Advantages: Songs for all moods, happy, sad, angry etc.
Disadvantages: A couple of dud songs on there to watch out for

...Ok, so I bought the previous R&B yearbook in 2005 and thought it was alright, but listening to this one really lifted my impressions of R&B music. I saw the CD from a Tesco store near me for about £15 and decided to give it a shot, little did I know until I got to the checkout till that it was their last one in stock (just shows how popular it must have been). It contains mainly R&B music with some Hip-Hop, some Rap and even a little bit of Reggae in there as well! The first CD begins with a few of the biggest uplifting hits of the year in my opinion (Deja Vu, by Beyonce, and the wonderful Hips Don't Lie, by Shakira). Not to mention "Beep" by the Pussycat dolls ft. Will.I.Am (from the Black Eyed Peas). "Beep" is a nice number in a minor key, great to listen to at any time of day. Then the mood is taken down a notch with Ne... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Light, easy listening, well known tunes
Disadvantages: Some dodgy songs on there

...Essential R&B.... let's see shall we... The first song on this album is Eamon's F*** it. Pretty good way to start the album, admittedly its an old tune now but it probably was the most popular and most played (well one of the) of 2004. Who didn't hear that song? It includes a lot of the most popular chart songs of 2004 and before, such as 50 Cent's In Da Club, R Kelly's Ignition Remix, another classic, and Usher's You got it Bad. The songs on the album are varied - there's a couple of hip hop type songs, a few slower songs that are more love songs than anything, and of course, a lot of R&B. The second disk starts with Outkast's Hey Ya, which gets the disk off to a good start! No Scrubs and Hot in Herre are also present, as well as, strangely, Natasha Bedingfield's Single? I found that pretty strange. I believe... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Includes all of the original sessions of the diana album
Disadvantages: Omits a few other Disco classics i'd like to have seen included

...musical arrangements and sassy, streetwise and soulful performances from the divine Diana Ross. diana Deluxe Edition is an essential and definitive Diana Ross album that any lover of urban Soul/R&B/Disco music will lap up! Ian Phillips July 2006... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: The title track and the groovy R&B numbers
Disadvantages: None

...this to be a big comeback for Ross. This was one of her most carefully conceived recording projects in some years and saw the soul diva colloborating with a multiple number of producers including Arif Mardin, Chuckii Booker, Steve Skinner and Malik Pendelton, who were all established and respected producers in the R&B genre. Every Day Is A New day had the soul diva carefully and succesfully updating her over-all style and sound. Some of the tracks capture some of her most gutsy, soulful performances in quite some time as she recorded only sporadically during the 1990's. The album opens with Ross' triumphant and soaring renedition of He Lives In You (originally recorded by another great diva Tina Turner for Walt Disney's animated classic, The Lion King). Ross is backed by an effective South African orchestra and rousing gospel vocals... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Mostly an excellent track line-up
Disadvantages: 1 or 2 schmaltzy numbers

...such as the sultry Let's Stay Home Tonight, Ghetto Child (featuring an effective interlude from another gifted R&B artist, Shaggy), the playful I Like Sexy Girls and a few truly sensational numbers like Lovers Prayer, Changed Man, I Understand to name but a few. There is such passion in his work thats it's questionable as to why his unique talent an work so far has been so over-looked but never the less it's quality what counts and tis album is just that. This is probably Joe's greatest album yet and had it been given te right radio air-play this could have easily have catapulted into view with the media. Superb and sensational and possibly is the modern-day Marvin Gaye. Ian Phillips July 2006... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: songs from the past as well as present
Disadvantages: a couple of not-so-good songs

...opinion My personal opinion about R&B the collection 2007 is that it is an awesome album, certainly worth the £11 RRP you will pay for it. I personally feel the 1st CD is better than the second, but don't get me wrong I'm not saying the second CD is poor, because that's the opposite of what I mean. I guess I just mean the songs I personally like more are on the first CD so if I could choose either CD1 or CD2, I would choose CD1. But on the other hand, I like some songs that are on CD2 more than some songs on CD1. But definitely as a general overview, I personally prefer the first CD. Compared to the other R&B compilation CD's that were released in 2007, I would say this one was certainly in the running for the best. I love the way Universal Music TV have put this CD together as there are new songs from 2007, moderately new songs from 2005/2006... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: The Excellent Diana Ross and Brandy
Disadvantages: Some of its predictable

...interest in playing the role of 1920's dancing legend, Josephine Baker who became the darling of Paris and was renowned for dancing topless, but sadly the role would later be taken by Lynne Whitfield in a T.V mini series adaptation, much to Ross' dismay). In 1999, she starred alongside R&B teen sensation Brandy in Double Platinum which was directed by Robert Ackerman whom Diana Ross worked with closely (it's also clear that she was able to provide many of her own ad-libs throughout the film). The plot of the movie unravels where Olivia (Diana Ross - the character is a mere imitation of the Ross mystique and legendary status) is a struggling lounge singer at a downtown nightclub who inadverently abandons her daughter Kayla (Brandy) to pursue her showbiz dreams. Flash foward 18 years later and Olivia is now a superstar phenomenon... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Cross-appeal
Disadvantages: Does she HAVE to profit from my love of music?

...from this young, 20-something chick. Visually she's harping back to the past with her signature beehive and dark eyes, musically too she's there with that raspy sound and 50s vocal jazz style but she's better than that. She brings her sound right up to date mixing in blunt hip-hop and R&B and romanticizing that which should be cursed. Even if you couldn't name any of Ms Winehouse's music off the top of your head if you've had any exposure to the radio and the press over the last year or so you'll certainly be familiar with both her music and her name. Undoubtedly a great musician in her own right much of her celebrity has come not from her talent but from the fact that she's such a troubled icon. In and out of drug rehabilitation, missing concerts or turning up on stage drunk and drugged she's climbed to the top of the media's celeb... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: some great tracks, good use of samples, infectious, great vocals
Disadvantages: the apparently requisite not-so-good album tracks

...From the first time I heard the song "On My Knees", I knew The 411 were no average girl group. For one thing, they weren't producing the regulation bland pop that groups such as Atomic Kitten do with increasingly regularity - their music had a slight edge to it and, even just in that one track, they managed to convey more than one music style, while still appealing to the pop market. And their album, "Between the Sheets" shows more of the same. They seem to draw from various influences, such as soul, r & b, hip hop and disco, and their tunes seem that much more original than their chart counterparts. TRACK LISTING 1. On My Knees (feat. Ghostface Killah) 2. Teardrops 3. China Girl 4. Chance 5. My Friend 6. Between The Sheets 7. Dumb 8. Forever Begins 9. Jumpin' 10. What If It Was You? 11. I Don't Want To Talk About... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: great album
Disadvantages: a bit annoying at someparts

...R&B, this has never been the most popular type of music, but this year is the year for it. Lots of great signers have brought out the sounds of R&B, Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Craig David, Destiny's Child. Destiny's Child are three talented young woman, Michelle, Beyonce and Kellie have worked together to create the new album Survivor. The whole album is mixed with many different sounds, which you are sure to love. Independent Woman:this was the theme for the film 'Charlie's Angels' which was a No1 hit. Survivor:the first song we heard from the new album, also a No1 hit. It has an unusual sound but was a success. Bootylicious:the next single to be released from the album. It has a really catchy beat and the words all fit. It hopefully will be a 3rd No1. Nasty Girl:this is a mixed song, all different parts together. I... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful