Brandy Haze – Where We Left Off [LP]

If you have not heard of Brandy Haze‘s previous projects, her newly dropped debut album Where We Left Off, is a great place to start. It has a cohesive sound that leans heavily on hip-hop, soul, and electro-dance genres and is an easy listen. The set has many tracks that are radio-friendly; however, it does not sacrifice substance for mainstream appeal. In “Say Something“, she lays down the law to would-be love interests: if you can’t keep up with her or rise to her level then don’t bother wasting her time. It’s an excellent way to kick off the album, and it sets the stage for what’s to come – a collection of songs that are both fun and liberating. “War” is a no-nonsense and direct song that illustrates Brandy‘s willingness to give as good as she gets in any given relationship—good, bad or otherwise. This can be read into the lyrics, where Haze sings: “You want to go low, well nigga we can play limbo / Don’t like my shit, then when I hit you, you go ghost / I know your friends, and baby petty’s my M.O. / I’m ready for the smoke.“

In the song “Married to Money” Haze boasts about the fact that she’s too busy making loot and having fun to be concerned about an ex-boyfriend who’s trying to get back with her. It’s an uptempo anthem that highlights the up-and-coming singer’s confidence and self-assuredness while still maintaining the fun, energetic vibe that listeners have come to expect from the album up to that point. “Look What You Made Me Do” exhibits many of the tropes of a pop-soul earworm, including an upbeat tempo and themes about heartbreak. However, the song also features some key differences that help to distinguish it from the pack. In particular, Haze’s vocals expertly balance being playful and sultry, which adds a sense of personality to the track. Additionally, there is a heavy emphasis on driving rhythms and guitar licks that add a beautifully nostalgic, pop-rock sheen to the finished product.

The next song is called “Killed By Cupid,” and it tells the story of a woman whose love life has taken some unexpected twists. Our starlet sings about going from being happily single to entering into a relationship to discovering that her relationship is on rocky ground—all within the space of just one track. Surprisingly, the song’s energy is rather bouncy and bubbly, which contrasts with some of the song’s lyrics. This smart move highlights Haze‘s versatility as an artist and proves that she can do more than just sultry R&B. “Million” is another club-ready track, though this time the lyrics are about falling hard for a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. It’s another catchy song that could easily end up on a playlist next to any of the hits from Beyonce‘s boundary-pushing disco-house album Renaissance.

The album closes with a slinky-sexy remix of “Look What You Made Me Do” that is more of a deconstruction than a remix. It strips the song down to its bare essentials and adds some new elements that help the track feel more like an original song than just a remix. Overall, Where We Left Off is a strong debut album from Brandy Haze that will appeal to fans of R&B, pop, and club music. The production is fantastic, with plenty of catchy hooks throughout the record—a great listen overall!

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