Brownstone

Party Wit Me - Nice vamp/bridge. 8/10
Grapevyne - Classic composition. 10/10
If You Love Me - Nice harmonies. Classic composition. 10/10
Sometimes Dancin' - Great Jamaican vibe. 8.5/10
I Can't Tell You Why - Slow, mid-tempo groove. 8/10
Don't Cry For Me - Down-tempo. Kinda boring and goes nowhere really. 6.5/10
Pass The Lovin' - A mid-tempo. Bouncy. 7.5/10
Fruit Of Life - Laid-back track. 8/10
True To Me - Fast-talking in the beginning. 7.5/10
Wipe It Up - Boring filler. 6/10
Deeper Feelings (Ooh La La) - Ooh La La. 8/10
Half Of You - A nice, quiet piano ballad. Nice ending. 8/10

96 ÷ 12 = 8

8/10 ÷ 2 = 4

4 stars.

All I can say is that this album definitely brings back some great memories of my early to mid-teenage years way back in the mid-90s. I was recently going through my old CD collection and came across this album that I have had for nearly 13 years now. I dusted it off and put it in my computer and all I can says is holy nostalgia. I can't believe that I had almost totally forgotten about this group as the years went on. This is an amazing R&B/soul album that anyone who is into this genre of music should love. I love how mellow it is and like to listen to it when I just want to kick back and chill. It definitely has a mid-90s sound to it, which is one of the main reasons why I am drawn to it. I can remember my friends and I listening to this album back in middle school and high school (I'm 26, almost 27 now). It definitely brings me right back to those carefree days!

Soulful harmonies matched with three lovely ladies that were born to make music together. From the opening of the album to the ending each track takes one on a vocal-coaster ride with Nicci's husky alto lead to Maxee's silky 2nd soprano and Mimi's Lyric soprano wails. Minus the track "wipe it up" the album is a perfect 10 - Stand out cuts are that of the radio hits "Grapevyne" "If you love me" and the Eagles remake of "I can't tell you why" - "Don't cry for me" and "Fruit of Life" prove that it takes real singers to create real music even on the last cut "Half of you" which is a sort of recorded off the cuff and comes off very well, It's actaully one of my favorite tracks and the very reason for buying the album. I actually heard the song on the jukebox while out having wings with the fellas and literally ran to the jukebox to find out who was singing and the the waitress said "Brownstone". - when I head that it was a wrap and a few days later the CD was in my collection. You don't find this kind of singing on the shelves today and if you do you may want to check and be sure it's really who it is singing.

I'm into the early R&B. I think guys like Horace Brown and Damon Hall moved us in leaps and bounds. Brownstone did more than move me. Their sound is pure, clean. They literrally flex their vocal muscles and they set the standard for the likes of SWV, Jade, etc.

Ah - from a golden time in music when we had such an abundance of awesomely talented r&b groups, bands & solo artists. Groups like Brownstone, En Vogue & Xscape defined what a true female group should sound like.

I was impressed by the number of tracks that Nichole Gilbert (arguably the best vocalist of the group) wrote/co-wrote and how much of the production she was involved in on this disc. Listening to it again makes me sad about the state of r&b music today but grateful for the time when true artists were allowed to shine.

My favorite tracks are: GRAPEVYNE, IF YOU LOVE ME

I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY (love this song with its excellent arrangements & their tight harmonies)

SOMETIMES DANCIN' (interesting musical production - especially the reagge breakdown & while the lead vocals are great, the backing is kind of boring until they hit the reagge break)

DON'T CRY FOR ME (their individual vocals & group harmonies are beautiful, this song sounds almost like a contemporary inspirational/gospel song)

DEEPER FEELINGS (really pretty slow ballad where they trade lead vocals with tight harmonies a la En Vogue)

HALF OF YOU (pretty balld with Nichole singing lead accompanied by just a piano)

If you're starved for some great r&b and are curious about another female group that came out during the En Vogue/Destiny's Child/TLC era, give Brownstone a try, you won't be disappointed.

