I hoped. I believed. I waited patiently for you to arrive. I knew you’d come in the nick of time like you always do. My faith had always been rewarded so my expectant heart didn’t falter when things didn’t look promising. I hoped. I believed. Patiently I waited, refusing to give in to doubt…please, I need you I prayed. And just like time’s past my prayers were answered. You came. You came to save me. More importantly, you came to help restore balance and order and breathe life in to R&B/Soul music. It’s been excruciating to witness R&B’s continued decline as it dies a slow and painful death. But you have always been a trusted gatekeeper. One of those Artists that has done a stellar job preserving the legacy of the art form. Passionately carrying the torch until it’s time to pass it off to the next generation of R&B/Soul Artists. Your service has not gone unnoticed. You’ve been a faithful steward.

It’s been five years since we last heard from you after releasing the well received The First Lady. It was your first project following an exit from Puffy’s Bad Boy imprint and it showed that you were not one of Puff’s marketing projects. The soulful vocal stylings, songwriting, arrangement and syrupy, rich harmonies…the Faith sound was very much intact. The album was a little uneven but had a clear direction. I saw the vision but in truth, the project relied more heavenly on uptempos than previous releases and it suffered because of that. Moreover, it lacked the right mix of uptempo jams to truly complement the project’s standout mid-tempos and ballads. I was slightly underwhelmed at first listen but still it was a solid effort and I was a content fan. Like any fan, I soon found my jams. “Stop n Go” and “Again” were instant faves, on repeat jams.

Soon as news broke that you were prepping a new project for release in 2010 anticipation began building inside. Damn. I can not wait I kept thinking. When the teaser single “Way You Move featuring Snoop” hit the net a few months ago I couldn’t wait to listen. It was THE moment I had been waiting on. New Faith Evans. YESSS!!!! Then I listened and my first thought was meh. I expected better. I listened a second time, telling myself that my expectations were just too high and a second listen would make it sound better. But the first impression remained. This is trash. Something’s not right. Quickly, I pushed those negative thoughts out of my head and patiently waited for the album’s release. Then it happened. The real single, “Gone Already,” was released and we had our moment. We reconnected like long lost lovers. You touched my soul. Now THIS is the Faith I know and love. My faith was restored. She’s going to kill ‘em with Something About Faith.

Now that Something About Faith has been release, I’m going to be one of the first to say this is a piece of shit. Stank ass garbage. This crap is so foul, it’s got my face stuck in a disdainful sour-faced grimace like I just found dog poop on the bottom of my shoe and can’t get it off. What were you thinking? Better yet what was your team telling you during the recording process? Now you’ve always employed a minimalists approach to production when it comes to your music tracks. But this is ridiculous. Why does the music sound amateur, dated and unfinished? It’s 2010, less is not more. I can usually get lost in your background arrangements. Not this time. The harmonies and the blend are not pleasing to my ears. Something sounds a little off. Hell, a lot off. And the mix is beyond craptastic. You should seek a partial refund from every mixer who mixed your tunes. By the way, did you plan to release any songs to radio? If so, make more than 2 radio friendly songs. I know true Artists hate to think about the commercial viability of their work but it’s the nature of the game. Radio/Video helps sell albums and I just don’t hear any of this crap making it on the radio.

Oh hell. I’m done. This is painful to stomach. You’ve let me down mightily. I’m issuing you a citation for playing trick or treat with my emotions. I’m hot as fish grease right now. What is this thing you call an album? Paging Faith Evans. An imposter has stolen your identity and is ruining the good credit that’s taken years for you to build. Paging the real Faith Evans.

Shawn’s Reverse Scale of 1 (best) to 10 (worst)

Album: 7 rotten eggs

The good: Gone Already, Right Here, The Love in Me

The Bad: Every uptempo

The Ugly: Every collaboration

Buyer beware. Don’t waste your money. The quality is no better than a mixtape.