Thread: 12 Play is a Great Album,but fill in your blanks

now I like so many in here&around the World who bought 12 play back in the day, had so many good times&memorys with that Album,but at the same time it ain't the last Great collection from R. so upon reading what Vibe Magazine was putting down I wanted to ask you to fill in the Blanks with the Part 12 Play is a Great Classic Album,but it Ain't what? for me the Self title Follow up, Chocolate Factory,Loveland,&Happy People got 12 Play beat. elements of TP2&the R Double Album give it a Strong run as well.but what are your thoughts?

12 Play was a strange album because 6 songs (7 if u include Sadie), Body Callin, Bump n Grind, Seems Like Your Ready, For You, Sex Me (Parts 1 and 2) and 12 Play rank as some of the best ballads of all time, easily the benchmark of the 90s. However, generally the fast-paced tracks weren't anything special. Therefore on a pure consistency basis, the album loses out. I've never come across an album that's so bi-polar. Half of its history making brilliance, and half of its filler. Therefore when reviewing this album, people come to a stumbling block. They think...

"..I can't say its better than TP-2 or CF cuz its inconsistent.... but at the same time I have possibly the best memories of R's music in those 6 songs''

But in regards to impact, yes it is a CLASSIC. It is the benchmark for ballads. However, on pure technical consistency, it doesn't live up.. so its a bit of an enigma and confuses alot of people to say 'classic' off the blocks or comparing it to TP-2 and CF which wins in the consistency department. But yeah to me its a classic, first R album I heard, and the the one that made me a superfan.

So it all depends if the classicness of the ballads outweigh the inconsistncy, for me it does and its a CLASSIC, up there with 'Thriller' and 'Key Of Life' in my books.

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Originally Posted by SANX
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12 Play was a strange album because 6 songs (7 if u include Sadie), Body Callin, Bump n Grind, Seems Like Your Ready, For You, Sex Me (Parts 1 and 2) and 12 Play rank as some of the best ballads of all time, easily the benchmark of the 90s. However, generally the fast-paced tracks weren't anything special. Therefore on a pure consistency basis, the album loses out. I've never come across an album that's so bi-polar. Half of its history making brilliance, and half of its filler. Therefore when reviewing this album, people come to a stumbling block. They think...

"..I can't say its better than TP-2 or CF cuz its inconsistent.... but at the same time I have possibly the best memories of R's music in those 6 songs''

But in regards to impact, yes it is a CLASSIC. It is the benchmark for ballads. However, on pure technical consistency, it doesn't live up.. so its a bit of an enigma and confuses alot of people to say 'classic' off the blocks or comparing it to TP-2 and CF which wins in the consistency department. But yeah to me its a classic, first R album I heard, and the the one that made me a superfan.

SANX you should be a Commentator or something that deals with Journalism because Posts like that&others that you have done through the Years showcase a Strong Talent. I enjoyed reading what you posted a Great deal. the Bi-Polar Statement cracked me up,but you tied it all together so strong. Much Props I dig how your Mind works&operates.

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Originally Posted by mistermaxxx
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SANX you should be a Commentator or something that deals with Journalism because Posts like that&others that you have done through the Years showcase a Strong Talent. I enjoyed reading what you posted a Great deal. the Bi-Polar Statement cracked me up,but you tied it all together so strong. Much Props I dig how your Mind works&operates.

hehe I dont know about any hidden journalism talent, but I just try n explain things from all sides. Thanks for the complement:D its great getting it from a music industry guru such as urself.

Yeah, sanx is brilliant esp. in his concise posts that says all things within relatively short amount of words. I also enjoy reading what he says. Props. The post up there shows one important factor when people judge albums, IMO. On a personal level, any album can be a classic cuz you have your own experiences and emotions that you truly take to your heart and make you say from the bottom of your heart that 'That's more than jus music to me'. In my view, that personal factor can't be touched and ignored cuz it's so precious. But, when it comes to more general standards and critics' world, as sanx brought up, it seems that things like consistency emerges as one point on a check list.

.......I think I gotta scratch my head more to come up with my own answer. Actually, I became to embrace the fast tracks as time went by. I mean, love for the other songs did outweigh even a lil complaint about the fast tracks. It's like, when you like somebody, you become to like or at least try to like his/her people as well
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I agree with Sanx' argumentation. It's very bi-polar. I have got to admit that the slow songs from that album are unmatched. But since I did not grow up with the album, did not become a fan because of the album, don't have any special memories with this album, it is not on my list of favorites. When I say it's a classic, which it obviously is, it's only because the sum of comments and reviews and referrences that I read and heard regarding the CD says it all. It IS a classic for the music biz and for music fans, but I don't have the connection that I need to call it my personal classic, you know?

this what brought him through the mainstream and prove to me that's one of my all-time favorite albums. Can't say it's better than any R. Kelly CD ya'll RK fans must or have own, this peers to his masterpiece. Great Suggestion, Maxx.

Lyricism. He already did have in him then I believe, but on 12 Play album, that part was missing. If "12 Play" had lyricism in its lyrics, the album would sound more balanced when it comes to emotional vibe. Like "For You". I once heard someone sayin that "12 Play" was such a soulful song and asking if it was devoted to someone close to him(The person cannot understand English, so he didn't understand lyrics at all until somebody else interpreted it for him). I personally think it's soulful as it is, so I'm more like, just think about "What-if?"s. And with more lyricism, he wouldn't have had that much pressure to prove that he ain't just about "Sex Me" and "Bump 'N Grind" later cuz the public already tasted it through 12 Play album. And maybe the whole album would be even more highly appreciated as it has been.

*This is the result of scratching my head deep and long. Ever since I put my hands on the album, I myself haven't made many chances to point minus points cuz I've been busy loving the album as a whole.*