Let me cut straight to the chase: Fortune is not really all that great. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 selling 135,000 in its first week in the United States, but it’s still not a good look. I understand that Chris tries to expand his sound and show his growth, but it’s extremely difficult to distinguish one Chris Brown song from another. What’s even more unfortunate is that his music is starting to sound like everything else we hear on the radio. Everybody is now following the techno/euro-dance train until the wheels fall off and that’s what it seems like for Chris because now all of his songs sound like it. I don’t understand why you can’t put together different sounds without totally straying away from the formula that made fans come to you in the first place.
The producers for Fortune consist of current producers like Kevin McCall, Benny Benassi, the Runners, the Underdogs, and Polow da Don and then other producers like Dallas Austin, Fuego, William Orbit, will.i.am, and David Banner. Artist Brown collaborated with are Nas, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, Sevyn, and Sabrina Antoinette.
My thoughts about this album are mixed because the beats of the 13 songs are cold. They’re very catchy and they make you want to dance but when it comes to the lyrics there’s little depth. It’s almost like he has ran out of subject matter. The only songs that I truly like are “Turn Up The Music,” “Strip” feat. Kevin McCall, “Till I Die” feat. Big Sean & Wiz Khalifa, “Sweet Love,” “Don’t Wake Me Up,” and the new single “Don’t Judge Me.”
I only enjoy the remainder of the songs simply because of the beats. It’s just all too “bubblegum pop” for me, and most of the songs are overly sex driven. I miss the old Chris. The one that not only made dance songs but also songs with meaning and substance.
I understand he’s trying to continue to develop himself as an artist and push the envelope, but I think he’s pushing it too far.
GMO Rating: ***3 Stars
Scroll Down to see Chris Brown's Video "Don't Wake Me Up"
