Pleasant But Uninspired
Vanessa Williams' fourth studio effort finds her returning to a more straightforward musical landscape after the more ambitious work of her last set THE SWEETEST DAYS. Though the album has its' moments('Happiness','Oh How The Years Go By','Lost Without You'), it ulitmately fails for the most part due to the fact that the songs aren't nearly as distinctive as those on DAYS or her sterling COMFORT ZONE album--many seem like decent, yet generic castoffs hidden under slick production. As usual, she's in top vocal form, which helps hold some interest, but not enough to make this anything more than an album of pleasant but mostly uninspired filler.
Beautiful
Vanessa Williams is one of the most underrated singers, she has a beautiful voice that expresses so many sentiments and once, its comforting and exciting at the same time. Next is an album geared towards Adult Contemporary, but rest assured it is excellent. The album starts out strong with two upbeat songs, some of her best, "Who Were You Thinkin' About" and "Happiness". The album stays strong throughout, and the ballads "And If I Ever", "Start Again", "Lost Without You", "Oh How The Years Go By" to name the best, make this an enchanting album to own and listen to. The songs are so beautiful and simplistic in nature, its the perfect album to listen to.
Not one of her best
Vanessa's fourth album "Next" sounded uneven to me. A couple of songs are okay, but there's not a continuity like the other albums before it. I liked "Happiness" and how Jam & Lewis were able to interpolate Nu Shooz's 1985 song "I Can't Wait" into that song and place a funky beat under it. But the rest of the album has too many forgettable songs within it and the ballads lack punch to me. Such an uneven joint music wise when you listen to it now.
Rocky Avenue Of Love
Vanessa Williams has remained as one of the most distinctive women in R&B music. Each song that she has made still continues to tell a sonnet of love to any audience, at any time.Her 1997 album, Next, reflects upon the rocky roads of love and marriage. That album remained true to Vanessa at the time, when she and her first husband, Ramon Harvey divorced. The songs still are as tough and as strong as they were released at the time. Songs like Happiness, Lost Without You and Oh How The Years Go By, range from Hip-Hop to comtemporary, and heavy to hard listening very smoothly.
Although many people still think of her as a one hit wonder with Save The Best For Last, the songs on Next still prove that Vanessa Williams still has some staying power in the wings. All the way to the next level.
It's not my favorite, but I like it a lot
Overall, Next is a decent CD. My favorite ballad (which is what most of the songs are) is "The Easiest Thing," because I like the slow, gospel feel it has. Out of all the songs I think the best is "Who Were You Thinkin' 'Bout?" It has a really smooth rhythm. Actually, it's one of my favorite songs (not just of her's). This CD isn't wonderful, but it isn't bad either.
