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JennYNoel Gourdin - After the time review
August 18th 2008 21:04
Genre: R&B
Length: 47:57
Label: Epic Records
Browsing through the U.S. Billboards charts, I found this album called After The Time released only three weeks ago. Since it reached the top 5 of R&B albums, I thought I'd give it a listen and tell you what I think.
The album starts with the song One Love in which Noel realizes the importance of his girlfriend who just dumped him. It's a nice ballad coupled with an energetic piano. Noel has a beautiful voice that he uses really well in this song. Furthermore, his transition from bass to soprano is very similar to Mariah Carey's singing.
Better Man is the second track. Noel's voice – sometimes low and high-pitched – is very reminiscent of African-American gospel singers. Although this song has a lot more drums and bass than the previous track, One Love carries a lot more energy; Better Man simply has too many breaks in the rhythm. Lyrically-wise, the song has Noel telling a girl he loves that she deserves better than the guy she wants, and that he could offer much more.
The River is the most popular song of the album. A nostalgic and sentimental track, The River talks about a lost love.
Open, a sensual slow, begins like Usher's “Moving Mountains.” In it, Noel is open to whatever a girl wants to do to him and he has imagined this moment a long time ago.
Hurts Like Hell is about a man's honor and has vocally telling chorus. Noel says that his girlfriend took advantage of him, he's really hurting but she's never going to see it.
On Led You On, there's a disconnection between the verses and the chorus. The chorus is a lot more energetic. In the lyrics, Noel apologizes to a girl for leading her on. He knows she loves him so he wants her to know that he doesn't feel the same.
I Fell is my favorite song of the album. It's a high-tempo song and I have no problem imagining the tight dance routines they could do for a music video. In fact, I fell for this song. The lyrics talk about how Noel fell for a girl, how he gave her his trust from the first moment even though it's been hard for him to trust someone since a heartbreaking relationship from his past. He's falling but he doesn't want to play, he doesn't want to be up and out of love.
P.Y.T. is another high-tempo song with an acoustic guitar and a great rhythm. Noel sings his love to his girlfriend. He's very in love and talks about how they're meant for each other, and says that she's his “Precious Young Thing” (thus P.Y.T.).
Sorry is a slow that begins and ends on the same musical note. Noel asks his girlfriend to forgive him for cheating on her because he doesn't want to lose her. He tries to explain why he did it (the girl was very attractive and he was weak). Pretty controversial lyrics since Noel is trying to justify his infidelity.
Summertime is another slow and very sensual song. Personally, I don't like songs that are too slow because they have a dampening effect on my state of mind. In the text, Noel tells a girl that he finds her sexy; it's cold outside, she should get closer so they can feel the summer heat. Just like song, the lyrics are pretty sexy.
Too Late has a nice little flow and makes for a good listen. The lyrics are touching but lack originality. It's the story of a guy who took his girlfriend for granted, and asks if it's too late for her to forgive him and take him back.
The last song of the album, Make The Most is a slow song but sounds more like a ballad compared to Summertime which is really slow. It has a double bass which resounds agreeably throughout the song. The lyrics talk about being unafraid to love someone. When you love someone, you have to reveal your feelings and always give your best because when you give in love, you receive a lot in return.
All in all, this album is really slow. Practically all the songs are slows as the listener gets a demonstration of Noel Gourdin's beautiful voice. It's a relaxing record with a couple of high-tempo songs such as Reach and I Fell. In short, it's a good listen but lacks songs you can dance to.
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