What people search:
 | Title : Juslisen
Author : Musiq
Release Date : 20020507
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $18.98
Amazon.com Price : $11.90
(37
%)
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Editorial Reviews :
The second album from Philadelphia's Musiq keeps the quality level high, mixing equal parts Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, and D'Angelo to good effect. Musiq's voice has noticeably matured--the puppy edge of Aijuswanaseing is gone--resulting in a rich tone that reflects a stylistic progression in his music. He's also expanded into new areas, including a slight touch of bossa nova on the excellent 'Half Crazy.' Meanwhile, 'Caught Up' and 'Religious' have a late-'80s Big Daddy Kane and Public Enemy feel, heralding a tougher hip-hop sound than the spangle-eyed, jelly-kneed love paeans Musiq included on the first album (such as 'Girl Next Door' and '143'). Having said that, Aijuswanaseing remains the essential Musiq starting point, as there's little here that matches the genius of 'Speechless' or 'You Be Alright.' But for those who want to hear the sound of an artist growing up, Juslisen is required listening.
Buyer Reviews :
Musiq Soulchild shortened his name back to musiq and released his sophomore album juslisen, which means JUST LISTEN. He started off by releasing one of the best songs on the album, 'halfcrazy', which tells about how the girl he's with was once just his friend, and he wants his friend back because things aren't working out as well as he'd hoped. The other dope song on here is 'time', which is about learning lessons in past and present love. Musiq really hits home with the verse: 'I used to think that if I tried then maybe I/Could change the things that I regretted in my past life/But for all the lessons that you taught me I have learned/My experiences enhance my character.' And 'religious' is the first time I've heard a church organ used WELL in an R&B song, especially a FAST R&B song.
Now I'm going to answer everyone's question of why I gave this album only three stars. Well, production proves to be a very big downfall here. If you just listen, as he says, you'll notice that the music on these songs sound like the same music to his previous work. 'Dontchange' sounds a little similar to 'Love' except it doesn't go quite as high. But the biggest problem is that most of the fast songs have the exact same beat he used in 'Just Friends'. Even though the words and subject matter aren't the same, he should've tried something different.
Some of the other songs just don't sound right. 'Future' is a somewhat hardcore song that doesn't really go anywhere, and the bonus track 'If I Woulda Knew' is a remix of 'Girl Next Door'. The problem? Let's put it this way: when's the last time you heard a GOOD R&B bonus track? Not only does this song sample the all-too-familiar music from DeBarge's 'Stay With Me', but whomever that woman is singing with him, she seriously needs some lessons.
Musiq is a very good artist, which is why it's such a surprise that this album isn't quite up to par with his debut. Most of the songs ARE good, but barely being able to tell the difference between this album and his last is NOT good. I hope we can see some creativity with album three.
(by Anthony Rupert)
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