Monica - After The Storm

It's been 5 long years since the Atlanta diva, Monica has blessed us with a full length album. In the interim she has struggled with many personal issues. She's overcome everything she faced and she's back with her third cd, aptly titled, After The Storm. The album features heavy production and background vocals from none other than Missy Elliott. Though "Get It Off" is almost certain to be a club banger, most of the cd is ballad laden, in typical Monica fashion. Monica touches on just about every aspect of a relationship imaginable. There's a song where she is the mistress of a married man. She also took a road less traveled and became the cheating and abusive lover on "Breaks My Heart." The songs seem widely personal and somewhat of a departure from the bubble gum songs we've heard from this young woman in the past. Monica is all grown up and she is out to prove that with this album. Other than the seemingly omnipotent presence of Missy, collaborations are far and few between though DMX and Tyrese both lend their vocals to this effort. The production is the best I've heard from her thus far. Overall this album is definitely worth a listen.- KJ

Track By Track

-- Degrees --	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100
1. After the Storm - Intro
2. Get It Off
3. So Gone
4. U Should've Known Better
5. Don't Gotta Go Home feat. DMX
6. Knock Knock
7. That's My Man
8. Breaks My Heart
9. I Wrote This Song
10. Ain't Gonna Cry No More
11. Go To Bed Mad feat. Tyrese
12. Hurts The Most

The Industry Says

The Situation UK - 4.5 out of 5 After The Storm displays Monica at her best, and is her most personal work to date. With this album, she has proven her staying power, and shown that even after five years away from the business, she can still come back with an album so good, it’s a masterpiece.

Chronicmagazine.com - It’s been a minute since I’ve heard a good R&B album, but fortunately that drought is over. After the Storm was well worth the wait. The album is rich with personal tales of love with the right mix of attitude and hip-hop feel. If this album is any indication, Monica has many more years of success to come. Quit playing and go cop this.

Accessatlanta.com - B+ This is the record we sensed Monica had in her when she made her first CD in 1995.