En Vogue - Soul Flower

Before there was a Destiny's Child there was En Vogue. Once dubbed the Supremes of the '90s after snaring two consecutive number one hits in 1990 and three Top Ten hits three years later, the Oakland-based group went through an identity crisis when lead singer Dawn Robinson left the band in 1997. In 2003 the band was able to regain their equilibrium after Rhonda Bennett, a former regular on the Jamie Foxx Show, joined founding members Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron in the line-up after talks with Robinson and other original member Maxine Jones fell through. Though Robinson’s dash and sass is sorely missed, this new configuration blends pristine vocal arrangements and close jazzy harmonies that approaches some of the original band’s best moments. While there’s some real gems on the disc--like the coy-but-clever "Ooh Boy," the arch ache of "Dissed Him," and the spiteful "All You See," which is as sneering as anything Missy Elliot is putting out--much of the disc just doesn't live up to high water mark of their '90s releases. But that’s not to say there isn’t hope. En Vogue is working with longtime producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy again--who penned the disc’s two best hits--so there’s every chance that the "Funky Divas" will once again perch atop the charts in their lofty stilettos. --Jaan Uhelszki Amazon.com

not bad

Only half of the original vocal quartet converted into a a trio with a new vocalist,yet for whatever reason this release failed to capture that commercial audience(,ofcourse this would'nt be the first time a good record failed to attract immediate attention) The songwriting on this album reflects a mature and poetic quality seldon heard in todays music factory conditions. The Ladies as usual are vocally in top/superior form,the addition of a male background vocalist on several of the tracks showcase their ability to share the mike for the sake of generating good music. oddly enough I found this disc in a pile at the local Tower Records in Richmond,Va when they were going out of business. They were being sold for a buck! I immediately bought a few and passed them out as Christmas gifts..everyone loved the music,especially the ladies. September 10, 2007

Grown and Sexy

Pounding bass, seductive lyrics, fluid melodies meant for the grown and sexy (man and woman). If you're not shy, you can rock it while you're driving down the highway (roof back, windows down). Rhythms good for working out, be it roller skating, step aerobics, or pole dancing. Be aware, profanity in two songs. July 2, 2007

Never, Never, Never Shoulda Bought It!

Only two members of the original quartet--Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron--remain on this lackluster release by the Oakland hip-hop vocal group En Vogue. The group is now a trio, with the surviving original members joined by Rhonda Bennett. While their first releases, in the 90s, were joyous and sassy, "Soul Flower" lacks the immediacy and power of that early work. It would perhaps be unfair to catagorize this record as flat-out bad (truly, it's not), but it is the first En Vogue album that I find somewhat forgettable. New fans should begin instead with the girls' stronger efforts, such as Funky Divas, which is still their all-time classic. Also highly recommended are Born to Sing, and Masterpiece Theatre, the latter setting hip-hop arrangements and lyrics to instantly-recognizable melodies from classical music. All of these albums are FUN--which is precisely what "Soul Flower" tries to be, but isn't. April 4, 2007

Unified Soul Never Sounded Better

After the misunderstood "Masterpiece Theatre" failed to generate commercial buzz outside of their hardcore fanbase, two more line-up changes would take place before their fifth studio effort was released in 2004.

Those worried that with Cindy Herron & Terry Ellis being the only two left from the original nucleus need not worry. Rhona Bennet fills in for Maxine Jones on this set. And what a set...

On "Masterpiece Theatre", En Vogue came close to reaching the creative spark that helped put their second album "Funky Divas" on the map, here it becomes a realized dream.

"Soul Flower" is a consistent blend of neo-soul & (again) stylized R&B courtesy of longtime producers McElroy & Foster who manage to tailor their sound for the times. Though the neo-soul movement by 2004 had already long since cooled. Either way the results are winning.

Again, with vocalization at the fore, En Vogue injects familiar harmonies into the cuts, such as the midtempo opener "Losin' My Mind" which works over a smooth, horn sample quite well. Other highlights include the showstopper "I Do Love You (Piece of My Love)" & breezy, disco-fied urban numbers such as "Ooh Boy" & "Ooh La La". The latter two songs feel as though they could've been lifted from a mid-1970's era Supremes album.

Overall, "Soul Flower" is a record that sits alongside their best work "Funky Divas", even if it contrasts in what makes it special. If "Funky Divas" was reknowned for its soulful amalgam of sounds, "Soul Flower" strikes a chord in its smooth, mature, unified whole. Never trying harder than it should to lay down impeccable grooves, velvety vocal work, & empowered lyrics.

It is a shame this record didn't receive the push it deserved, because this was one of the better R&B products of 2004. Highly recommended.


March 16, 2007

En Vogue knows how to HOLD ON

Wow, how did only 50 percent of the original En Vogue pull this album off? Well, we must take into consideration that all four of the original members have powerhouse voices, and so they can still sound good even without some of its prime members. Maxine and Dawn are gone, but enter Rhonda. Rhonda was a really nice addition to the group. She can sing really well, a necessary tool for an En Vogue member.

"Soul Flower" is a quality album. It does include much sampling, but in this case, it's not a bad thing. My opinion of that is, they wanted to entail some songs that were already successful and add their touch to it because they were already at a disadvantage without Dawn and Max. It works! An example of this is "Everday". This song samples The Staples Singers hit "Lets Do It Again". Its one of my favorites on the album. They didn't sample the entire song, it really was just a "sample". "Heaven" is an alright track. Here, the ladies are saying that heaven hasn't been the same since their men came to earth. This is a four star album because some of the songs aren't as good as others, and some are just fillers. "Ez-A-Lee" is a prime example of that. The song seems rushed and I don't fancy it.

Overall, these ladies are my favorite group of all time. No one has ever touched their voices when they sing together. Keep doing your thing ladies! No matter how many of you it is...

Mikeisha's Top 5
1. New Day Callin'
2. Dissed Him
3. How Do I Get Over?
4. I Do Love You (Piece of My Mind)
5. Ooh La La May 16, 2006

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