«

»

Review Roundup: Monica – ‘Still Standing’

Still Standing

It’s been 15 years since Monica took the R&B world by storm. Now Miss Thang is back with her latest album Still Standing, in stores now. Did she stand tall with critics or fall short? Find out below.

Entertainment Weekly: After a four-year break, Monica returns with an assured 
album that seems entirely unconcerned with staying current. Though Still Standing features circa-now hitmakers like Ne-Yo, the 
appealingly unflashy CD feels like a return to the mid-’90s heyday of acts such as Deborah Cox and Total. B+

Associated Press: There are a few good songs on Monica’s fifth studio album, Still Standing. Unfortunately, none of them are as good as the CD’s first single, “Everything to Me.” The power ballads are wimpy and the edgy tracks aren’t nearly sharp enough.

People: Although the disc (which takes its title from her BET reality show) doesn’t break any new R&B territory, it’s a consistently rewarding set that relies on Monica’s strong delivery and some dependable writers and producers, from Ne-Yo to Stargate. 3 out of 4

The Washington Post: Despite a handful of great original ballads, including “Love All Over Me” and “One in a Lifetime,” the heavily sampled Missy Elliott productions are the catchiest inclusions. “Everything to Me” borrows so much of Deniece Williams’s “Silly” that it almost feels accurate to call it a remake/rewrite of the original, but it still sounds fresh.

The Boston Globe: Other than the opening title cut and the closing declaration of independence, “Believing in Me,” most of this 10-song album doesn’t make much of an impact. The problem, like so many R&B discs these days, is that this feels like an assembly-line production instead of a coherent collection conceived by a singular voice.

Rap-Up’s Favorite Tracks: “Still Standing,” “Everything to Me,” “Mirror”

Posted in Monica, Reviews | Permalink

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

 

42 Comments

  1. Carl
    March 23rd, 2010 at 4:14 pm

    Love it and I’m not even a fan of her! Go MO MO!

    [Reply]

  2. Jay
    March 23rd, 2010 at 4:19 pm

    Some of them reviewers are haters!

    [Reply]

  3. BlackNLatin
    March 23rd, 2010 at 4:26 pm

    Here I Am, If You Were My Man, Love All Over Man & Superman are my faves!!

    [Reply]

  4. Kasheena Grandberry
    March 23rd, 2010 at 4:59 pm

    I LOVE THIS CD!!!!!! ESPECIALLY, STILL STANDING CUZ I CAN REALLY RELATED 2 THE SONG BUT IT ALL GOOD BECAUSE I’M STILL STANDING LIKE THE CHAMP IN THE GAME. AND ALSO EVERYTHING 2 ME.

    [Reply]

  5. Will
    March 23rd, 2010 at 5:17 pm

    Here i am is the best song on the album. I think that more songs should have been recorded though. 10 songs is not enough. J records didnt wanna pay for 2 or 3 more tracks which i think is selfish considering monica is a platinum selling artist. I definately think the album could have been a lot better.

    [Reply]

  6. David Thespokenword Washington
    March 23rd, 2010 at 6:14 pm

    I like it, that is all.

    [Reply]

  7. GeeMan
    March 23rd, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    This album is a solid representation of what the R&B game has been missing. Monica”s voice sounds good. This album is a great album that shows growth and still standing certainly stands tall. This some of Mo”s best work in sometime.

    [Reply]

  8. Lakisha Flawless Bell
    March 23rd, 2010 at 6:34 pm

    THIS CD ROLL FROM 1 TO 10.I LOVE THIS CD AND LOVE ALL OVER ME I LOVE IT.I CAN NOT PICK A FAVORITE SONG I LOVE THEM ALL

    [Reply]

  9. jarrett
    March 23rd, 2010 at 7:25 pm

    funky j- records copuld have had a 13 album track, good album, but needed more uptempo songs just a liitle bit, but overall good album, best album, since the boy is mine

    [Reply]

  10. javonscott
    March 23rd, 2010 at 7:32 pm

    the whole album is really solid. i just wish there were at least 14 songs lol

    [Reply]

  11. philly11
    March 23rd, 2010 at 7:43 pm

    Im a Brandy fan, but this MONICA cd is the TRUTH!!

    [Reply]

  12. jarrett
    March 23rd, 2010 at 7:53 pm

    she needs more songs on her album and j-records need to invest in her more, it need just three more songs, lol i love monica, great album

    [Reply]

  13. Dillon_68
    March 23rd, 2010 at 7:58 pm

    Solid effort! I love “Superman”!

