Tuesday, July 08, 2008
"Don't Be Cruel," Bobby Brown (7/23/88)
Hear that, travelling towards us through space from way back in '88? That's the sound of a supernova being created, one which just years later would collapse into a black hole. But what glorious years we got in between. I'm a fan, a big fan, of Brown as a solo artist - you can find proof positive of that here - and you can call this Exhibit A, if you'd like. Featuring many of what would become hallmarks of the L.A. (Reid) and (Baby)'Face sound - those subtly sawing, swirling faux-orchestral flourishes, that metronomic New Jack beat, oh-is-that-Babyface-quietly-sweetening-the-backing-vocals? - it would be a great record with nearly anyone singing. But Brown takes it over the top and makes it genius; his rap actually helps, the tartness to balance his sugary vocal. If you wanna pick "I Want Her" or, God forbid, "Just Got Paid" as the opening salvo of New Jack Swing, go right ahead. But "Cruel" is the record that was truly louder than a bomb. A
Hear that, travelling towards us through space from way back in '88? That's the sound of a supernova being created, one which just years later would collapse into a black hole. But what glorious years we got in between. I'm a fan, a big fan, of Brown as a solo artist - you can find proof positive of that here - and you can call this Exhibit A, if you'd like. Featuring many of what would become hallmarks of the L.A. (Reid) and (Baby)'Face sound - those subtly sawing, swirling faux-orchestral flourishes, that metronomic New Jack beat, oh-is-that-Babyface-quietly-sweetening-the-backing-vocals? - it would be a great record with nearly anyone singing. But Brown takes it over the top and makes it genius; his rap actually helps, the tartness to balance his sugary vocal. If you wanna pick "I Want Her" or, God forbid, "Just Got Paid" as the opening salvo of New Jack Swing, go right ahead. But "Cruel" is the record that was truly louder than a bomb. A
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