Search - Melanie B :: Hot [Dutch Re-release CD]

She's Not Scary Spice Anymore

Georganne Wood | 06/16/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"A more appropriate title for Melanie B's solo album would be "Lukewarm." It's got a few good songs, but for the most part, the disk is taken up with put-me-to-sleep ballads, and bluntly sexual R&B songs. This may be a nice debut album for someone who enjoys Missy Elliott, but for us pop fans, it's a total let-down. Instead of this, try Victoria Beckham's solo album, Free Me by Emma Bunton, or one of the three Geri Halliwell CDs."

Scary goes with the flow

Clara | USA | 02/09/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Poor Melanie Brown aka Scary Spice. The Spice Girls were ending, she had a marriage failing, and a little girl to look after...and a solo album to release. Under the circumstances its remarkable she even did what she did! The poor woman was miserable yet she gave her fans this CD, one of the first to be released as the band was disappering.



Melanie of course did what people told her: your the outrageous one, the black one, thus you must make an RnB CD. I suspect after reading her biography and hearing her 'Kitchen album' tracks (mostly 'rock' type stuff) RnB wasn't really her passion. No one can blame her though: all the girls fell into the image traps post Spice (Ginger the kitschy one, Posh the lonely little girl one, Baby the innocent one, Sporty the rough one...) at least until their second CD (well...kinda...)



Hot by Melanie's own admintance was underpromoted and not put together very well. The CD is very well produced boasting Sisqo, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Max Beesley, Fred Jerkins, and Missy Elliot but as said not well mixed. Some songs are just boring, and some just feel odd where their placed. Overall Hot is a very confusing 'manic depressive' Rnb disc.



Hot kicks off with 'Feels so good', not to bad (its a Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis of course) but the video confused the hell out of me! The first signs of 'manic depressive' syndrome kick in with the next song 'Tell me'...a very hateful 'screw you' anthem...odd to follow such a happy 'Feels so good'.



'HeCK no' continues to confuse. Its a bit 'Weekend love' (the Spice fans will no what I mean) where its a good catchy song but the lyrics are confusing. He cheated on her, she cheated on him, but 'heCK no you can't leave me this time...' odd. I like 'HeCK no' however...its very original and one of my favorites! It has an oriental tinge and good use of the word 'hoochie' I mean what's better then that?



'Lullaby' goes back to the happy vibe by being very playful and sweet. Its a song dedicated to her daughter so it IS very sweet but a bad single choice...



'Hotter' (the Sisqo induced song) is up there with 'HeCK No'. Great but odd! Very 'American' minus the words 'bum real tight up top mad thick'. That would confuse your average USer...



'Step inside' is one of her better tunes, not to odd and fits nicely where put. But don't get to comfy...its followed by the creepy S&M tinged 'Abc 123'. 'I believe' makes no sense where its put and it tends to bore the listener...especially after hearing 2 great RnB tunes and a creepy S&M anthem!



'I want you back' was one of the first solo Spice singles and is the Missy Elliot track. Good...*but* very 'HeCK no' the lyrics make NO sense! He cheated on you and treated you like crap, why would you want him back? And for that matter isnt that a symptom of battered woman syndrome not an anthem for an Rnb Club song?



'Pack your sHHH' is my all time favorite Melanie track! I have no clue (and many other people seem to be with me here) what 'hupped' means but apparently its very naughty...This is a very fast paced good ol RnB tune with plenty of swearing...BRILLIANT!



Hot ends with the other Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis song 'Feel me now' which is nice and sexy but 1) odd to follow 'Pack your sHHH' and 2) Odd just to end the CD on. Apparently the verses were ad libbed which makes it a bit neater!



Overall a Hot is a good CD...its no 'Free Me' but Melanie's excused...she tried and we love her for it!

"

I WOULD'VE NEVER THOUGHT!

Bernarr Ferebee, Jr. | Ohio | 02/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Melanie B is coming up. Her deput album is fire, forgot hot. She has her pop side and R&B side combinded. It's wonderful.



My Top Favorites:

Feels So Good

Hell No

Lullaby

Hotter

I Want You Back

Feel Me Now



Very seldom do you come across a group break up and they all come out with c.d.'s and they're actually good. Mel B is living proof. 11 tracks isn't enough because I'm dying to hear more from her. But do the favor and get this, you won't be disappointed. And if you are, your taste just sucks."