Best of Mixerr Album Reviews! Page 298

J. Valentine - J. Valentine album review

The J. Valentine - J. Valentine solo album is a gangsta rap meets R&B/soul. His intoxicating voice is considered to be chart-topping artist smooth. That is how smooth his voice and vocals are really considered to be. That gorgeous high pitched voice that goes well with the beats. Feels So Good, Niggaz Nature, Can't Let U Pass My By, Shy, and Do What It Do are some examples.

The J. Valentine - J. Valentine solo album was one of Death Row Records lesser known unreleased albums which did not get promoted as much or hardly receive any attention. That is because the album was never released. J. Valentine had an album due out on Death Row Records that never materialized for obvious reasons of course.

He had a record deal with Death Row Records when he was 27 years old in 2000. Suge Knight’s plan was to mold J-Valentine as one of the young gangsta rappers along with Crooked I, Top Dogg, K9, Doobie, and Tha Realist. However J. Valentine’s plan was to appeal to young audiences and girls since he was about doing songs for women. He never wanted to be a gangsta rapper. Rather than be a flashy artist, Valentine sings about things that the average fan can relate to, from going to the mall to the type of girl he’s looking for. However him and Sage had disagreements about the direction of the album. So the album was never released to disagreements in musical direction and style of music.

Here is how J. Valentine described his Death Row album,

“I’m not going to sing about anything that I don’t live. I’m not about flossing because in my neighborhood people don’t have that.  That’s something that I think that helps me when I’m writing, I’m not going to lie to myself. My songs are really about living the young life. People aren’t loving to be young any more. I’m for the girls. I’m about doing songs for women. If a man buys my record, I want to give him things to say to women to make them feel good. I do music for the neighborhood girls. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about women.”

An advertisement for the J. Valentine solo album appeared in the COMING SOON section of the 2001 album 2Pac - Until The End Of Time.

J. Valentine is Johnny Valentine. San Fransisco Johnny Valentine came from the R&B/soul quartet The Newtrons, which were his brothers. He was already an R&B crooner and a background vocalist. J. Valentine has worked on several 2Pac tracks. He’s provided vocals to Hell 4 A Hustla for the Still I Rise album, Thug Nature for the Too Gangsta For Radio album, and When I Get Free for the Until The End of Time album.


Niggaz Nature (Thug Nature) was a song 2Pac (Tupac) and J. Valentine recorded for the J. Valentine solo album. This was the original version with J. Valentine on it and not the remix. Michael Jackson sings the chorus with J. Valentine.

Suge Knight ended up putting the original version of Niggaz Nature (Thug Nature) out on an album called Too Gangsta For Radio which didn’t get a lot of attention. Unfortunately Too Gangsta For Radio came out when Suge was in jail so nobody was there to promote the album properly.  That was one of 2Pac’s biggest loses as well for the label. That song could have made into a big single.


The song Do What It Do with Tha Realist one of the hardest songs recorded for the album which was later used on the 2009 album Tha Realist - Witness Tha Realest. The album had a fast paced braggadocious lyrical twist. Tha Realist was on some old Tung Twista type and was so fly.

Feels So Good is one of those love songs about reaching good loving and pleasure. Both physically and mentally. J. Valentine explains that it’s good to receive love both mentally and physically. Clearly J. Valentine was on that fly R&B/soul type shit when he wrote and recorded this song for his solo album.

4/5****!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mandy Moore - So Real album review

So Real by Mandy Moore was an overlooked pop album from 1999. By this time record companies were attempting to replicate the success of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera by pushing their artists into the pop format. However Mandy’s debut album got lost in the shuffle of successful contemporary pop artists that were coming out at that time such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. This lead her debut album to get overlooked. Sadly her debut album was only a moderate success. Now the album did spawn a few moderate hits which made a few minor splashes. Those hits were Candy and So Real.


Candy was the heavy bass driven memorable bubblegum pop song many 80s ad 90s babies remember clearly. The song uses a funky guitar with a loud presence back behind some mean heavy bass lines. Those mean heavy bass lines are what make the song stand out and memorable.

These lyrics show and indicate how addictive the song really is. The sound of his voice is sweet like candy.

I'm so addicted to the loving that you're feeding to me (Ooh)
Can't do without it
This feeling's got me weak in the knees (Oh, baby, baby)
Body's in withdrawal, every time you take it away (Ooh)

Like sugar to my heart (Ooh, baby)
I'm craving for you (I'm craving)
I'm missing you like candy (Missing you like candy)


Mandy explains the way she is feelings about the boy she is in love with are so real on the song So Real.

Innocence is what she has got. It'll take true love to hit the spot. She cannot voluntarily control her movements whenever she is around the boy she loves. Can't control my every move. When they’re together, they’re in the groove. She doesn't care about his other girls. Mandy is the only one who rocks his world. He’s gonna have to keep her satisfied as her innocence won't be denied. She can't explain the way that it's making her feel. It's so real.

