Paradise (Official thread for album discussion)

[bwarrenwpa]

Loyal TQ fan since TNSMC in 1998 and have nearly everyone of his songs he’s put out since then. I must say, all good things said, some I agree with, some I do not.

My Input
Best TQ albums:
1) TNSMC (obviously, greatest R&B album ever)
2) Listen (may surprise some but this album has some of TQ's best work...."Right On," "Listen," "Fly," "Gone but Not Forgotten"
3) Paradise (reasoning below)
4) TSC (On the import version, weakest by far, "Internationally Yours," "Daily," “Ghetto”only good songs. “Hard Life” was amazing but I don’t count it cause it ain’t on my version—again, my imput here)

As far as Paradise goes, there are many reasons to overlook several solid tracks,
1) This album will never live up to TSNMC (face it, none will)
2) We waited sooo long as fans for the album to drop (anticipation was at its highest) instead of in 1998 when everyone was like, sh!t, who's this cat, nice sound--understand?
3) This album has a new style we're not all used to, Soulja may have been the only track from a stylistic standpoint that would have been on TNSMC
4) There are only 12 songs, 3/4 of which he have heard well in advance and unless you are extremely self-disciplined, you were on the borderline of being tired of the songs by the time the album was released.

Other than that, Paradise, A Little Bit of Love, Soulja, Ain't the Same, Sexy, I Don't Know, Watchagonodo are all good songs!

Beef with the album other than the wait and # of tracks, lack of intro and failure to live up to potential on the tracks with guest artists Krayzie Bone and JE (especially given the existence of previous songs “Get Away” and “I Remember”)

Thx for listening, sorry for the length

[rampage]

Agree with most of you, also wondering who is the target in Watchagonado

[makaveli777]

Wow what a great album !!

[nelsonthedon]

www.djbooth.net/index/albums/review/tq-paradise-0404081/

[tommyf]

say what you want, I love the cd. I can bump it without skipping a track (with the exception of in my lap remix)
best tracks: paradise (I'm a huge bone fan, but I believe tq outshined kray), little bit of love, whatchagondo, soulja

[cnwnc]

My copy only arrived yesterday but so far I'm really liking it. I'm prefering my first few listens to Paradise than I did my first few listens of TSC or Listen.

I think in terms of a modern day R'n'B album its excellent. I'd much rather listen to Paradise than anything by Ne-yo, Omarion, Chris Brown etc. It only fell apart for me when I listened to Proud Mary (which I like) and then flicked over to listen to Darlin' Mary, the difference in quality is astounding.

I was 11 when TNSMC came out and 12 when I first heard it. It was the first album to grab me, the first album I fell in love with and its still an album that doesn't stay out of my cd player, out of my car or off my ipod for very long. But TNSMC was special and special can't be repeated all the time. Remember, Michael Jackson is supposedly one of the best entertainers/singers of all time but even he didn't make 7 Thrillers. We can't expect TQ to be making the same kind of music that he made 10 years ago, no matter how good it was.

Anyway, after just a few listens of Paradise here are my fav TQ albums in order:
1. TNSMC
2. Paradise
3. Listen
4. TSC
5. Gemini

And am I the only one that prefers the new TQ/JE joint to 'I Remember'?

[Lanky]

I love this album, think its great ( although a little short). For me, my ranking goes...

TNSMC / TSC (cant decide)
Paradise
Gemini
Listen

I really could not get into Listen at all... and TSC has some of the best production and melodys T has got, not sure why people dont really rate the album.

As far as Paradise goes... the problem is that although all in all, its a really good album.... Paradise, SEXY, In my lap have all been out a fair while... and leaves only a few "new" tracks.

One thing i did pick up though... "WhatChaGonDo?" is basically just his old track called "Dirty Home", mixed with "Used to" .... not that its a bad thing, just a bit of a dampner. Not too keen on Pumpin though, just something about it...

A Little Bit Of Love is a stonker of a song, love it, Reminds me a lot of Dolce Vita.

