Yes Yes Yes! Days late and much much overdue itz finally here. Forget the intro
information, here it is!

Carl Thomas- Lets Talk About It
Itz been over five years. Five long agonizing years of wondering if he was going
to stay with BadBoy, wondering if he and Puffy had fallen out. A lot of us have
been patiently waiting to see what Carl could possibly do to top his soul
stirring debut "Emotional". To that CD gets play in my car. There are several
classics on that CD. In a way it bothered me that he waited so long to hit us
with something else (although I am sure there is a certain man by the name of P.
Diddy that has something more to do with it). However, Emotional, even five
years later is still relevant and moving. However, it would not be right for a
great singer to stop there. So here we are with the review of his sophomore
effort, "Lets Talk About It"

Production
While Carl is the type of singer that could probably sing over any track and
make it sound good, Carl's voice needs a certain type of music. Something
soothing and calming that will make you move but at the same time show off
Carl's amazing voice. The producers on this CD, (Carl himself included) do an
excellent job of creating tracks that are good, but don't over-do it.

The second track on the CD "Anything" (produced by Carl) is a perfect start for
the CD. It gives you the feeling that you are going somewhere, a journey in
music, a journey somewhere!! After that song there is an even flow, which to me
is suprising if you look at all the different producers on the album (nine in
all including Carl).

In thinking about that fact that Carl can sing over anybody's track-- I
automatically think about the Just Blaze produced "My First Love". While I am
not suprised that the track works well for Carl, in my mind I would not have put
the two of them together. However, it works! Just Blaze managed to come up with
a track that is good and memorable, yet does not over power Carl's voice. I
really think here Carl and Blaze got together and found something comfortable
and fitting. While this may seem like common sense, if you listen to some of the
CDs that are in the stores, it sounds like there is a huge disconnect between
the producer and the artist; you end up with songs that are good production wise
but suck vocally or suck vocally, but have execellent production.

The second single, "Make it All Right" (produced by Mike City for unsung
Entertainment) is another traditional Carl track. It actually reminds me of
"Summer Rain", not in the sense that they sound alike, but more of the fact that
it sounds like something Carl should sing to. Also here (and anyone feel free to
correct me if I am wrong) Carl uses a producer that does not have a huge
following (like a Timberland, or a Dr. Dre). Now if you remember from the Latif
review, I mentioned that if you are going to use a producer that does not have a
huge name, he has to be good. I know Latif and Carl are not even in the same
category, but Carl uses a good example of what artist like Latif should do. If
you are going to use a nontraditional producer, use someone that is good and can
find something to fit your style of singing. Carl does that here and throughout
the CD.

All in all there are some very very nice tracks on the album and the majority of
them perfectly fit with Carl's voice.

Writing and Creativity
Lets make a comparison for a minute. I'll take my two favorite male artist, Carl
and Dave Hollister. Dave's writing is more dramatical, more situation oriented
(My baby's momma is trippin or my girl is actin crazy cause she thinks I'm
cheatin). This works excellently for him. Carl on the other hand is old school.
Keep it simple, make it easy to understand and easy to get into. This works well
for him. All that to say Carl and his writing team do an excellent job of
writing material that works for Carl and fits his style. You have to admit you
would be lookin at Carl crazy if he came out with a song sayin his baby momma is
trippin cause the child support AIN'T been paid. LOL. This does not take away
from the style and talent of either artist. It infact shows that both Dave and
Carl know their limits and know what works for them.

For instance on # 7 "The Baby Maker", the chorus is simplistic- "Baby now ou ou,
I wanna make love to you, baby now ou ou, cause you're my lover, all because
your mine, and baby now ou ou, I wanna make love to you, and baby now ou I wanna
love you". It's simple but it says so much and the way he sings it gives it even
more power (you listen to it and you understand why it's the baby maker song and
he does not even have to say anything about making a baby in it).