She just can't let him go. Her heart is under lock and key. Together they can set it free. All he’s gotta do is take his own sweet time. Mandy is giving him her all. It's her innocence that makes him yearn for that perfect gift he can't return. The way he is makin' her feel. You know that it's real.


Mandy gives the boy she loves what he wants and desires on the song What You Want. She is what he wants. She can be what he wants. She tells him that she is the girl of his fantasy.

A boy caught Mandy’s ear. She wants to see what he has to say. She tells the boy she loves, “I love to love you. “Some boys are full of noise. But boy, you've caught my ear. Wanna see if you've got something to say. No lies or alibis. Be my friend or you could be on your way.” She tells him the nonsense stops here. She tells him to play it smart if he wants to reach her heart. That's how to please her.

She tells him that she is the girl of his fantasy. She is what he wants. She can be what he wants. Mandy tells him, “What you want, I can be. I’m the girl of your fantasy. As long as you love me. What you want, I can do.  All I ask of you is baby you love me.”

Some boys want pretty toys but Mandy is so much more. Can't you see that she is a girl you can trust? Get real with how you feel. Get real with how you feel or she’s out that door. Is it love or is it only a crush? Mandy tells him, “Listen up, boy. Get real with how you feel or I’m out that door. Back it up, boy. And stop talking smack now.”

Is this love? Does it fall from Heaven above? Do you feel it? Can you feel me? Mandy asks him these questions, “Does it fall from Heaven above? Do you feel it, boy? Can you feel me, boy? I know it's not right. I know it's not wrong. But right here right now is where I belong.”


Mandy wants the boy she loves to lock her in his heart. She is the only person she feels safe and secure with. He gives her a sense of security and subtleness. The sound of his voice is sweet like candy. That is the synopsis for Lock Me In Your Heart. It’s one of “those” “magical songs”.

There was a time when Mandy was all alone. Waiting for someone she could call her own. She closed her eyes and dreamt him up one day. Her prince of charms would ride up and they’d fly away. They’s fly away to a place where the magic between them becomes real.

In Mandy’s words, “There was a time when I was all alone. Waiting for someone I could call my own. I closed my eyes and dreamt you up one day. My prince of charms would ride up and we'd fly away. Take me to a place where the magic between us becomes real. Take me all the way.”

Mandy wants the boy she loves to lock her in his heart and throw away the key. One thing she wants him to do is never let go of her. She wants him to show her love. The way love is supposed to be. She tells him to lock her in his heart and never let her go indefinitely. Mandy wants to be taken to a place where the magic between us becomes real With him alone is where she clearly wants to be. He will always be her dream lover.

In Mandy’s words, “Boy, I want you to lock me in your heart and throw away the key. Show me love. Lock me in your heart and never let me go. I must confess. You are the best. So baby, come take me. We'll dance together where no one can see. With you alone is where I wanna be. Uncharted territory we'll discover. You'll always be my dream lover.”


Candy (Wade Robson Remix) was the heavy bass driven memorable bubblegum pop song many 80s ad 90s babies remember clearly. The song uses a funky guitar with a loud presence back behind some mean heavy bass lines. Those mean heavy bass lines are what make the song stand out and memorable.

These lyrics show and indicate how addictive the song really is. The sound of his voice is sweet like candy.

I'm so addicted to the loving that you're feeding to me (Ooh)
Can't do without it
This feeling's got me weak in the knees (Oh, baby, baby)
Body's in withdrawal, every time you take it away (Ooh)

Like sugar to my heart (Ooh, baby)
I'm craving for you (I'm craving)
I'm missing you like candy (Missing you like candy)


Mandy tells the boy she loves and admires to quit playing games with her heart and to quit breaking her heart. That is what Quit Breaking My Heart is about.

He was her first slow dance. She thought they had a chance. But clearly that was too hard. But together was too hard of a concept for him to understand or comprehend. His priorities were focused on hanging out with his friends. Mandy accepts these things. All she needs is for him to be true. She knows he cares. But it's just not fair when he is not around. Mandy wants him there with her. He needs to stop breaking her heart.

She explains to him the following, “You were my first slow dance. Thought that we had a chance. But together was too hard for you. Hanging out with your friends. And I accept these things. All I need is for you to be true. I know you care. But it's just not fair when you're not around. I want you there. And you need to stop breaking my heart. Quit breaking my heart. It's tearing apart. All I need is for you to be true. Quit breaking my heart. It's tearing us apart.” She tells him to quit breaking her heart as it is tearing apart.