Party Wit Me - Nice vamp/bridge. 8/10
Grapevyne - Classic composition. 10/10
If You Love Me - Nice harmonies. Classic composition. 10/10
Sometimes Dancin' - Great Jamaican vibe. 8.5/10
I Can't Tell You Why - Slow, mid-tempo groove. 8/10
Don't Cry For Me - Down-tempo. Kinda boring and goes nowhere really. 6.5/10
Pass The Lovin' - A mid-tempo. Bouncy. 7.5/10
Fruit Of Life - Laid-back track. 8/10
True To Me - Fast-talking in the beginning. 7.5/10
Wipe It Up - Boring filler. 6/10
Deeper Feelings (Ooh La La) - Ooh La La. 8/10
Half Of You - A nice, quiet piano ballad. Nice ending. 8/10

96 ÷ 12 = 8

8/10 ÷ 2 = 4

4 stars.

All I can say is that this album definitely brings back some great memories of my early to mid-teenage years way back in the mid-90s. I was recently going through my old CD collection and came across this album that I have had for nearly 13 years now. I dusted it off and put it in my computer and all I can says is holy nostalgia. I can't believe that I had almost totally forgotten about this group as the years went on. This is an amazing R&B/soul album that anyone who is into this genre of music should love. I love how mellow it is and like to listen to it when I just want to kick back and chill. It definitely has a mid-90s sound to it, which is one of the main reasons why I am drawn to it. I can remember my friends and I listening to this album back in middle school and high school (I'm 26, almost 27 now). It definitely brings me right back to those carefree days!

Soulful harmonies matched with three lovely ladies that were born to make music together. From the opening of the album to the ending each track takes one on a vocal-coaster ride with Nicci's husky alto lead to Maxee's silky 2nd soprano and Mimi's Lyric soprano wails. Minus the track "wipe it up" the album is a perfect 10 - Stand out cuts are that of the radio hits "Grapevyne" "If you love me" and the Eagles remake of "I can't tell you why" - "Don't cry for me" and "Fruit of Life" prove that it takes real singers to create real music even on the last cut "Half of you" which is a sort of recorded off the cuff and comes off very well, It's actaully one of my favorite tracks and the very reason for buying the album. I actually heard the song on the jukebox while out having wings with the fellas and literally ran to the jukebox to find out who was singing and the the waitress said "Brownstone". - when I head that it was a wrap and a few days later the CD was in my collection. You don't find this kind of singing on the shelves today and if you do you may want to check and be sure it's really who it is singing.

I'm into the early R&B. I think guys like Horace Brown and Damon Hall moved us in leaps and bounds. Brownstone did more than move me. Their sound is pure, clean. They literrally flex their vocal muscles and they set the standard for the likes of SWV, Jade, etc.

Ah - from a golden time in music when we had such an abundance of awesomely talented r&b groups, bands & solo artists. Groups like Brownstone, En Vogue & Xscape defined what a true female group should sound like.

I was impressed by the number of tracks that Nichole Gilbert (arguably the best vocalist of the group) wrote/co-wrote and how much of the production she was involved in on this disc. Listening to it again makes me sad about the state of r&b music today but grateful for the time when true artists were allowed to shine.

My favorite tracks are: GRAPEVYNE, IF YOU LOVE ME

I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY (love this song with its excellent arrangements & their tight harmonies)

SOMETIMES DANCIN' (interesting musical production - especially the reagge breakdown & while the lead vocals are great, the backing is kind of boring until they hit the reagge break)

DON'T CRY FOR ME (their individual vocals & group harmonies are beautiful, this song sounds almost like a contemporary inspirational/gospel song)

DEEPER FEELINGS (really pretty slow ballad where they trade lead vocals with tight harmonies a la En Vogue)

HALF OF YOU (pretty balld with Nichole singing lead accompanied by just a piano)

If you're starved for some great r&b and are curious about another female group that came out during the En Vogue/Destiny's Child/TLC era, give Brownstone a try, you won't be disappointed.

Brownstone's second album came out with a shakeup in the group. Mimi had to drop out due to a medical condition and Kina joined Nichole & Maxee. This change didn't impact the group negatively simply because all 3 women can sing. Their harmonies got even stronger with the addition of Kina so it's a shame that this collection didn't get a bigger reception from the public but I think that at the time it was released, the "girl group" phenomenon in r&b was kind of dying down and rap/hip hop was beginning to dominate.

