En Vogue - Masterpiece Theatre (12 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

Strangely Curious

Valentino, Yo | Miami, FL USA | 11/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I find it strangely curious that everyone doesn't think this is the best R&B album ever. Well maybe if En Vogue weren't done in by their record company, everyone might have. But how was everyone to know when the heralding single dropped two weeks before the album did. Two weeks is not enough time to promote an album, ELEKTRA -- shame on you.

Never have I heard mainstream music so well-crafted. The time it took them to complete this album is more than justified. Riding on the coat tails of classical pieces was a brilliant concept: DANCE OF THE SUGARPLUM FAIRIES; MOONLIGHT SONATA; HABANERA; etc. It is so unfortuante that very few were either still interested or even knew about En Vogue's then new album.

This effort, in my mind, blew every other album out of the water. The operatic height they soared on this collection is amazing: LOVE WON'T TAKE ME OUT; the vocal complexity of SAD BUT TRUE; the cute and odd NO, NO, NO.

It would truly have been a "masterpiece" were it not for the ill-placed LOVE SUITE, afterwhich makes me want to turn the album off (it feels too much like the end). While NUMBER ONE MAN is an alright song, it and LATIN SOUL mar the overall classical, vocal styling and well-written feel of this album.

The girlgroup aspect was the only viable comparison to the original En Vogue and Destiny's Child. Destiny's child is interesteing to hear and look at, but the comparisons always confounded me: Destiny's Child is not a harmony group; there is no lead singer of En Vogue; every member of En Vogue has had a hit song singing lead vocal; every member of En Vogue can and has had her chance to sing her ass off. Im not feeling the new line-up or music of En Vogue, but hopefully they'll soon get the original members back together in the studio, as promised.

I've ignored SOUL FLOWER because I'm awaiting the real EN VOGUE to return what is sorely missed in R&B: rich, harmonized, classy music that sings of love, not sex.

Cindy (no more kids, LOL, we need you)

Max (girl get it together)

Terry (Miss Faithful can't do it alone)

Dawn (girl you'd better stop playin')

"

En Vogue's Successful Re-Invention...

miggitymark | Vancouver, BC, Canada | 06/05/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Masterpiece Theater," the fourth studio album by En Vogue, is the most challenging, yet refreshing collection they have ever made. It finds the group reunited with their original production team, Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy, who put the group together back in the late '80s. The result is a combination of modern R&B sounds and classical samples from Beethoven, among others. The album's best tracks are simply the ones that incorporate these classical sounds, and En Vogue takes us to their suite with "Love U Crazay," the difficult classical harmonies of "Sad But True," and "Love Won't Take Me Out," and "Whatever Will Be Will Be," all emphasize the beauty of the classical piano and luscious harmonies. The group eventually turns it up with the funky "Latin Soul," and their first single off the album, "Riddle." Other notable tracks include a neo-soul-like "No No No (Can't Come Back)," and "Those Dogs," the latter which takes a few listens to get used to. En Vogue steers away from the sounds of modern, male/female-battle-oriented R&B, and give us their Masterpiece Theater..."

They're back and with a vengance!

Paul W. Sager | Saint Louis, Missouri | 05/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"We last heard from En Vogue a few years ago sans Dawn Robinson. Critics said they couldn't do it. They had a few hits from EV3 but nothing more than that. But that was 1997, now it's 2000 and En Vogue is back with Masterpiece Theater. This album is perhaps their best effort yet (save 92s Funky Divas). Using a classical theme with the music of Beethoven and other masterpieces, En Vogue has wrapped a concise and cathardic album around a rather interesting theme. The girls go back to their R&B roots and add a dash of rap, hip hop and a lot of soul.Choice tracks include the opening Riddle (currently their first single). Using emotions that make you stand up and shout, "yes that is exactly how I feel" En Vogue has included songs about love, lost love, and new love. Crazy Love is perhaps one of the most daring tracks, but you know it works, and it works well! Love Won't Take Me Out will soon become an anthem for women across the country..."there is no room for that in my world." The lyrics are poetic and justifably so. The "En Vogue Love Suite" ends with a remake of Que Sera Que Sera is a good attempt with an R&B groove. After the suite is over, the girls pick up with Beat of Love. A song with an awesome backdrop of a horn...the girls mold their voices around the beating of the horn and makes the horn quickly become a complement to them.And with most artists nowadays getting into the Latin groove, En Vogue is no exception, included is a ditty titled Latin Soul...I think a killer remix by Hex Hector could make this a dance club smash!The girls end the album with Number One Man, how fitting for an album wrapped around love.En Vogue used Masterpiece Theater to take them back into the spotlight. The three remaining girls prove with this album they have what it takes and I think one listen and you will agree."