Mandy doesn't feel this way about everyone. There is something about this boy Mandy loves. Nothing seems to be quite like this. Mandy holding his hand and him touching her face. Standing here waiting for their first kiss. She tells him, “Baby, I don't feel this way about everyone. Something about you, boy. Nothing seems to be quite like this. Holding your hand. Touching my face. Standing here waiting for our first kiss.”

4/5****!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mandy Moore - s/t album review

The self-titled Mandy Moore album departed from using the typical bubblegum pop sound of that time. She chose to move in a different musical direction because music was starting to sound the same by 2001. Mostly dance influences were used on this album of hers. This was one of those more mature albums. Songs such as Saturate Me and One Sided Love are some examples. Now there are songs such as Split Chick that showcase her goofy and immature side.

The self-titled Mandy Moore album was an overlooked pop album from 2001. By this time record companies were attempting to replicate the success of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera by pushing their artists into the pop format. However Mandy’s debut album got lost in the shuffle of successful contemporary pop artists that were coming out at that time such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. This lead her debut album to get overlooked. Sadly her self-titled album was only a moderate success.


You can see the mature side of Mandy Moore on the song Saturate Me. She uses words that are considered advanced vocabulary such as “barrage”, “desolate”, “evaporating”, “arid”, and “parched”. This shows her side of maturity. The song strayed away from the bubblegum pop sound of that era.

Words that are considered advanced vocabulary such as “barrage”, “desolate”, “evaporating”, and “parched” are used in Verse 1, the chorus, and bridge.

[Verse 1]
The desert I wander lacks its mirage
There's no mistaking the barrage
Of sand and wind that tears my skin
Leaving what's without, exposing what's within
Forsaken, left here in my barren desolate

[Chorus]
My soul is evaporating, won't you saturate me
Won't you saturate me?
Rain down on me with life
My soul is evaporating, won't you saturate me
Won't you saturate me?
Storm around me, bring the tide

[Bridge]
The dunes that shift, drift and lift in the wind
Cover up my hope as I start to give in
To the cracks and creases and the dips in my will
As I am pushed toward the brink, I drink down arid swill

The desert Mandy wanders in lacks its mirage. There is no mistaking the barrage of sand and wind that tear her skin. Leaving what's without, exposing what's within. Forsaken, left here in her barren desolate. Her soul is evaporating. Won't a boy saturate her? She needs a boy to satisfy her insecurity and companionship.

Her days stretch long into the heat as the sun brightens her defeat. The dunes that shift, drift, and lift in the wind. Her lips are chapped from being parched and dry in the desert climate. Thirst builds with every day gone by. The thrust builds up inside of her. There's no mistaking the hot desert climate. Now Mandy wants a storm to form around her because a storm will bring the tide in. As she is pushed toward the brink, she drink down arid swill.


Mandy defies gravity on Yo-Yo as she breaks away from a toxic relationship from her previous lover. This is one of her more mature songs with a touch of dance.

Their toxic relationship is broken. However Mandy still has some attachment to her previous lover. Way down is still where her previous lover gets through to her. She’s told herself it isn't right but it isn't wrong. She needs protecting from herself. It's not hard to figure out why she can't hear herself singing the same sad song. She is not a Yo-Yo. She is not a thing you let go. She keeps hangin around. She keeps hangin around as she has got some attachment to you and to them.

However Mandy breaks free from her toxic relationship by explaining to her previous lover telling them, “I’ve got to move forward. So I've cut the cord.” “You're leaving me no choice and I'll be on my way” She had to cut ties with her previous lover by moving on without them. She is not a Yo-Yo. She doesn't come back when thrown. Mandy keeps hanging around but can't defy gravity. This is because Mandy has got to move forward. She assured, adored, and satisfied her previous lover. Clearly that wasn’t enough for them.

Her previous lover was leaving her no choice. She can't let that hope in. It's broken. So she cut the cord and moved forward. It isn’t right the way Mandy was treated.

These lyrics explain how Mandy still has some attachment to her previous lover.

I know what you want
I'm not a Yo-Yo
I'm not a thing you let go...
I keep hangin around
Got some attachment to you
Way down is still where you get through
I've told myself it isn't right but it isn't wrong
Yet I've found
The more you hot and cold me
The more I need protecting

This is how Mandy explains that she is not a Yo-Yo.

Mandy is not a Yo-Yo. She is not a thing you let go of. She keeps hangin around as she has got some attachment to you. Way down is to where you get through to her. It's not hard to figure out why Mandy is never too far from the floor. You can only take her up and down. Nowhere else. She doesn't come back when thrown. Mandy keeps hanging around but can't defy gravity. Of course she rebounds every time you touch her. Now you've come to face the fact. But Mandy running as fast as she can to the door because you just wanna swing her front and back. You're leaving her no choice and she’ll be on her way. For every climb there is a downward slide.