The constants of this album in comparison to their debut is that Nichole again wrote & arranged a majority of the tracks which helped define Brownstone's "sound" and also created a kind of cohesion to the album as a whole that's not found in today's albums. I think that a lack of promotion on the part of the label did more to kill this project because after the huge hit, 5 MILES TO EMPTY, I can't recall hearing another track from this album on the radio. I'd recommend this disc to anyone who purchased their debut and enjoyed it since it showcases another great r&b female group whose time was sadly cut too short through no fault of theirs.

My standout tracks are:

5 MILES TO EMPTY

IN THE GAME OF LOVE - pretty ballad with excellent vocal & musical arrangements

AROUND YOU - I especially love Maxee's solo

ALL I DO - uptempo track with a great beat

YOU GIVE GOOD LOVE & IF YOU PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT - both feature great harmonies

LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO - this is a sexy ballad that makes great use of the AWB'S A LOVE OF YOUR OWN

Their first two Albums (this is the 2nd one) should be templates for how sistas should sing and present themselves. I guess they didn't get their just due because they didn't prostitute themselves, they just sang excellent songs and looked like classy women.

these gurls sing good together and sound very beautiful nothing like compared to todays music you don't get the good stuff no more like brownstone.i love the song 5 miles to empty my all time favorite.and you give good love and baby love.i like the song if you play your cards right.they are all good tracks the gurls did a good job herei wish they were still around,i even got one of their songs on my cell phone voicemail message can you tell which song it is?

This album is one of the best albums I have ever heard in life period. When I first heard their song "Pass the Lovin" from their last album I was waiting anxiously for it to come out. When I saw the video for "5 Miles to Empty" after they had been gone for a while I was thoroughly excited because I enjoyed their first CD and I was ready for more from them. They did not hesitate to impress me and excite me and take me through a journey even though they had a member change. This Cd is awesome and contains some of the most powerful vocals that you will every hear. Every song is good, "Baby Love" and "Kiss and Tell" are my faves, and it is just a shame that they are not together anymore and that the did not get the recognition that they deserved. Heck Michael Jackson thought that they were good, they were on his label.

These ladies can sing their collective behinds off. Songs such as, In The Game of Love, 5 Miles To Empty, and Baby Love, are good Quiet Storm mood songs. "If you don't have a clue of what I'm speaking of, get this CD, grab that special person, explore the options".

Brownstone's second album came out with a shakeup in the group. Mimi had to drop out due to a medical condition and Kina joined Nichole & Maxee. This change didn't impact the group negatively simply because all 3 women can sing. Their harmonies got even stronger with the addition of Kina so it's a shame that this collection didn't get a bigger reception from the public but I think that at the time it was released, the "girl group" phenomenon in r&b was kind of dying down and rap/hip hop was beginning to dominate.

The constants of this album in comparison to their debut is that Nichole again wrote & arranged a majority of the tracks which helped define Brownstone's "sound" and also created a kind of cohesion to the album as a whole that's not found in today's albums. I think that a lack of promotion on the part of the label did more to kill this project because after the huge hit, 5 MILES TO EMPTY, I can't recall hearing another track from this album on the radio. I'd recommend this disc to anyone who purchased their debut and enjoyed it since it showcases another great r&b female group whose time was sadly cut too short through no fault of theirs.

My standout tracks are:

5 MILES TO EMPTY

IN THE GAME OF LOVE - pretty ballad with excellent vocal & musical arrangements

AROUND YOU - I especially love Maxee's solo

ALL I DO - uptempo track with a great beat

YOU GIVE GOOD LOVE & IF YOU PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT - both feature great harmonies

LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO - this is a sexy ballad that makes great use of the AWB'S A LOVE OF YOUR OWN

Their first two Albums (this is the 2nd one) should be templates for how sistas should sing and present themselves. I guess they didn't get their just due because they didn't prostitute themselves, they just sang excellent songs and looked like classy women.

these gurls sing good together and sound very beautiful nothing like compared to todays music you don't get the good stuff no more like brownstone.i love the song 5 miles to empty my all time favorite.and you give good love and baby love.i like the song if you play your cards right.they are all good tracks the gurls did a good job herei wish they were still around,i even got one of their songs on my cell phone voicemail message can you tell which song it is?

