Changing Faces
Artist: Changing Faces
Community Score: 6.50

Changing Faces' recording career was off to a pleasant, if less than spectacular, start with this self-titled debut album. The name Changing Faces alluded to changing trends in 1990s R&B, which was moving away from hard-driving, hard-edged new jack swing and toward a smoother, softer type of medium-tempo groove. In fact, pretty much everything... Read More

For Life
Artist: Soul for Real
Community Score: 10.00
One in a Million
Artist: Aaliyah
Community Score: 8.62

Aaliyah's second album doesn't necessarily prove that she is indeed One in a Million, but it does showcase more depth and talent than her acclaimed debut. That's not only due to the greater variety of material on One in a Million, or to the way that her producers (Vincent Herbert, Jermaine Dupri, and many others) immaculately produce each track,... Read More

New Beginning
Artist: SWV
Community Score: 9.50

As a title, New Beginning may be something of an overstatement -- after all, it is only SWV's second album. Nevertheless, the group does take a different approach on New Beginning, backing away from the New Jack grooves that dominated their debut and exploring a more direct, organic R&B vibe. They haven't left hip-hop behind, but they've added a... Read More

R. Kelly
Artist: R. Kelly
Community Score: 7.82

With the salacious 12 Play, R. Kelly established himself as one of the top R&B hitmakers of the mid-'90s, rivalled only by Babyface and Dr. Dre for overall consistency. 12 Play was marred by occasionally slight tunes which were obscured by the explicit sexuality of the lyrics. R. Kelly isn't hampered by those flaws, although it isn't a perfect... Read More

Candy Rain
Artist: Soul for Real
Community Score: 8.80

The title track to Soul for Real's debut album was a monster hit, and it's easy to see why -- the vocal group sounds sultry and seductive, and the production is smooth. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Read More

Do You Wanna Ride?
Artist: Adina Howard
Community Score: 7.67

Do You Wanna Ride is the lackluster debut release from Michigan native Adina Howard. Although the album includes the somewhat catchy 1995 hit single "Freak Like Me," there's not much more to recommend the album. The main problem with Do You Wanna Ride is more work was put into the production than into the songwriting. The employment of several... Read More

I Believe I Can Fly - US SINGLE #2
Artist: R. Kelly
Community Score: 3.75

A song utilised in the film Space Jam, "I Believe I Can Fly" is a lovely piece of work with pleasant lyrics juxtaposed against a soothing, swirling orchestral track. The EP comes with three versions of the title song, plus the LP version of "Religious Love" and a remix of "I Can't Sleep Baby (If I)." A nice little package. ~ Steven McDonald, All... Read More