Gone are the trademark braids and young innocence of past. She’s growin up ya’ll and she wants you to know it. Full Moon is the third release from Brandy Norwood, better known to you and me by just Brandy. There’s been much talk about how Brandy’s voice has changed. That it’s gotten deeper and allowed her to explore a little more, and it’s true – there is definitely a change, and it suits her.


Off the top, there are a few things that stand out on this album besides Brandy’s new voice. There is the omnipresent Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins (Pro Tools IS his best friend), who had a hand in 9 of the 17 tracks. It’s becoming the norm these days for R&B and Hip-Hop artists to pick one producer and just roll with it. Mariah used to do it with Walter Afanasieff (who basically wrote ALL of her ballads in her Sony days), Janet Jackson has done it her whole life with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and could you imagine hearing Ginuwine or Aaliyah on anything but a Timbaland and Missy beat? 17 is another issue. It’s simply too many songs for an album. The album spans about 73 minutes (For the non-math functioning that’s 1 hour and 13 minutes). There are plenty of songs on the album, that I feel should have been cut and would have made the album a more solid offering.


One warning I would give to consumers is if you don’t like the lead single What About Us, you might want to get a copy from somewhere else. The sound and feel of What About Us is pretty much what the entire first half of the album sounds like. Very heavy on the drum machine, very heavy on computer synthesizer, very Darkchild. If you’re an old Brandy fan, you might be a little upset, for newer fans – who have no knowledge of old Brandy, I think this album would be just fine.


Having said all of that, what does this album have to offer? Being the liner note junkie that I am, I know that track 16, Wow, was co-written by Robert Smith, Brandy, Kenisha Pratt, Nora Payne, and LaShawn Daniels. One of those names, you recognize right away. Two of them you will come to be familiar with. LaShawn Daniels is a songwriter who basically has had her hand in all of the songs that you’ve loved in the last year or so. If Darkchild produced it, chances are, she was there. The other name is Robert Smith, who is now Brandy’s husband and soon will be the father of her child. As a hopeless romantic and a sucker for a good love song, I think this is my favorite song on the album. It’s simple production, sweet lyrics and sincerity make this one a hit. ”That’s why I say WOW/ Never felt a love a so good/ I look up and my world is brighter now/ There’s no more rainy clouds/ Since love’s here and/ Now everyday I wear a smile/ You came in my life and the clouds are gone/ I only see the sun…”. Definitely sweet, definitely should be a single.



Full Moon I feel, should have been the lead single. Written and produced by Mike City, I think this song perfectly showcases Brandy’s new voice over a radio and club friendly beat. About seeing a boy in a club for the first time, about something special in the air, must be a (haha) full moon. Although I’m not familiar with Mike City’s work, I think it really suits Brandy. It manages to not overpower her. Her voice sounds strong and kind of husky on this on, the beat is strong, but Brandy is stronger.



Like This is another one of those songs that shows off Brandy’s new vocal chords. Her voice register is very low and she shines at mid-tempo. I also like that this song features conventional instruments – an organ and a violin, such novelties these days in music to have real instruments. Apart is a song that has the “computer” feel to it, but manages to actually do well. The song has a very simple arrangement, and the music loop is nicely used. Can We sounds like the twin sister of What About Us and I don’t really like either one of them. I think Brandy has a nice voice, and I’d rather hear it than to hear her voice be computerized and overpowered.

Anybody actually started of sounding like Aaliyah’s big time hit Resolution. Then, once the song hits, it reminds me of the Neptunes, so I guess this one is a real mix up. I think for all of the songs that used the computer and drum machine, they should have used this one as an example of what they should have been like. To let Brandy sing, and the music to be the accompaniment to the vocals. I’m kind of torn about He Is. I can’t really decide if I like it or not. I like the music, but once the vocals come in, I’m not sure what to make of it. I almost think that Brandy’s voice might be too heavy for it, then it lifts for the chorus, and I can vibe it. You’ll have to figure this one out on your own.


Of course, there is the requisite album remake of a song. This time it’s PM Dawn’s (remember them?) song Die Without You. I love this song, and as a duet with her brother, Mr. Wait A Minute, Ray J, I think it pretty much tanks. It would have been better served sung by one of them, or neither of them. It just wasn’t meant to be a duet, the production, done by Mr. Brandy is simple and nice however, so score one point for that.


All in all I would say this is a VERY solid album by B-Rocka (her nickname given by Darkchild). I think her maturity and talent are evident. Brandy is moving head, staking her claim as an artist with longevity and a stable fan base. My hope is that her record company, Atlantic, won’t push the happy, younger geared songs too much and forgo the more adult songs on the album. In her notes, Brandy says about this album – “This project was definitely an adventure. It took three years to complete and during those three years, I have been on a journey to search for my higher self, bring my life into harmony, transform my perceptions and expand my awareness of love.” Those sentiments have shaped this album, and I can truly appreciate that.

Brandy Website - http://www.foreverbrandy.com


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out