Artist: Chris Brown
Album: Exclusive
Genre: R&B
Release Date: 11/6/2007
Label: Jive / Zomba Recordings

I have to start by saying that I am not a big fan of Chris Brown because I don't support the music industry's choices to make cash cows out of underage kids. They make tons of money off of them, direct their career and then slowly watch them fade away into non-existence or even worse a life of drug abuse because they can't handle the pressure.

With that said, I still listened to this album from the standpoint that I wanted to give those who read this my honest review of this album. So with all bias aside I listened and came to this conclusion:

This album to me sounds very much like his first one which tells me something significant. They found a formula that worked the first time and made no effort to expand from that. Other than more grown up lyrics about encounters with young women, this album shows no signs of Chris Brown maturing as an artist. Yes, you can boast all you want about being a man but unless you show that, do you expect us to believe it?

Out of 5 stars I would give this cd 2.5-3 and that's mainly due to a handful of decent songs and some good beats.

1. Throwed: This is pretty much just the intro into the album, it's a decent start but definitely not one of the stronger tracks on the album. Best thing about this song is the catchy beat.

2. Kiss Kiss (feat. T-Pain): Clearly his coming of age song where he boast about being the "King" and how much paper(money) he has, as well as the Lamborghini with the spider seats that he was recently given for his birthday. I'm sure most of you have heard this one because it's all over radio. It features T-Pain which everyone seems to run to these days for the next hit. Very catchy and danceable beat, catchy lyrics and good singing….all the ingredients of a hit. Looks like it worked, he just scored another #1 single with it. See Video

3. Take you down: Definitely one of the better songs on the album. It's a slower tempo groove with that old skool kind of feel to the beat. Gotta love the electric guitar in this song. I think the title of the song is pretty much explains the basis of this song.

4. With you: Sounds very much like a combination of "Irreplaceable" by Beyonce mixed with "Hate that I love you" by Rhianna. Ofcourse both of these songs were written with Ne-Yo and I'm willing to bet this one was too. If your not careful you almost find your self singing "To the left, to the left". Yet there is still something about this song that really works and allows it to have that same chemistry that could make it a worthwhile single.

5. Picture perfect (feat. Will i am): This song starts out very strong with a very uptempo dance vibe. Yet you can't help to notice the beat changes that really breakup the vibe of the song, and frankly should have been left out. Definitely sounds like something Will i am would produce.
 
6. Hold up: (feat. Big Boi): The beat is definitely different but very good, however it doesn't really work with the song to me. The only part I was remotely interested in was Big Boi's rap. The chorus is way to repetitive and gets very annoying afterawhile.

7. You: Love this beat! Again rockin' that old skool vibe with an updated feel. Pretty decent lyrics until you get to the chorus, where all he does is repeat "You, you, you, you" pretty much the whole time.

8. Damage: Sometimes you don't realize what you've done until you seen the damage is the meaning behind this song. Ofcourse that simply means he cheated and lost his girl because of it. Slower song, good beat, and great vocals. I really like the chorus on this one as well. One of the stand out tracks. Might even be my favorite pick.

9. Wall to wall: First single off the album that most people have already heard. Catchy danceable beat but not much subject to the song. Another, let me tell you about myself and how fly I am song. We've heard it all before. The video is kool though. See Video

10. Help me: Upbeat song about him getting himself under control when he's alone with a female. Really did this need a song? The beat is too overproduced in my opinion and the song is just flat out annoying. My least favorite track on the album..

11. I wanna be: Sounds very much like a song that was left off of Omarion's 21 cd. He really sounds a lot like him on this track as well. Nevertheless it is a good song. It's a mid-tempo song about him telling a girl how he wants to be whatever she needs. It reminds me of "Say Goodbye". Another stand out track.

12. Gimme whatcha got (feat. Lil Wayne): Nowhere near having the appeal that the Gimme that remix with Lil Wayne had. Honestly this is a passable track that would get the next track button hit. Nothing different, nothing new. Produced by Jazze Pha and in my opinion not remotely one of his best beats. He must have been on a budget when he purchased this beat.

13. I'll call ya: This has that Beyonce "Get me Bodied" kind of beat vibe, yet still holds it's own. It's a really different type of vibe that almost mixes a faster and slower tempo at the same time into one song. As crazy as this sounds it really does work. The vocals work well with this one as well. Nothing out the ordinary from a meaning standpoint but the beat alone commands your listening attention.

14. Lottery:  I'd be willing to bet that Timbaland or Danja had something to do with this beat. If it's true that automatically means the beat is a banger. Gives you that Justin Timberlake "Future Sex/Love Sounds" album kind of vibe.

15. Nice (feat. The Game): Produced by Scott Storch and very unproduced in my opinion. Very plain beat that fails to stand out at all. "That girls nice, cause she got it" says Chris. Another song about him wanting some random female he see's. Very boring track. Am I the only one that sees this an a very unlikely collaboration?


Aaron Fields is the Sales Marketing Coordinator for KSTW-TV in Seattle. All opinions expressed in this column are strictly his.