Overall, a strong album, and something to build on for the next release... hopefully a lot sooner, a lot bigger, and more to his original roots of TNSMC and TSC. Good job T

[tqfan]

May 12, 2008 11:43:02 GMT -5 nelsonthedon said:

www.djbooth.net/index/albums/review/tq-paradise-0404081/

from that article : Fast forward to 2008, nearly a decade after his debut album Didn’t See Me Coming - erm, since when was it DSMC? if you're gonna write about something, please get the album names right, it makes me not want to read any more of what you have to say...

although i can see where the other posters are coming from, and can agree with some, i do like paradise.

the only song i could have done without would be 'in my lap' (and the remix) it's just not TQ and i think he himself has said that, in one way or another.

i didn't like pumpin' on the first couple of listens, but it's grown on me. i won't ever skip any TQ song, damn, i'll listen to it, even sing along, even if i'm not keen on it, cos tbh, for me, no other artist can compare.
there's like maybe 4 or 5 artists i can really just listen to over and over, TQ, Usher, Pink, Craig David, okay that's 4, i was gonna say Justin Timberlake, but only his first album can i listen to over and over.
having said that, TQ is the main one i listen to, my cd player at home, my car, my ipod, it's usually always TQ. obviously i've been listening to Paradise a lot this past couple of months, but i always go back to the older stuff. even the non album songs get played so much.

i also don't think it's always the first album that is the best, and what everyone compares everything else to.
for example TQ's TNSMC, well yes, that is the best TQ album, but although i love Usher's first, 8701 is his best, imo, of course... unless here i stand is something special!

TNSMC i have 2 copies of, because i wore the first copy out, it's never happened again (thank god for computers and ipods!)

TSC i'm sitting trying to think of a bad track, but i can't Hard Life and the correct version of One Day are welcome additions to the album, and it's probably been played as much as TNSMC.

Listen i like, but Call Me and What You Got? i didn't like as much as the rest of the album, they were different from the rest of the album, maybe kinda like what 'in my lap' is like on Paradise. (i know what i mean :

as for Gemini, well i had a totally different Gemini to what TQ eventually released, and tbh, the first version is better than the second version. however, there are still good tracks on there, can i point out Dolce Vita, Don't Stop, Lady, Nuthin', IV life, I'd Rather Be With You? hell i'd be as well naming them all

even some of those non TQ album songs would probably make a decent album together. Keep On, Mr Do Right, Think About You, Ghetto Love, Extasy Jones, I Got to Go, Dopeman, Our Life, I Remember, i could go on and on, there are so many songs that are worth a mention.

like that article also says - Because twenty years from now, after all the Donnies and Ray Js of the world have come and gone, TQ will still be making quality music. Remember, fame fades, but true talent never does. - i couldn't agree with that more, otherwise i wouldn't be listening to TQ, 10 years on.

the only problem i have is the wait between albums, the constant delaying of said albums, and the fact the uk/european fans seem to be overlooked...
i don't agree with this

Feb 18, 2008 12:39:30 GMT -5 Akkadian said:

Truth is a European only album is not marketable. European labels don't want to release a europe only album of a US artist

there are so many US artists out there, that are so much more popular in the UK/Europe than they are in their home country, purely because the american market is so big and tough to crack.
so no, sorry, i don't think that's a good enough excuse, for ignoring us.
as i've said before, itunes is international, so why just release the album to itunes america? again, there's no excuse. with itunes, surely you don't need to find a record label/distributor etc for the international market? or do you? i dunno how it works, seems simple enough to make it international to me...

at the end of the day, it's all down to personal taste. i like an album, you don't, nothing i can say or do will change that, and vice versa. it doesn't make an album any less great. and doesn't make the artist any less talented. which we all know TQ is.

if the artist, in this case TQ, wasn't happy with an album, it wouldn't get released (well, you'd like to hope that was true). that's the bottom line, the artist is happy with it.
and so am i, Paradise is a good album, although a couple of songs short ;D

1) TNSMC
2) TSC
3) Listen and Paradise
4) Gemini - but only cos it was never properly released

[paddyh]

Hey, im new to this page, just wanna say this is the best site ever.....i love it

i am from ireland and i am a huge tq fan since way back in 1998. TNSMC is my fave album of all time. its so good and TQ was huge in the UK then.