Split Chick is a dance pop song which showcases her goofy and immature side. At the same time, the song she showed her innocence as she was still a child and was considered a minor at 17 years old. Mandy Moore gets wild on the song. The song is also about taking dreams and making them real.

Mandy can run as fast as the boys. She can sing and dance ballet. She can show you all of her toys.
However she would rather be alone today. It's not that she doesn't like to hang around with you. And though you're fun. Mandy is on the run. It’s because Mandy has so much to do. She’s gotta make the dreams she has come true because life is what you make it and to wasting it just won't do for her. She’s gotta split and can't stay around. Mandy is a split chick with so many sides to her personality. That's the way she is a split chick.

Mandy can hold her breath forever. She can pledge allegiance in reverse. And you know kids can be so clever. It can be a blessing or a curse. Mandy forgot about the time and then realized she’s gotta run along and sing her song. She’ll kiss you and miss you . Don’t worry. She’ll be back before too long.

Every flower has to find a way to reach up to the sun. Even through the cracks in the sidewalk.

Mandy has to make the most of everyday. Makin' friends that'll help her on my way. She’ll rise above the fear she feels. Mandy is gonna take these dreams and make them real. Mandy explains her plans during the pre-chorus.

[Pre-Chorus]
Gotta make the most of everyday
Makin' friends that'll help me on my way
I'll rise above the fear I feel
I'm gonna take these dreams and make them real

3/5***

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mandy Moore - I Wanna Be With You album review

I Wanna Be With You by Mandy Moore was an overlooked pop album from 2000. By this time record companies were attempting to replicate the success of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera by pushing their artists into the pop format. However Mandy’s debut album got lost in the shuffle of successful contemporary pop artists that were coming out at that time such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. This lead her debut album to get overlooked. Sadly her debut album was only a moderate success. Now the album did spawn a few moderate hits which made a few minor splashes. Those hits were Candy and So Real.

Now this album was packaged as a new album while Epic Records was really trying to pass off this release as a “new album” which was really a compilation album. Yes, I Wanna Be With You was a compilation album. Only completionists should buy this album to fill their Mandy Moore collection.


Candy (Wade Robson Remix) was the heavy bass driven memorable bubblegum pop song many 80s ad 90s babies remember clearly. The song uses a funky guitar with a loud presence back behind some mean heavy bass lines. Those mean heavy bass lines are what make the song stand out and memorable.

These lyrics show and indicate how addictive the song really is. The sound of his voice is sweet like candy.

I'm so addicted to the loving that you're feeding to me (Ooh)
Can't do without it
This feeling's got me weak in the knees (Oh, baby, baby)
Body's in withdrawal, every time you take it away (Ooh)

Like sugar to my heart (Ooh, baby)
I'm craving for you (I'm craving)
I'm missing you like candy (Missing you like candy)


Mandy explains the way she is feelings about the boy she is in love with are so real on the song So Real (Wade Robson Remix).

Innocence is what she has got. It'll take true love to hit the spot. She cannot voluntarily control her movements whenever she is around the boy she loves. Can't control my every move. When they’re together, they’re in the groove. She doesn't care about his other girls. Mandy is the only one who rocks his world. He’s gonna have to keep her satisfied as her innocence won't be denied. She can't explain the way that it's making her feel. It's so real.

She just can't let him go. Her heart is under lock and key. Together they can set it free. All he’s gotta do is take his own sweet time. Mandy is giving him her all. It's her innocence that makes him yearn for that perfect gift he can't return. The way he is makin' her feel. You know that it's real.


Mandy gives the boy she loves what he wants and desires on the song What You Want. She is what he wants. She can be what he wants. She tells him that she is the girl of his fantasy.

A boy caught Mandy’s ear. She wants to see what he has to say. She tells the boy she loves, “I love to love you. “Some boys are full of noise. But boy, you've caught my ear. Wanna see if you've got something to say. No lies or alibis. Be my friend or you could be on your way.” She tells him the nonsense stops here. She tells him to play it smart if he wants to reach her heart. That's how to please her.

She tells him that she is the girl of his fantasy. She is what he wants. She can be what he wants. Mandy tells him, “What you want, I can be. I’m the girl of your fantasy. As long as you love me. What you want, I can do.  All I ask of you is baby you love me.”

Some boys want pretty toys but Mandy is so much more. Can't you see that she is a girl you can trust? Get real with how you feel. Get real with how you feel or she’s out that door. Is it love or is it only a crush? Mandy tells him, “Listen up, boy. Get real with how you feel or I’m out that door. Back it up, boy. And stop talking smack now.”

Is this love? Does it fall from Heaven above? Do you feel it? Can you feel me? Mandy asks him these questions, “Does it fall from Heaven above? Do you feel it, boy? Can you feel me, boy? I know it's not right. I know it's not wrong. But right here right now is where I belong.”


3/5***