ‘Adorn’ ‘Arch & Point’ and ‘Candles In The Sun’ with synthesized keys reminiscent of ‘Alicia Keys – No One’ who appears on the backing vocals of ‘Where’s The Fun Of For Ever’.

Album Review: Brandy Two Eleven

[RCA Records]

What’s that scent in the room? ….Sexual liberation.

After three years wrestling with the near of disintegration of her career, Brandy is finally break out of her comfort zone with help of former J Records A&R Peter Edge.

You can forget the awkward Brandy of the Afrodisiac area. Well almost.

Brandy’s lays breathy and anticipative vocals over sultry synthesizers and drum beats programed like post sex heartbeats on ‘Paint This House’

Brandy states her demands on Mr. Bangladesh produced trippy pop and Hip-Hop infused ‘Let Me Go’. Given that this track sounds like Mr. Bangladesh submitted it to Nicki Minaj during the Pink Friday sessions, the production works surprising well with Brandy’s experimental vocal arrangement.

Best R’n’B comeback album of 2012? Well Ashanti, Keyisha Cole and her best friend Kelly Rowland have 10 weeks to stake their claim. 

Nicki Minaj Pink Friday Album Review

Pressure, can Nicki Minaj create the same level of material and excitement she brings to her features on her own full length album? Was the doubt that surrounded the release of Nicki’s debut Pink Friday. With an army of barbie’s around her drafted from her mixtapes and guest appearances  Nicki had to raise to high expectations and prove that she could hold her own.

The Young Money front woman expands herself from her most recognisable aggressive style of delivery and a host of characters. Nicki shows her otherwise hidden reflective side in tracks Save Me and Old Nicki were she sings about the tribulations of balancing her new found fame. Trying to maintain her personal growth while keeping hold of what made her fans love her when her was underground when she is growing into the main stream artist that she has the potential to be.  

“Did I chase the gilts and glamour money fame and power, then if so that will go down forever as my lamest hour” – Old Nicki

 “I drove for miles to find you, to find self. Feels like I’ve been driving for miles I still cant seem to silence the voices in my head. Please won’t you save me?” – Save Me

‘But you was underground I was main stream, now I live the life that we would day dream” – Old Nicki

Nicki shows her lyrical skills in tracks; I’m The Best, Did it On’Em, Here I Am and Eminem assisted track Romans Revenge. Where Nicki takes shots at Lil’Kim who publicly hasn’t taken a liking to Nick’s success

“So fuck I look like getting back to a has-been yeah, I said it, has-been”

“is it my fault that all of you bitches gone? shoulda sent a thank you note, you little ho now I’ma wrap your coffin with a bow N-N-N-Nicki, she’s just mad ’cause you took the spot word, that bitch mad ’cause I took the spot?” Ouch

While tracks like Check It Out and Your Love (which Nicki herself admits she isn’t a fan of) seem to limit her as the lyricist she has proven herself to gain pop success.
Pink Friday has tried to cover all bases from underground hard core hip-hop heads to main stream pop radio listeners. Has Nicki tried to stretch herself to thin in this album being a jack of all genres but a master of none? This LP will be a regular on the playlists but struggle to gain long term recondition of the not easily impressed hip-hop heads.

This LP leaves the gate open to curiosity in what Nicki has in store for her next album. It’s evident that Pink Friday has only scratched the surface of Miss. Minaj

The Vinyl Box Rating:  ***

Predicted first week sales for Pink Friday:

 385,000 units (US)

Mary J. Bilge Concert Review 02 Arena 02/11/2010

The foundation of a Mary J. Blige concert lays in her personal no hold connection with the woman from the front row to furthest corner of the arena speaking directly to her soul. “Music Saved My Life” and I’m going to sing like it was my last. Mary J. Blige Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul lived up to that statement at The 02 Arena on Tuesday November 2^nd 2010. The relationship people have with Mary’s music while in their homes, cars and 3am realisations of self is taken to another level in her presence.  

Mary J performed 30 of her biggest hits echoed by the audience, most who have followed her voice all the way from the baseball caps of “The 411” to the confident woman living and loving life in the fitted black cat suit on the stage.

Mary was joined by her dancers to open the show with up tempo songs “The One” “MJB Da MVP” “Good Love” “I Feel Good” and U.K Top 10 hit “Each Tear” from her new album “Stronger”. The audience was brought to their feet and others had formed a dance floor behind the control box holding glasses of wine as she reminisced on hits such as “I’m Going Down” “Be Happy” and “My Life”. All she needed was a stage and that microphone no need for complex and distracting stag design just raw emotion, vocals and lessons learned.

After a quick costume change Mary, her signature tattoo’s and thigh high 6 inch boots broke down in true New York City style “Real Love” “Not Gone Gone Cry” “Good Woman Down” and “Enough Crying”. Mary’s most emotionally charged song brought her to her knees and the audience standing on their seats was a track from her 2003 album “Love and Life” called “Your Child” about receiving a knock on the door one evening with a woman holding a baby with eyes just like her partner.

Mary’s set included broken down versions of songs “Be without you” and Chaka Khan cover “Sweet Thing” while pointing the microphone towards the audience trying to hit that signature Chaka note.

The show was closed with her classic dance tracks “Family Affair”, her #1 2008 hit “Just Fine” the ushers and security members giving up on the task of trying keeping people in out of the ails and the makeshift dance floor. I think the defining moment knowing Mary had an amazing show when the whole Journalist box were dancing like nobody was watching. Jay-Z and Beyoncé are sitting amongst the crowd and nobody even looks back to notice they are their because there eyes are glued to the stage.

Mary proved her ability to connect with each and every audience member, so when you see a flyer for a Mary.J concert you already know you won’t find the same atmosphere anywhere els.


Concert Reviews Coming Month Of November
Yonlanda Brown
John Legend and The Roots

Concert Reviews Coming Month Of December
Melanie Fiona
(see The Vinyl Box's first post to learn more about Melanie Fiona her music and short review of her July concert)