TSC, altho ive read reviews, and im sure some people here dont rate it as good as his 1st, but i loved it.

Listen was fantastic also, and i really believe that TQ is as talented as Usher and all these other guys who regularly top the charts. I know TQ is not in it jst for these kinda accolades, but it would be nice for him to be known by all for being amazing.

I just got Paradise yesterday and at 1st listen, its really good, but maybe too soon to judge...im sure i'll love it tho.

my fave albums in order:

1. TNSMC
2. TSC
3. Listen
4. Paradise (again, this may change)

My fave song is better days, closely followed by Internationally yours.......

Its great TQ has a loyal fan base, such as you guys on this page, i could read ur comments all nite and day.

LOVE FOR TQ......

[Bishop]

I know we say opinions are opinions etc. etc. but this is a FACT: Paradise is not a better album than Listen, period. 'Gone But Not Forgotten' alone beats the entire tracklist of Paradise alone.

Release problems aside, The Second Coming is a brilliant album. When I listened to that after TNSMC, I actually wasn't disappointed with his second effort, and surely that is the greatest compliment given how special we all know his first album was. I accepted that there would never be TNSMC again, nor did I ever expect TSC to be that; it was different but quality is quality regardless of style.

And again, I know opinions are opinions etc., but anyone who likes the Paradise JE track over I Remember is just plain WRONG!

Sorry to be so blunt, peace.

[absinthe`]

I must disagree partly. Having listened to every album a million times and being open minded i would rate them like...

1. TNSMC
2. TSC (ONLY if you add dirty, hard life, the ghetto demo and our life)
3. Paradise
4. Gemini (the unreleased 2003 version)
5. TSC (plain version without dirty, our life, the ghetto demo and hard life)
6. Listen
7. Gemini (2007 version from tqs hub store/snocap)

Sorry. Although listen and tsc have several cla$sics, they are also loaded with tracks that feel dated.
Songs like ghetto, hold it down, best friend, how can i be down and oohlala have a pop sound to them that makes them dated and even though they are good songs, they will never have that timeless sound to make a cla$sic.
On listen.. Songs like angela jones, sista, call me and what t got dont have a strong enough production to keep them from sounding dated.

I believe the standard version of TSC and Listen are half full of tracks that sound dated. TNSMC has little if any and it depends on which version of Gemini you are talking about. As far as Paradise goes... Ask me in a year. There is at least 4 cla$sics on it.

I'm not knockin t... Even 2pacs 1st few albums full of dated material.

To have so much quality music from the get go... Makes tq truely unique.

[Bishop]

What cla$sics are on Paradise???

Gemini better than TSC?

Ghetto had a slightly pop sound to it but you must remember
a) it was meant to have a different beat, which sounded 'real'
b) it still f*cking rocks!

"I never let another motherf*****/ tell me what to sing about/ specially when my only intention/ is to tell you what I'm thinking of..." is not dated to me. This line is what makes his whole cash money/ gemini adventure so shocking. My jaw dropped when I saw KIOTL video. He sounds like a girl on Don't Stop etc. etc.
Most of Gemini is trash, we all know it, TQ didn't agree with it.

Production on some of Listen I can see your point, but Angela Jones is nonetheless a great song

[Bishop]

P.S. "even some of those non TQ album songs would probably make a decent album together. Keep On, Mr Do Right, Think About You, Ghetto Love, Extasy Jones, I Got to Go, Dopeman, Our Life, I Remember, i could go on and on, there are so many songs that are worth a mention."

A GREAT point, tqfan. That list right there beats Paradise ten times over imho.

[dvcashmoney]

I'm not gonna compare them, all i know is Paradise has some nice tracks... my favorites are Sexy, Paradise w/ Krayzie Bone, Pumpin, I Don't Know w/ JE, and Ain't the Same

The whole cd is hot though and i even like Gemini more than most people it seems

[absinthe`]

Well only 4 of the tracks on the 2007 version of gemini were on the 2003 version i'm refering to. That version released online is no where near what would have been released back then. Most those tracks are leftovers.

There are obviously strong opinions here and they vary greatly. Heh. Dont get mad at each other tho!