Jodeci Albums (3)
'The Show, The After Party, The Hotel'
Release Date 1/1/1995
Tracks 22
Label Uptown/MCA
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Although their songs imply otherwise, the Hailey brothers had extensive careers in gospel before turning to secular music. The wails, shouts, and yells that accompany most of their hits reaffirm that tradition, and it's clearly audible often on their latest Uptown entry. Again they employ a running storyline/theme through the disc, this time incorporating audio vignettes about life on and off stage during a concert that are interspersed through the disc and help pad things out through what is a poorly edited and sequenced CD. Unlike many other urban and R&B groups, Jodeci doesn't really produce its material with singles in mind; there's not really one song here that works as a separate entity, even though several stations are playing edited cuts. Ironically, their refusal to emphasize radio hits, which in most cases would be deemed a sage creative ploy, frequently works against Jodeci. They let ballads drone on, up-tempo tunes end awkwardly, and extend sections until they lose their impact. However Jodeci's earnestness and enthusiasm often helps them overcome cliched lyrics and melodramatic vocals, and there are enough good moments sprinkled throughout this disc to make it worthwhile for most urban contemporary listeners. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
'Diary of a Mad Band'
Release Date 1/1/1993
Tracks 13
Label Uptown/MCA
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Jodeci juggles new jack swing and vintage soul on their second album...The disc's love songs, particularly "Cry for You," "What About Us," and "My Heart Belongs to You," are tender, passionately sung, sincere expressions of romance and love. But then...there's a string of innuendo-laden come-on numbers, complete with explicit language, raps and samples... ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
A pair of brother acts combined forces to form Jodeci, a singing group with one foot in the future and the other squarely in the past. Dalvin and Devante Swing DeGrate teamed with JoJo and K-Ci Hailey for a debut album that mixed vintage soul singing with new jack production and bravado. But it wasn't the hip-hop-flavored songs that earned them popularity; instead, urban contemporary audiences embraced the love tunes "Come and Talk to Me" and the title track, signaling the beginnings of a move away from new jack swing that became a full-fledged retreat. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