"Masterpiece Theater" works on many levels-En Vogue is back!

jason capili | New York, NY | 05/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"En Vogue's "Masterpiece Theater" is surely one of the most daring, original, and best albums I've heard all year. In many ways, it may be their best album yet (although Funky Divas is a classic!) , and one of the most challenging ways to reintroduce them to the mainstream public!Part of what makes this album work is how it veers creatively from the formulaic sound pop and R&B music has become these days. You can literally cut out the figure, stick a different one in, and still have general success. What makes "Masterpiece Theater" unique is the fusion of Classical tunes to an edgy urban sound, with tight and complex harmonies leading the way throughout the album. It's a kind of fitting comparison to juxtapose and mesh the most known and loved classical music with one of the most definitive groups of the rock era (and most certainly the 90's).What astounds me on this album is how perfect McFoster and Elroy and En Vogue work together. Part of the reason EV3 was subpar is because previous producers could not adapt or utilize En Vogue's great harmonies and versatile voices (though Ivan Matias was good with what he did). McFoster's and Elroy's vocal and musical arrangements make these familiar songs sound vibrant and new. And the harmonies... I didn't think that En Vogue would sound as good without Dawn Robinson, but I am thoroughly pleased that I was proven wrong with this album. The voices are more rich, mature and textured... can't say enough about it...On an initial run through of the album, it may raise eyebrows because the sound is very different. But after a second or third rotation, you'll be singing along to some of the standouts like "Love U Crazay," "Sad But True," "Beat of Love," "Number One Man," "Latin Soul," and "Those Dogs." Honestly, I am not too thrilled with the lead-off single, "Riddle," which is definitive of En Vogue's sound. But it is probably their best entre into pop music's current sound...Although it will probably be overlooked by most major mainstream radio markets, it is a must have for the sheer virtuosity and diversity of beats and fusions throughout the album. Once again, with En Vogue proves with "Masterpiece Theater" why they are the definitive female singing group of the last twenty-five years!"

...and another one

There Can Only Be One | Only One Place | 05/24/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"En Vogue must have skipped class when R&B singers learned that in order to have a good record these days you must have childish lyrics, hip-hop beats and appearances by trendy rappers......and your parents told you nothing good ever came from playing hookie...It is about time a R&B group strayed from the beaten path of drum machines and synthesized voices... This album is totally different from the formulaic R&B albums that dominate the airwaves...and for that alone it should get 5 stars...It is funny though...I've complained so much about how all R&B albums sound the same and I've said many times how I wish someone would come out with something that sounded different....but when someone did ("Masterpiece Theater") I had a hard time listening to it...During the entire album I was waiting to hear Timbaland, or Swizz Beats bursting from a track...The first time I listened to the CD I kept saying to myself "What is this?"...I guess when you are so used to hearing you have to get adjusted to hearing something decent...The second time I listened to the album I really enjoyed it...It really is a dynamic album...and these three women can really sing...I am not going to say I liked all the songs...(Some of them were a tad bit wack)...but for the most part I really enjoyed what I heard...By far my favorite song is "Sad but True"...(I must admit that I am a little biased because Moonlight Sonata is my favorite piano piece)...If you have been a En Vogue since they first came out...(by the way...why is Terry still so fine...sorry I couldn't help myself)...As I was saying if you have been a En Vogue fan since they first came out this is just another great album from this quartet turned trio...(Terry...fine)...I don't think this album will burn up the charts or have hit after hit on the radio...but that has never been an intelligent way to rate the quality of an album...and it probably won't have the mass appeal needed to grab the younger Hip-Hop/R&B generation...but once again that has definitely never been an intelligent way to rate the quality of an album...If you like what you hear on the radio (ad nauseam) and would love to hear another CD full of mediocre singing and overdone beats then this is not the album for you...If you have a desire to hear something different (but good) with very mature singing then grab this masterpiece..."

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