Deborah Cox - The Morning After

Overall: 8.12

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The wait is over for something new from Deborah and I can say it was well worth it. Right now, a lot of singers with soaring vocals get the lackluster songs while the wannabees score the best ones. Deborah Cox, who's smarter than the pack, avoid this altogether by coproducing the album and working with only the finest producers in the biz. Result? A very worthy album. "Up & Down (In & Out)" the sensually hip-hop beat first single leads the CD down a great path. Following that "2 Good 2 Be True" is an urban flavored groove. Of the remixes, "Up & Down (In & Out)" with Jadakiss isn't unique enough from the original to make a splash, but the two other ones: "Mr. Lonely" and "Absolutely Not" turn her into a dance diva as her voice wraps itself around the funky dance beat. Of course Deborah does have to use her talents and divine voice to try to transform some medicore fillers into great songs. "Oh My Gosh" is probably the prime example of the CD, where Deborah uses what she's got to make the song more listenable than it really is. And the ballads are all wonderfully done, "The Morning After" and "Hurt So Much" highlight the CD. I think Deborah Cox fans will dig and Soul fans will be in for a treat. Deborah earned herself some more credit from this CD, good for her. Here's a review of the songs: 1. Up & Down (In & Out) - The red hot first single, this song moves and grooves along to the beat. Think Aaliyah's "Rock The Boat" with more hip-hop beats to it. Irrestiable. 10/10 2. 2 Good 2 Be True - A skeptic Cox thinks about whether this guy is what he's appearing to be. The song's a light groove with a little dance beat plugged in. I like it. 8/10 3. Play Your Part - A Toni Braxton-esque about trying to pull the no good mate out of an emotional gutter. But unlike Braxton, Cox pulls the song off in diva form without showing off. 9/10 4. Like I Did - Jerkins tries to show off this stuff on this track but it really sounds like Diet Darkchild. A poor version of Brandy's "What About Us?". 6.5/10 5. Hurt So Much - Yes, this is true Deborah. She gets a chance to showcase her divine pipes. She's centerstage here, not an overbearing beat or backup singers, they are set aside. Love it to death. 10/10 6. Just A Dance feat. Kurupt - Has a nice party tone like "Up & Down" does but unfortunely this song is just a dance filler. 7/10 7. The Morning After - A very deserving title track, has a slinky "last call" vibe which I'm totally digging. Cox doesn't sound completely like herself but not to a disavantage. 9/10 8. Givin' It Up - A little let down after "The Morning After", this song's beat will get to you and drill into your brain, and it even seems like she isn't giving her fullest on this track. 5/10 9. Up & Down (Remix) feat. Jadakiss - The thing about remixes is that they need to sound independent from the original which the All-Star remix fails to do. Some elements I like but stick to the original. 7/10 10. Oh My Gosh - I think the word "gosh" has went out of style, in 1950. The phase "oh my gosh" could been replaced with something else in the chorus. It's okay overall. 7.5/10 11. Starting With You - A nice ballad backed by guitar plucks and gospel-like backup singers. A little more in the flow of the song would make it better. 8/10 12. Mr. Lonely (Hex/Mac Remix) - Clearly work of Hex Hector but this is a far better than most his remixes. Such a hot track, gives you a shot of nostogia from the disco days. 10/10 13. Absolutely Not (Chanel Remix) - Another hot dance track,  edged out by "Mr. Lonely" 8.5/10 - Originally reviewed (12-16-02)     - Rereviewed (-)