• Band / Artist : Chris Brown
• Genre : Pop / Rock
• Sample Track Download : All My Rivals
• Buy CD : CD Baby
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 9 out of 10

“All My Rivals” was the first track I’d ever heard from Chris Brown. I’d hoped his album would live up to my expectations, as that track is so quirky, upbeat and oh so catchy. I need not have worried, this is all I’d hoped for and a whole lot more.

I think the thing that stands out most for me, is the wonderful vocals. There’s a great layering of the vocals, with some amazing harmonies. In fact there’s a lot that reminds me of the Beach Boys, that wonderful lushness of production. There’s also a hint of the Beatlesque, in some of the musical and string arrangements, with a slight McCartneyesque tone in some of the lyrics, especially they way they bounce along. Not forgetting the overall sound with it’s very subtle XTC overtones

There’s a great selection of styles, including some fairly strange ones, “In the Kitchen” being a prime example of this. This is a song that I can imagine being used in modern video game. There’s a lot to like about this album. I has a great optimism, that just can’t help but put you in a good mood. It’s happy without being sickly so. My favorite tracks would have to be “All My Rivals” which is just the perfect pop song, the title track “Now That You’re Fed” and “Things She Laughed About”, fantastic.

Conclusion : Just the perfect pop album. No dark overtones, no melancholia, no thoughtful reflections, just pure power pop.