After experiencing multiplatinum success and a massive hit with Brandy on "The Boy Is Mine," Monica watched personal turmoil eclipse her promising career. She witnessed her first love commit suicide, saw an ex-boyfriend incarcerated on a murder charge and became the parental figure in the upbringing of her deceased boyfriend's child.
Despite the endless drama, Monica emerges triumphant on her oft-delayed third album, "After the Storm." (An earlier, much different version of the record is available as the import "All Eyez on Me.")
Since her first hit, "Don't Take it Personal (Just One of Dem Days)," Monica has been known for her brimming sass and attitude. Her serene demeanor, positive vibe and that trademark attitude are intact during much of the album, in spite of past drama.
Serving as executive producer, Missy Elliott serves three party anthems that glow. The lead single, "So Gone," shows a sexier side of the singer and even a feisty rap. "Knock, Knock," and especially "Get It Off," with Missy's signature wacky shouts and heavy beats, are irresistible cuts.
"Ain't Gonna Cry No More," produced by Rodney Jerkins, displays her strength in the face of the intensity and chaos that surrounded her. Looking past the unimaginative title, "I Wrote This Song," about Monica's relationship with her deceased boyfriend, his lifestyle and his passing, is a soul-stirring classic.
But if only all the songs would match her undeterred attitude. The rest of the cuts are banal ballads and midtempo tunes that fail to take advantage of Monica's sultry and sumptuous vocals.
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