November 1997

Bobby Brown, or The Fellow Who’s Married to Whitney Houston, has just released Forever, his first album in five years. In celebration of this, MCA Records sent us a cassette of Bobby’s new music. (Can’t slight these folks for not watching the bottom line. Send NY Rock that cheap cassette tape over there, Joe, save the CDs for Time Magazine and Rolling Stone.)

Okay, we’ll take what we can get. We were pretty damn curious as to what Bobby’s been up to for the past five years (other than giving Whitney the occasional black eye). So when the package arrived from MCA, I threw the little plastic tape right into the old player (damn, the thing still works after all these years, sort of like Bobby Brown).

Here’s the short of it: Bobby Brown is still a talent to be reckoned with. His odd combo of macho bravado and sweet, golden-throated soul still delivers. When Bobby locks into a groove, whether it be a dance track or a ballad, he lands on the dime like few others can. The fact that he screams out “Bobby Brown” about two or three times a song can be a bit unnerving but boasting seems to be part of the package, take it or leave it.

The songs on Forever, chronicle the simple pleasures of Bobby Brown’s life. He seems happy with his lot and when he sings about it in tunes such as “Sunday Afternoon,” “Happy Days,” and “My Place,” he makes you feel good about it too. Of course, Bobby seems to still have a bit of a chip on his shoulder but this, too, is part of the package.

Forever’s first track features Wife Whitney serenading Bobby with a syrupy version of “Nobody Does It Better.” (Iz this summ kinda joke?) I almost ripped the little plastic tape out of the old machine right there and sent it back to MCA. Fortunately, I persevered. The next tune, “It’s Still My Thang,” is a classic Bobby Brown masterpiece in the vein of monster hit “My Prerogative.”

From here, the album continues to be a good listen, full of groove-oriented tunes and sweet ballads. On side two of ye old cassette tape, Bobby dedicates “She’s All I Need” to Wife Whitney. [Note: Songs on actual CD may be arranged in different order than little plastic tape.] On this, and other tracks, Brown seems intent on proving that his marriage, contrary to what the press has to say, is clearly one made in heaven. Whether this is true is inconsequential. Truth be told, the song is a beautifully delivered piece of work.

So what has Bobby Brown been up to for the last half-decade? Among other things, he recently joined his alma mater, New Edition, for a reunion tour and album. However, Bobby himself gives the effort a mixed review: “We did our best, okay? There were some good shows and some bad shows. In doing the tour, I learned some valuable lessons about business and friendship. Mostly, I learned that Bobby Brown is probably best as a solo act.”

Along these lines, Brown has given us Forever. Plans for a supporting tour, according to MCA, are imminent. Both these events are welcome news since when all is said and done, love the man or not, one can’t deny that Bobby Brown still kicks ass.