    [Reply]

  14. Constance
    March 23rd, 2010 at 8:06 pm

    I love her. I have been a fan since the first CD. I was a little confused as to why infinity did not make the cut, but overall i am satisfied as i am sure REAL monica fans will be. These critics have no idea what they are talking about. This is real music not some music to start anthems!!!

    [Reply]

  15. Jay'real
    March 23rd, 2010 at 11:43 pm

    monica needs to drop j records her album is bomb! they shouldnt promote flops like a. keys n focus on veterans like Mo!

    [Reply]

  16. drtash
    March 24th, 2010 at 12:19 am

    ^a. keys – flop???? yeah right! You might wanna rethink that statement.

    [Reply]

  17. davyd69
    March 24th, 2010 at 5:31 am

    its a good album i love almost of the songs but i dont think (everything to me) its the better song for the first single i think mirror or believing in me its should be a better choice

    [Reply]

  18. just being me
    March 24th, 2010 at 6:28 am

    Monica you are the best that ever did it congrats girl on this exceptional album i have been waiting a long time for you to re-surface.

    [Reply]

  19. Blackboitexas
    March 24th, 2010 at 7:28 am

    I’ve always been a huge Monica fan, but i have to agree with some of the reviews – the album feels a little dated. You can tell from her reality show that the studio heads weren’t really behind this project. To have a cohesive album you need to stick with a couple of producers to give it flow. Missy acutally did the best job with Monica and she was only allowed 2 songs (you can find others tht were left off on the net). It’s good R&B music, just not great.

    [Reply]

  20. tiff
    March 24th, 2010 at 8:05 am

    hot record from top to bottom only rnb singer who can do dat (my opinion)

    [Reply]

  21. freda
    March 24th, 2010 at 8:58 am

    Monica did her thing. I waited a while for this to come out and I am not disappointed at all. My new favorite cd – grown folks music
    Congrats to Ms. Monica

    [Reply]

  22. PhoenixDiva
    March 24th, 2010 at 9:11 am

    Monica is and always have been a wonderful artist. I am a fan! Besides that the girl is FLYYY! Hair is always to die for! Keep it up Mo!

    [Reply]

  23. Sabrina
    March 24th, 2010 at 3:58 pm

    I dont care what them critics say Monica’s cd is great there isnt one bad track on her cs but my fave is One in a Lifetime!!Keep doing ur thing Monica ur still #1!!

    [Reply]

  24. Lars
    March 25th, 2010 at 10:31 am

    from Germany:

    thank you for this song!! i like it and i wish you the best.take care

    [Reply]

  25. Fransleeca Nash
    March 25th, 2010 at 11:44 am

    i love it from beginning to end 5/5 its an excellent cd i give it two thumbs up go monica SHE BACK but its like she never left she has always been an amazing singer love u monica much love and respect…

    [Reply]

  26. summerleo1970
    March 25th, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    You know its not what the critics think,its how the music make us feel. That’s just the critics way of seeing who her real fans are, so screw the critics! I love Monica’s new album and i’m going to bump it loud.

    [Reply]

  27. fi
    March 25th, 2010 at 5:11 pm

    I AM LISTENING TO THE NEW ALBUM RIGHT NOW AND IT IS HOTTTTTTTTT
    THIS SONG CALLED ‘IF YOU WERE MY MAN’ IS GOING TO BE HUGE
    SHE IS BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE
    MISSY DOES IT AGAIN
    I LOVE THE WAY MO AND MARY J SOUND WHEN THEY RAP!

    [Reply]

  28. Colandra
    March 25th, 2010 at 10:02 pm

    I love every song on this cd. I also think that more songs would have been great. Monica came back hard. I’m a true Monica fan always. I can relate to some of the songs on this album.

    [Reply]

  29. corey
    March 26th, 2010 at 9:14 am

    love this album. i wish they had included blackberry on the retail release.

    [Reply]

  30. Kyle
    March 26th, 2010 at 4:18 pm

    I love this album. “Here I Am,” “Stay Or Go” and “If You Were My Man” are my favorites. I’m glad she had hand in writing some of the tracks on this album.

    [Reply]

  31. alicia is a home wrecka
    March 26th, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    i have to agree with the other individual….alicia’s album is straight garbage compared to this album. It seems like the underdogs are producing, singing and performing excellent albums better than the media favorites.

    Makes you wonder if money is all behind it….its not like the these record companies are american owned….most of it is owned by foreign companies.