Then there is # 6 "Make it Right". Here again, simple. Sample a few lines from
the first verse, "Everytime he broke your precious heart, and did it with no
regret. Everytime he started going off and showed you no respect. Everytime he
used to scream on you as if you were a child...". Then the chorus. "I'm going
make it all make it all make it all right, make it all make it all make it all
right..." Most of Carl's song are written in this manner. It reminds me of a
time when writing meant something. Singers back in the 70's wrote music that was
simple, yet very meaningful. They didn't use a whole lot of metaphors or go
into long drawn out sililoquoys(spelling?? lol). They made it exciting enough to
get your attention and simple enough to not lose you.

Carl does a great job of blending the old with the new with his writing.
Sometimes keepin it simple is the best way to make it happen! lol

Final Grade
So I am a pretty big Carl Fan. There lies my catch. Carl has been quiet for so
long it's hard to be overly critical of him because I am just happy he dropped
something. However, I was talking to my sister and we felt that while Carl has
an excellent product here, this feels more like it should have been his first
album and Emotional been the sophomore. One reason is because he does not do
many vocal tricks on this CD at all. He was killing the vocal play it on the
first CD "Emotional"!! Not to say that it is all about riffin and runnin (lol),
but when singers can do it really well, its nice to hear them do it. Carl stays
away from the vocal acrobatics on this CD which to me is very diasppointing
because he does it so well (and because he is one of the singers that I can
learn from). I get the feeling that he is holding something back. THERE IS ALSO
NO SONG WITH FAITH!!! :-( So he gets a B+ (or an A-, however you want to look at
it; they are both the same to me)

Favorite Song- #11 All You've Given

Least Favorite Song- #14 Rebound- Carl missteps here and goes a little country.
While I understand what he is singing about and actually can relate to the
writing, the arrangement is strange and the track is equally confusing.

Favorite line- (The Chorus to #9- A Promise) There's a promise on this mountain
that I'm climbing just for you. It's just something that people share, can't you
feel love is in the air.

Marketing Grade
Usually when I think about the Diddy and marketing I end up comparing his
advertising efforts to what he put into marketing Mary J's last CD.( I have been
tryin to stop, but I usually end up thinking of it). No offense to Mary cause I
am a fan of her's as well, but Puff was ALL OVER her last CD and shes not EVEN
ON HIS LABEL, and if you compare that to what he did for Carl, it does not even
out. However I can say that Puff put a little more effort in for getting the
word out about Carl, even after he pushed the product back a few months. I saw
magazine adds, heard the single on the radio. There are a few problems though.
1- He could have done much more, billboards, etc. I feel like he never really
does enough. Fortunately, Carl has a following so he was able to pull strong
first week numbers placing him in the top ten for his first weeks sales, which
leads me to my second problem. 2- I am SURE puff knew Usher was coming out
during the same month and I am SURE he knows how popular
Usher is. If puff has this so called pulse for the music community, why didn't
he keep the original release date so that Carl would have his own time to shine?
OR since he decided to push it back, why not January, February even? I really
think Carl had an excellent chance of hitting the charts at number one had he
not dropped when Usher did. For that I give his marketing a C. An improvement
for BadBoy, but we all know they could do better.

Short Rap Review- Lil Scrappy and Trillville
This CD (both artists Lil Scrapy and Triville have ten songs each on this one
disc album) keeps in the tradition of southern anthems. From the club hit "Neva
Eva" to the game show inspired "Weakest Link" these kats are all about lettin
you know they are from the south and have no problem givin you a taste of some
"trill" southern hospitality. For me it works. I was listening to the CD tonight
in the car and I was dancin like I was in Buckhead on a Saturday night! However
for some, it may be a little profane and the anthems may get a little--
repeatitive. For that the CD gets a B+

Next Review- Usher

My CD Shopping List
Tamia
Twista (OK I'm late)
J-Kwon
Missy (yeah yeah yeah real late)
Janet Jackson

Everyone have a great weekend and PLEASE feel free to respond to the review.
HOLLA!

NFARED











FAITH EVANS, THE QUEEN OF R&B











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