4.4
- Release date:
- November 6, 2007
- Artist/Band name:
- Chris Brown
- Record label:
- Jive
- Official Web Site:
- http://www.chrisbrownworld.com/
Why you should care: Despite his youth, Brown’s singing style and musical choices are as sharp and sophisticated as anyone on today’s R&B scene. And because of his youth—and undeniable charisma—he’s one of the few artists who can challenge Justin Timberlake’s pop-R&B crossover supremacy.
Verdict: “Exclusive” is strong out of the gate, then fades by the midway point, as filler tracks like “Lottery” and “Down” (featuring a truly awful rap by Kanye West) dominate the album’s second half. But for its first six tracks, “Exclusive” is as good a mainstream R&B album as you’ll hear all year. “With You” sounds like the breakout ballad hit, “Picture Perfect” is another slick will.i.am production with some jazzy harmonies and “Hold Up” rides a great electro groove courtesy of Dre & Vidal, the same production duo who scored a hit with “Yo (Excuse Me Miss)” from Brown’s debut album.
X-Factor: Brown makes several attempts here to reach a more mature audience, but the results are mixed. “Wall to Wall” is a convincingly crunky club banger, with heavy beats from Swizz Beatz and Sean Garrett, but the Game’s gangsta posturing sounds out of place on the Scott Storch-produced “Nice” and moodier ballads like “Damage” just fall flat. Brown might not be ready to escape the “TRL” circuit just yet.
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