From the Bottom Up

Amazon.com
As long as there are stairwells in American high schools and lamps on American street corners, teenagers will get together to harmonize. With the multiplatinum success of Boyz II Men and En Vogue as inspiration, more young vocal groups than ever are moving from stairwells to recording studios. Almost all these singers have put in the long hours to turn good voices into precision parts in a harmony machine, but polished soul harmony singers still far outnumber gifted songwriters in this genre. For all the activity in the field, the genuinely satisfying soul harmony album is still a rare event. One such triumph is From the Bottom Up, the debut release by Brownstone, three women whose strong, versatile voices and tall, striking looks remind one immediately of En Vogue.

What saves this project from the assemblyline anonymity of so many committee-produced R&B albums is the personal involvement of singer Nichole "Nicci" Gilbert, who cowrote 11 of the 12 songs and coproduced four of them. The result is the best of both worlds: the craft of seasoned professionals and the distinctive personality of a young woman with her own story to tell. Their first hit, "If You Love Me," which sets the pattern for an album celebrating the intoxication of romance but demanding respect as well. The three women's ability to fashion harmonies out of full-throated gospel parts rather than easier-to-blend soft singing is one of the album's chief pleasures. And they are versatile enough to handle everything from the reggae dancehall tracks of "Sometimes Dancin'" and the wah-wah funk tracks of "True to Me" to the Eagles' "I Can't Tell You Why." Soundbite cut: "If You Love Me." --Geoffrey Himes

From the Bottom Up,Brownstone,Sony,Club/Dance,Pop,R&B,Soul/R & B,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Urban

Average customer rating:

After all these years, it still sounds good
From The Bottom Up
I miss this group
You're gonna love it!
Wonderful

From the Bottom Up
Brownstone
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Dance & DJ | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

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Total

ASIN: B0000029IA
Release Date: 1995-01-10

Tracks:

Party Wit Me
Grapevyne
If You Love Me
Sometimes Dancin'
I Can't Tell You Why
Don't Cry For Me
Pass The Lovin'
Fruit Of Life
True To Me
Wipe It Up
Deeper Feelings (Ooh La La)
Half Of You

Amazon.com

As long as there are stairwells in American high schools and lamps on American street corners, teenagers will get together to harmonize. With the multiplatinum success of Boyz II Men and En Vogue as inspiration, more young vocal groups than ever are moving from stairwells to recording studios. Almost all these singers have put in the long hours to turn good voices into precision parts in a harmony machine, but polished soul harmony singers still far outnumber gifted songwriters in this genre. For all the activity in the field, the genuinely satisfying soul harmony album is still a rare event. One such triumph is From the Bottom Up, the debut release by Brownstone, three women whose strong, versatile voices and tall, striking looks remind one immediately of En Vogue.

Customer Reviews:

After all these years, it still sounds good.......2007-03-29

I'm into the early R&B. I think guys like Horace Brown and Damon Hall moved us in leaps and bounds. Brownstone did more than move me. Their sound is pure, clean. They literrally flex their vocal muscles and they set the standard for the likes of SWV, Jade, etc.

From The Bottom Up.......2006-04-02

Ah - from a golden time in music when we had such an abundance of awesomely talented r&b groups, bands & solo artists. Groups like Brownstone, En Vogue & Xscape defined what a true female group should sound like.

I was impressed by the number of tracks that Nichole Gilbert (arguably the best vocalist of the group) wrote/co-wrote and how much of the production she was involved in on this disc. Listening to it again makes me sad about the state of r&b music today but grateful for the time when true artists were allowed to shine.

My favorite tracks are: GRAPEVYNE, IF YOU LOVE ME

I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY (love this song with its excellent arrangements & their tight harmonies)

SOMETIMES DANCIN' (interesting musical production - especially the reagge breakdown & while the lead vocals are great, the backing is kind of boring until they hit the reagge break)

DON'T CRY FOR ME (their individual vocals & group harmonies are beautiful, this song sounds almost like a contemporary inspirational/gospel song)

DEEPER FEELINGS (really pretty slow ballad where they trade lead vocals with tight harmonies a la En Vogue)

HALF OF YOU (pretty balld with Nichole singing lead accompanied by just a piano)

If you're starved for some great r&b and are curious about another female group that came out during the En Vogue/Destiny's Child/TLC era, give Brownstone a try, you won't be disappointed.

I miss this group.......2006-02-24

I agree this is what a girl group is supposed to sound like. Maybe if they introduced a booty dance and sang more sexually explicit songs they would still be around. It's sad such a talented group fell to the waste sides--but hey, music comebacks are still happening every day.

You're gonna love it!.......2006-01-07

Excellent harmonies, beautiful melodies, stunning originality. Does it get any better? I'm afraid not, lads.

Wonderful.......2005-11-30

Good singing and Good Production must I say anything else?.....No get this if you love mixtures of good uptempo and slow RnB

Average customer rating:

The Best Of Gershwin Love Songs

Manufacturer: Avalon (Rock Bottom)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00001X5B3
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Tracks:

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An overlooked gold mine!

Up from the Ashes
Don Dokken
Manufacturer: Rock Bottom, Inc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B00000DT3O
Release Date: 1998-11-17

Customer Reviews:

An overlooked gold mine!.......2006-10-17

Excellent songs,excellent musicians. The song "Crash & Burn" by itself is worth the cost of this disc and the other songs are infectious as well!
This disc features an all star line up:John Norum(Europe),Billy White (Watchtower)on guitars.Peter Baltes(Accept)on bass.Mickey Dee(King Diamond,Motorhead)on drums.