    [Reply]

  32. Still Standing fan
    March 28th, 2010 at 10:12 pm

    This album is FIYA. Mo we are so proud of u alot of people keep complaining that there arent enough songs on this album and alot of other things that are OUT OF HER HANDS I think Monica did a really smart thing by putting out a reality show based on the album for two reasons 1 being now some of u get to see how the business realoly works and how SHADY some records can really be and 2 It took the blame off of her alot of people who didnt watch the show complain about the length of the album but had they watched the show they would of known ARISTA not Monica put a 10 song cap on the album my opinion being cheap and non supportive of their artist and not very respectful of HER artistry. Im only hoping her contract runs out soon so she can get with a label tat appreciates its artist. Whitney (and I love her to DEATH) and Alicia Keys are not the only good artist on that label…by the way Alicia’s cd wasnt good at all a bit dull to me but Clive Davis shame on you its time to move forward Whitney is already THE VOICE she cant get any higher MOVE ON

    [Reply]

  33. shadarrell
    March 29th, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    I have always been a fan, this album is great so much better than the last one. I cant wait to see her on the 9th.

    [Reply]

  34. Nicolei
    March 30th, 2010 at 6:01 am

    WORTH EVERY PENNY! Still Standing – The Best R&B Album of the year. Beyonce? KC? Alicia? Pleaze….GREAT artist, GREAT voice, and GREAT ALBUM from 1-10.

    [Reply]

  35. Nicolei
    March 30th, 2010 at 6:03 am

    PEOPLE READ THE FANS REVIEWS – THIS ALBUM IS WORTH EVERY PENNY. THE FANS DON’T LIE. THIS IS A GREAT ALBUM!

    [Reply]

  36. Ben
    March 30th, 2010 at 8:39 am

    I love this cd. I never allow the critics to decide what’s good for me. All the critics do is voice an opinion based on what they like. Bad thing about negative reviews is that some listen and never take the time to review the cd for themselves. In R&B is sad to think that they (critics) have favorites(Beyounce, Mary J, Alicia) and the rest don’t measure up!! Off subject but when are they going to hold Beyounce accountable for the junk she has been releasing? All sounds the same scream, scream some more.

    [Reply]

  37. Okarsha
    April 3rd, 2010 at 10:11 pm

    I LOVE DIS ALBUM… I HONESTLY THINK IT’S HER BEST ONE YET…SHE SHOULD GET NOMINATED FOR AWARDS DUE TO DIS CD…AND FUC DEM DAMN CRITICS…THEY JUS DER TO BRING U DOWN!

    [Reply]

  38. Stanley
    April 5th, 2010 at 2:00 pm

    I believe that some of those reviewers are haters also, probably because its real rnb there jus being biass, n theyre hating alot. Monicas cd is sooo good.
    The Boston Globe seems to be jealous how can they say that much of the song doesnt make an impact. hAvE they heard Mirror and Still Standing. Mirror encourages people they dont have to be ashamed of themselves when they look in the mirror, which can save lives,and makes an impact on ppls lives and Still standing tellls people that even though she have been through the storm and been through a lot she still was able to get back up and that encourages others to do the same.UMM N THEYR TLKN BOUT DOESNT MAKE MUCH OF AN IMPACT… Those songs can prevent others from committing suicide which is a big impact alone, and even other songs like everything to me gives you the feeling of love which makes an impact on your spirit, and so many other songs off the album gives impacts so that is just PURE HATING FROM THE BOSTON GLOBE. If they have a problem with real rnb they need to let ME know CUZ REAL RNB DONT GET NO BETA THAN STILL STANDING BABI! THE VOCALS OFF THE ALBUM CAN GIVE U GOOSE BUMPS BOSTON GLOBE GET IT RIGHT CUZ UR WRONG!!

    [Reply]

  39. Stanley
    April 5th, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    ALSO LOVE ALL OVER ME WHAT A FEELING THAT CAN GIVE U “ UM BOSTON GLOBE GET A LIFE N STOP HATIN ON A STRONG BLACK WOMAN LIKE MONICA CUZ SHE SINGS REAL RNB !!! OKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

    [Reply]

  40. Deniro
    April 5th, 2010 at 2:03 pm

    ALSO LOVE ALL OVER ME WHAT A FEELING THAT CAN GIVE U “ UM BOSTON GLOBE GET A LIFE N STOP HATIN ON A STRONG BLACK WOMAN LIKE MONICA CUZ SHE SINGS REAL RNB !!! OKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

    [Reply]

  41. Cheryl
    August 26th, 2010 at 5:19 am

    I love this album and play it several times each day. Monica has the voice and she knows how to use it. My favorite song on the album is “Believing in Me” (that is my anthem now). I’m really proud of her accomplishments.

    [Reply]

  42. Jamesa
    October 17th, 2011 at 11:55 am

    I believe some of these reviewers are hating on my girl mo. Her album is amazing and one of the best our right now. Im loving almost every song on the album espically superman love all over me still standing and mirror these are my anthems i play them every single day

    [Reply]

Leave a Reply