What do you guys think of Monica?

I think she's great. She's one of those people that I liked almost every single she's had out, but I didn't give her much thought. I bought After The Storm when "So Gone" came out because I absolutely love that song and it hit home, and the whole album is great and I think she doesn't get enough recognition. She's not a bad rapper, either.

Her older stuff is great, too, and I'm still loving "Don't Take It Personal". I remember being, like, 11 years old and just listening to that with my friends. We loved it!

She's tolerable, I suppose. She has a pleasant-enough voice, but it's basically indistinguishable from that of the average R&B diva. And in terms of charisma (live and vocally), I think she's a black hole, but maybe that's just me. "So Gone" is probably her best, most accomplished song, but that isn't saying much. I have both After The Storm and The Boy Is Mine, and I think that ATS is a definite step down artistically. Fewer catchy songs, more nondescript production, and she just sounds BORED on the record. The only song that she shines on (other than "So Gone") is "I Wrote This Song", about her boyfriend's suicide. She manages to evoke some emotion there, and the lyrics hit home. Unfortunately, the dated production (was this cut 4 years ago?) almost manages to sink it. Scrapping the All Eyez On Me album, then cobbling this together from spare parts and some new tracks was NOT a good idea, since it means the album lacks a certain cohesiveness, both tonally and production-wise. When it takes an artist 5 years just to complete an album (there was a 3-year gap between Miss Thang and The Boy Is Mine, and then she went dormant until last year), I expect something more interesting and impressive.

She has potential. If she injects some emotion into her vocals, hires some REALLY good producers, and tries to get an album out in 2 years instead of 5, she might have something there.
[This message was edited Sun Jan 4 10:39:05 PST 2004 by VoicesCarry]

It's interesting, too, that her sonic role of choice seems to be the bitchy former lover/scorned woman ("Just Another Girl", "The Boy Is Mine", "So Gone", "Hurts The Most"). It works well enough with her icy vocals.
[This message was edited Sun Jan 4 10:44:37 PST 2004 by VoicesCarry]

I like her songs. I do agree, though, that she needs better producers. I don't have The Boy is Mine. I'll have to check it out, since you said it's better than After The Storm, which I really like.

theVelvetRoper said:

You certainly get a good batch of songs on The Boy Is Mine. Her #1's "Angel Of Mine", "The First Night" (with a "Love Hangover" sample), and the title track, plus "Street Symphony" (truly gorgeous) and her cover of Dorothy Moore's "Misty Blue" (not half bad). She sounds much more alive on that record than ATS.

I'll have to check it out.

I'm feeling "Knock, Knock" and the Scumfrog remix of So Gone was one of the hottest dance jams of '03. "Get It Off" was tired, though. Leave Strafe's classic alone if you're not going to improve upon it.

Also, Missy is getting a tad oversaturated as of late and I'm starting to tire of her sound and voice. She needs to chill out and give us a chance to miss her. Singing on every single solitary urban hook reaks of oversaturation.