This album is one of the best albums I have ever heard in life period. When I first heard their song "Pass the Lovin" from their last album I was waiting anxiously for it to come out. When I saw the video for "5 Miles to Empty" after they had been gone for a while I was thoroughly excited because I enjoyed their first CD and I was ready for more from them. They did not hesitate to impress me and excite me and take me through a journey even though they had a member change. This Cd is awesome and contains some of the most powerful vocals that you will every hear. Every song is good, "Baby Love" and "Kiss and Tell" are my faves, and it is just a shame that they are not together anymore and that the did not get the recognition that they deserved. Heck Michael Jackson thought that they were good, they were on his label.

These ladies can sing their collective behinds off. Songs such as, In The Game of Love, 5 Miles To Empty, and Baby Love, are good Quiet Storm mood songs. "If you don't have a clue of what I'm speaking of, get this CD, grab that special person, explore the options".

Brownstone / If You Love Me (Single)
Track Title
1. If You Love Me (Smooth Out Remix Extended Version)
2. If You Love Me (If You Jazz Me Remix Extended Version)
3. If You Love Me (Characters Funk Remix Extended Version)
4. If You Love Me (LP Version (Radio Edit))
5. If You Love Me (Soft Touch Mix (Radio Edit))
6. If You Love Me (A Cappella)

this cd has every mix possible on this except the video version, but it has a 2 seperate versions of what the video was. the club mixes are even better.

What's the point of this album? Yeah, all of Brownstone's love songs are on here, and they're all good, but why a collection like this? They only had two albums! Maybe they were trying to fulfill their contract with Sony; I don't know.

When I saw this CD for sale (a collection of their love songs, hence the title), I had to have it. I have been a fan of Brownstone since "From The Bottom Up" and both of their albums are good. This collection has fast AND slow love jams. The only songs that aren't very good are "You Give Good Love" and "Love Me Like You Do". Some of my favorites include "Kiss And Tell", "If You Love Me", and a remake of the Eagles' "I Can't Tell You Why". If you want to hear a good R&B trio, check out Brownstone. This collection is not very expensive, so give it a try. If you like it, check out their other albums. You'll be glad you did!:)

This is a great single from Brownstone! With some good remixes! The ladies' voices are very strong and powerful. They truly sing their hearts out on this song! "Kiss & Tell" is a great song and Brownstone do a fantastic job singing it. They can sing very high and this song shows it. Get this great single today!

the mixes were cool here.i really dug Brownstone it's sad that they had to break up because they were a solid Vocal Group."Grapevne" is a good track."the mix for "Pass The Lovin",is good here as well.

This Brownstone CD-single contains six tracks:

1. I Can't Tell You Why (R&B Radio Edit) (3:58)
2. I Can't Tell You Why (A Cappella) (4:46)
3. I Can't Tell You Why (Instrumental) (4:06)
4. I can't Tell You Why (Uno Clio UK Mix) (7:51)
5. If You Love Me (Street Vibe Remix Featuring Craig Mack) (4:36)
6. If You Love Me (Street Vibe Remix Featuring Craig Mack - Instrumental) (4:36)

There are very few times when a great cover song can be remade into something good, but also something worse. Nevertheless, there are the ones that are in-between. For a Hip Hop and Soul group like Brownstone, they had a middle of the road version, but just had a bit too much. Their rendiditon of the classic Eagles song, I Can't Tell You Why, was covered in the wake of success in the Eagles' Hell Freezes Over reunion. Sadly for Brownstone, they had a fair cover, but it just doesn't measure up that the original version the classic rock song made out. Here, it just seems too much in the soul, not in the simplicity of the song. Even though, Brownstone is no more, they could hopefully do a better groups of songs if they reunite someday.

Song: C 1/2+

This song is my favorite song in the world. It's VERY hard to find though. I wish they had the whole song on REal Audio on the net. Cause it's been sometime since I've heard this song.