The Bottom Line
Sleepy Brown's people have done him a grave disservice. Instead of coming correct with some genuine stick-to-your-ribs Soul tracks that match his soft, buttery-smooth voice, Sleepy's been stuck with generic, synthesized beats that leave the listener cold.
And if sticking a square peg in a round hole isn't enough, on top of that, Brown himself fails to rise to the occasion vocally. Most of the time he sounds like he's trying very hard to live up to his nickname - Sleepy.
And if sticking a square peg in a round hole isn't enough, on top of that, Brown himself fails to rise to the occasion vocally. Most of the time he sounds like he's trying very hard to live up to his nickname - Sleepy.
Pros
- At times, Sleepy sings really well.
- The song "I Can't Wait" is the album's highlight.
- "Till (Your Legs Start Shaking)" is worth downloading.
Cons
- Many songs are unoriginal.
- The lyrics are generic.
- The entire project lacks focus.
Description
- Vocally aneroxic.
- Forgettable.
- Generic.
Guide Review - Sleepy Brown - 'Mr. Brown'
From the very opening note of the first track on Sleepy Brown's major-label debut solo album, it's obvious that the album's producers don't know how to properly utilize Brown's distinctive vocal style.
The first track, "I'm Soul," starts off not with genuine, live instrumentation, but with cheap-sounding synthesized percussion - pretty much the exact opposite of what Brown's warm, soft vocals need.
This pattern continues on the following song, "Margarita," which features Pharrell Williams and Big Boi of OutKast. In fact, throughout Mr. Brown, on song after song, instead of real Soul instrumentation, Sleepy sings over lukewarm Hip-Hop beats and uninspired pseudo-R&B backing tracks.
To make matters worse, Brown doesn't sound particularly passionate about what he's singing. Many times, he doesn't even sound interested - it's like he's just going through the motions. In addition to his lack of immediacy, the album reveals something else - his vocal range is very limited.
Most of the time, he seems to be doing a pretty good Curtis Mayfield impersonation, but it ultimately gets tired.
After just one listen to the CD, it's pretty obvious that Sleepy Brown's got Nate Dogg syndrome - he's outstanding when it comes to guest appearances on songs by other people - particularly Hip-Hop artists - but he just doesn't have the charisma to carry an entire album himself.
Some Soul music fans may have been eagerly anticipating this album, but it's turned out to be a fairly big disappointment.
The first track, "I'm Soul," starts off not with genuine, live instrumentation, but with cheap-sounding synthesized percussion - pretty much the exact opposite of what Brown's warm, soft vocals need.
This pattern continues on the following song, "Margarita," which features Pharrell Williams and Big Boi of OutKast. In fact, throughout Mr. Brown, on song after song, instead of real Soul instrumentation, Sleepy sings over lukewarm Hip-Hop beats and uninspired pseudo-R&B backing tracks.
To make matters worse, Brown doesn't sound particularly passionate about what he's singing. Many times, he doesn't even sound interested - it's like he's just going through the motions. In addition to his lack of immediacy, the album reveals something else - his vocal range is very limited.
Most of the time, he seems to be doing a pretty good Curtis Mayfield impersonation, but it ultimately gets tired.
After just one listen to the CD, it's pretty obvious that Sleepy Brown's got Nate Dogg syndrome - he's outstanding when it comes to guest appearances on songs by other people - particularly Hip-Hop artists - but he just doesn't have the charisma to carry an entire album himself.
Some Soul music fans may have been eagerly anticipating this album, but it's turned out to be a fairly big disappointment.
