Pages from the Book of Life: Chapter 1

Track Listings

1. Intro

2. When I Drop The News

3. Sumthin' Ain't Right

4. Detroit Blues

5. Catch My Tears

6. Autumn

7. It Ain't Cool...It Ain't Fly

8. Not Gonna Let U

9. Can I Get Sum Time?

10. Off Up In Kollege

11. Forbidden

12. Sweet Like Canday

13. Back In The Daze

14. Caution

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Determined to define her own musical identity, Joya has spent the last few years discovering exactly what it is she wants to do, including sharpening her skills as a songwriter and musician. Co-produced by Du Kelly of Lords of the Underground, Pages... gives voice to the spiritual transition that she was experiencing. Joya found herself in a very reflective space, painting vivid lyrical pictures of childhood experiences, past relationships, drawing on the wisdom of her now deceased mother.

Product Description
The same way Erykah Badu gives you hip hop/jazz, and Lauryn Hill put hip hop/reggae on the map, Detriot's own Joya completes the trilogy with her brand of hip hop blues on this sophomore album.

Pages from the Book of Life: Chapter 1,Joya,Carmel Park Records,Gangsta Rap,Hardcore Rap,Hip-Hop,Pop,Rap & Hip-Hop,Soul/R & B,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues

Tracks:

Intro
When I Drop The News
Sumthin' Ain't Right
Detroit Blues
Catch My Tears
Autumn
It Ain't Cool...It Ain't Fly
Not Gonna Let U
Can I Get Sum Time?
Off Up In Kollege
Forbidden
Sweet Like Canday
Back In The Daze
Caution

Album Description

The same way Erykah Badu gives you hip hop/jazz, and Lauryn Hill put hip hop/reggae on the map, Detriot's own Joya completes the trilogy with her brand of hip hop blues on this sophomore album.

Customer Reviews:

Simply A beautiful Album.......2002-06-01

To give this album anything less than five stars is like an artistic crime in my opinion. Few times have I come across an R&B full length that flows as perfectly as this one, even fewer times have I found any album (regardless of music category) in which there isn't a single bad (even half-way weak) track. Tis is one such album, not 100% perfect, but quite close. Pages From The Book Of Life caught my attention about a year ago as I browsed through a record store's Soul section; the title sounded deep and catchy, what I found inside sounded beautiful and inspiring. The track that caught my attention the most was the uplifting "Autumn," to which I related immediately (as could anyone who has dealt with sad or bad times in their life). The rest of the album is just as good, all tracks are catchy, some of them have a great dose of attitude, the lyrics are simple yet poetic, the entire effort does make you feel as if you were browsing through someone's retelling of a life's experience.
Here's a brief summary of some of the tracks:
1. "When I Drop The News" is a beautiful way to start the album. As you hear Joya uttering the word "blessed" right at the start you are immediately infected with a certain sadness that is eventually overpowered by the sense of freedom that song intends to communicate.
2. "Sumthin' Ain't Right" has got sass and a funky beat to it. A story about a man who hasn't been very available with a catchy chorus to it.
3. "Detroit Blues" has got to be my second favourite from this album. Joya's spoken intro advises of the need for positivity in life. Indeed we all got our own blues.
4. "Catch My Tears" is sort of a break up anthem, a story of a relation that is about to end. Great beats create a perfect atmosphere for a song about moving once one's cried enough.
5. "Autumn" is simply perfect. Beautiful, uplifting, symbolic, inspiring, a wonderful song to get oneelf motivated to go on even at the darkest moment.
6. "Back In Da Daze" shows a good combination of beats and lyrics. A song about reminiscing on all of life's experiences, it's got a nice touch of gospel to it, especially at the end during the brief spoken part. Very inspiring.
7. "Can I Get Sum Time" is another highlight. It is a song a bout women claiming their worth with just the perfect dose of attitude, no need for profanity or actual male bashing, the focus is on bringing the female to a higher level. Quite brilliant.
The other songs are just as excellent; too bad this type of R&B doesn't get enough exposure so that this impressive artist could gain a larger fan base. Any reviews below in which the only arguments are comparisons to artists as unlikey as SADE may be disregarded; these folks obviously did not take the time to enjoy this gem. I hope that in time, when she releases her third album, she gets to be known by more music lovers; she truly deserves it.

the future.......2002-05-14

well i have listened to your cd and it is great i would love to hear more of your soul as you voice it to the world. your time is coming and coming soon. it is a beautiful thing that your creativity and style is untouchable by most .

WITH LIFE COMES...GOODANDBADREVIEWS.......2002-05-10

I always log on to amazon.com. Not just because my album is being sold on the site, but because I am a music lover myself and I've been a valid supporter of the site before this album came about. To the people who wrote the "Not-so-good-reviews" I say thank you. What would life be without criticism?! I can truly accept everyones opinion or comments---but to all the people that will hit this site, know this. Each Artists who has a chance to put their music out there to be heard, is doing nothing more than sharing their soul with you. The only thing that sets "Joya" apart from anyone else, is the journey that GOD had allowed me to travel in life. I have truly been blessed and I have many more hills to climb. I don't ask to be compared to anyone. I am Joya, a strong black woman who emerged from Detroit City. I didn't chose to be a musician or a singer/songwriter at that. My life was on a total different course. Music made it's way to me. So don't condem, what it is that you don't understand! No one is without flaw, sin, imperfection or confusion..."Pages From The Book of Life" doesn't attest to be an Areatha Franklin comparison, it just remains simple & plain....Days of my life that have gone by. I appreciate it & I love my voice--weather in the shower or on the mic...and not that it validates me, but a major company seemed to agree..............BLESS.

Don't Believe the Hype.......2002-03-05

Zzzzzzzzzzzz

There is a reason why you probably haven't heard much about Joya - it's because she isn't good! If you are looking for boring beats with cliched choruses, then Joya may be right for you. If you are a true fan of neo-soul, if you enjoy live musicians, despise drum programming and synthesizers, and can appreciate a strong voice, then this isn't for you!

Joya is more along the lines of a Lina, Davina, or a poor comparsion to Lauryn Hill than a Ledisi, Erykah, Julie Dexter, Bilal (or any other true neo-soul artist).

Why is this being called hip hop blues!? Trust me people, it is not that deep! Just because the album cover is blue doesn't mean Joya's weak voice is singing the blues. I'm giving this 3 stars because if you are looking for a boring hip-hopish album that is a little better than what is on the radio, then you may be pleased with this. If you are looking for layered music, live drums and strings, and jazzy vocals, and thought provoking lyrics, then keeping looking....(try the other recommended artists!)

Muzak for supermarkets.......2002-01-10

I bought this CD because of the other rave reviews here, boy was I disappointed.
The music is maybe exciting for people that find Sade etc. original, this CD will be collecting dust till I can find someone to give it to.
I have 400+ CD's and 600+ vinyl albums with all kinds of music so maybe Im too interested in music for this realease.

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