Just a quickie really to say-theres alot of folk saying they haven't even listened to Bria's album-even though they have it.....i dont get that one at all. It really is at least worth a listen-you may be suprised-it has a very classy sound-she may not be Sade (she isn't) but the tunes are catchy-and the music is fabulous-really tight and nice-put it this way. Apart from P's stuff-one album I really do rank for musicianship is Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite. Brilliant playing on that album. Well take a listen to Elixir. I genuinely believe the music is that good and lije i said-she may not be Sade-but as a first album-man i'd sure be chuffed if this was my first-in fact-her second is gonna have ALOT to live up to-especially if theres no Prince-she'll need to hire the best session players to get a worthy follow up to ELIXIR.

ps-so is he doing something with Shelby J..I hoped we'd hear something from her by now.

PPS-now I know all the tunes off these 3 discs i can honestly say no erview i read previous to listening to the set matches-its like they were listening to diffrent albums to the ones we got so to me it proves-reviews are a pile of poo. Ignore em' and make up your own mind-especially with Elixir-its way better than its getting credit for

I tried. Didn't make it past the fourth track - and skipped half of the third. It's...not good.

have to say that I love it, great background chill music, especially when I'm working at PC late into the night.

Prince finally did a good job with his protegee's project I'm proud of him-the cd is really good.
[Edited 4/7/09 14:57pm]

I finally gave in and gave it a listen. I wish like hell that I hadn't but I did listen to it.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

At least you were fair about it.

Its a good cd. Lots of things getting in the way of people enjoying it though (bias related).

Hoe and 2nite are jams.

I like some of it. Her singing is not very rich, emotionally, but some of the music is good.

lol @ Genesia.....-i dont think you can say something's no good-if you aint even listened to half of it in fairness.....

I enjoyed the title track

Okay,
The Bad: She's no Tamar, who was a far more talented singer. The good amount of the songs are really contrived, pretty bad! Prince seems to have such a knack for love songs and R&B in general, he can write a ballad in his sleep. So I was disappointed that I didn't like this album more. This album it sounded like he tried too hard on some of these.Okay HOME is Prince trying to appeal to the Beyonce/Hip Hop/R&B crowd...contrived. SOMETHING U ALREADY KNOW is a bore...zzzz. 2NITE, another contrived song meant to appeal to HOUSE/DANCE radio..blah....ELIXIR...OH what a disappointment. I actually look forward to Prince duets, but even Claire Fischer's string arrangements couldn't save this song.

The Good: HERE EYE COME & ANOTHER BOY are quite decent singles. I could actually hear these on the radio if radio ACTUALLY played R&B on the stations anymore ALL THIS LOVE is cute and fun, but thats it. KEPT WOMAN is a good song, but Tamar's version is way better I think. Best song on here, has to be EVERYTIME....yes its cheesy & syrupy, reminds me of Te Amo Corazon, but Claire Fisher with the string arrangements and Prince's vocal arrangement makes this a very cute and fun song.

So overall, I like about 5 songs and dislike 4 songs. Comparing it to Tamar's album (yes that is unreleased) I'd have to say Tamar's album was much stronger with more appeal with fewer contrived songs (Holla & Shout and Closer 2 My Heart)..also the lyrics on Tamar's albums were much deeper and heart-felt. This album is okay...its not bad, its not terrible, but I would have to say it did need more work and maybe a few more good songs...oh and a much more talented singer Prince, enough with the Girlfriend albums!!

At first I wasn't really digging Bria's cd....but I decided to give it a second listen, while reading the lyrics. I have decided it is not as bad as I originally thought. I think I was just so hyped about Prince's new music, that I may not have given it a fair chance. It's not a great album, by any means, but it does have a few songs that have grown on me. I really like the title track, but that may have to do with Prince's imput. Hopefully the cd will continue to grow on me over time. I won't put it on the shelf just yet.

i like 'elixer' a lot. it's my favorite of the three new cds.

The music is tight no matter what anyone says. Bria's voice is o.k. on this first endeavor; give it a chance. I think Women should love this CD because it's romantic and if you put it on when you're with your man, well you know the rest.

I played it to an audience that are not that keen on prince, and the absolutely loved it

i think he did a really good job playing to her strengths (or, if you will, weaknesses). she doesn't have the strongest voice in the world but it works really well with the songs on the album.

Elixer is an adult comptemporary Prince-style. The reason you will here the less sophisticated Prince audience that listens to Beyonce bad mouthing this albumk is because they dont get it. They arent mature enough to appreciate well crafted music without hip hop gimmicks and booty lyrics. Prince hit it on the head by eluding to Sade. While I am sure that even he would admit that Bria isnt Sade, it is that kind of music for that kind of audience. It is not for the teeny bopper dance club crowd or the low brow ghetto types who only want jungle music.
This is whyi say it is a greater musical substance than the Tamar album - as it will inevitably be compared by Prince diehards who have heard Milk & Honey. Tamar's record is as good as anything Beyonce has done adn she was Prince's version of Beyonce. SHe was aimed at that audience. Bria is his version of Sade and she is aimed at Sade's audience. They are different.

Brofie said:

I'm convinced you are deaf and are working for Bria's PR ppl:) Tamar is NO Sade. Tamar's album was not a Beyonce album. The real difference, is better lyrics, better songs and better singing on Tamar's album. Bria's album is lack-luster. She's not a good singer, half the songs are good/decent, but in terms of quality...I think Tamar's album had way more heart into it. Read the lyrics for Living Alone, Kept Woman, First Love...drastic change on Bria's album.

Now, in terms of judging sophistication...see my remark about the lyrics on Tamar's album

polkadotbliss said:

Ohhhhh. So I should force myself to listen to something that I didn't find appealing?

Yeah...no.

listening to the album, judging it purely by its sound, there's no reason a lot of these songs couldn't DOMINATE the charts. they really are good.

of course we know that's not how the game works.

but i think it will be a shame if people (fans) ignore this album. it's good stuff.

rudedog said:

i like the melodies in these bria songs. imo they are much better crafted pieces of music than anything on the two prince albums. they have a solid structure and satisfying melodic resolutions. there are quiet spaces.

rudedog said:

I am convinced you didnt read and just wanted to shoot your mouth off without fear with no regard to looking ignorant because I clearly stated that even Prince wouldnt say Bria she is Sade. Now what?

Genesia said:

No - there often is nothing that can be done to make some expand their vocabulary. They shouldnt be forced. Someone has to be on the far ends of the curve.

I have listened to it once, and was pleasantly surprised, it was far better than i was expecting. Probably coz most of Princes protege works in recent yrs have been woeful. Elixir is a nice chill album, and although I can hear the Sade similarites, it is far from that level. Nouveaudance actually did a good review of it over at associated artists which seemed to nail it on the head. I will definately be given it some more airplay soon.

Whitnail said:

eek, can you link me to that please i didn't see it

I'm man enough to admit I love the hell out of track 2.

stanleylieber said:

http://prince.org/msg/5/301830

its on the first page

To be fair and not compromised, I listened to this cd first. I hate the intros on several cuts. Her voice is too soft, has little humph or impact on the lines written, and is, frnakly, non-descript. I tried to get throough it a second time and just couldn't do it and haven't played it since.

I Like that "Maxwell Album," and I do feel that way about some similar sounds.
Nevertheless I love the jazz feel of the album.

Elixer has become my favorite album produced for someone else since the 80's.