One thought that comes to mind when diving into “Lost & Found,” the first track on Chris Brown’s intermittently long, 45-song double album Heartbreak on a Full Moon, is how inconceivable it is that there’s still two hours and 38 minutes left before sunrise. Dropping a massive project in these times feels like a questionable move for Breezy, seeing as his current career status could definitely use a dose of quality — as opposed to quantity.
In fact, there hasn’t been much quality output from Brown in a few years. His recent albums, while producing classic singles such as the anti-cheating anthem “Loyal” (2014) and the intoxicating blend of lust and love heard on “Liquor” (2015), have been spotty at best and failed to provide any artistic consistency for the once-esteemed R&B star. Heartbreak on a Full Moon’s 45-song tracklist might have seemed like the necessary lifeline he needed but the enormity of the project flatlines the listening experience.
Brown is a hitmaker – or at least, he used to be. His albums aren’t necessarily championed for being great front-to-back listens but he does get deserved credit for churning out a hit or two within the confines of said album’s tracklist. With a whopping 45 swings at the bat to land a hit, the Usher and Gucci Mane-assisted track “Party” is the new album’s best chance of claiming a legacy.
Although the record has surpassed the 175-million view mark on YouTube, the fact it was released almost a year ago doesn’t scream out “project highlight.” There are a few more designated singles, like the monotonous crew cut “Pills & Automobiles,” and “Questions,” which is just a lazily written pseudo-cover of Kevin Lyttle’s 2003 pop-reggae hit “Turn Me On.”
The next best bet for making a splash on streaming services’ respected urban playlists comes in the form of “High End” featuring Future and Young Thug. The Richie Souff production helps Breezy fit in well with the Super Slimey duo who all take turns trading directionless Auto-Tuned flexes.
Amid the half-hearted rapping attempts (an attribute he’s brandished in mixtape form in the past), his singing voice remains his greatest asset. There is no denying the technical flawlessness of his voice, but even those perfect pipes can’t save the lifelessly formulaic songwriting.
The most obvious example of this redundancy appears toward the end of disc one where a string of four songs roll into each other in such a blurred way that it’s hard to differentiate them. The yearning trap croon of “To My Bed” is identically continued on “Hope You Do,” while “This Ain’t” and “Pull Up” have indistinguishable song structure and drum patterns. It doesn’t bode well for an album when a 15-minute chunk of music could have been summed up in a four-minute song.
It’s truly hard to look past the fact this double album nears the three-hour mark — especially when its biggest takeaway is Brown’s obsession with stealing girls away from other guys and overdramatic “baby” murmurs.
If listeners have enough time to sift through all the music on here, they might find some half-decent deep cuts to get up and two-step to … but getting to that point takes more work than the actual music deserves. In an age where attention spans wear thin, 45-song albums are downright unacceptable, even if you’re Chris Brown.
Wack album. The only song i liked is “Sensei”.
You not a breezy fan if you only liked 1 song out of 45.
You need to stay away from RNB. Looks like you don’t know how to react to music, unless it sound typical. Find yourself.
Good album. I do not understand a 45 track album though. Production is on point. Normally i wouldnt say it but would have liked more features and more breezy rappin. I consider the album more of a playlist then an album.
The thug and future features were fillers for me. As an artist he was trying something new hence 45 tracks (a thank you for the funs by giving more for less) . From the album title you can deduce you will be getting relationship type music with its highs, lows and well breezy drama, so its not your typical classic r&b album, something I presume Scott Glaysher had a hard time deciphering lol
Breezy is still on point compared to usher . Don’t understand what the RnB maestro is doing nowadays .
Usher is “burning” bridges left and right.
you really do not know rnb. Album was flames
This album was pure flames and the only thing people can say is “it was too long” just because it’s Chris Brown. People always try to find something negative to say about the kid
Straight Trash
To My Bed is a banger, Sip and Everybody Knows are solid. I don’t really care for anything else on the CD, but you guys are pretty hard on Breezy… he’s had at least 3 RIAA platinum singles in 2015 and 2016 alone, a Gold single this year, and he “used to be” a hitmaker? That’s not even counting the tracks he’s featured on
Yeah they definitely hating. What they want from a 20 year old.
yall hating on him heavy
Ain’t no other male dropping a 45song album I give Chris big ups.. like or not dude one of the hardest workin in music he’s damn near on every song on the radio features also no hate in my blood I love seeing black ppl do good………………we deserve to win all we done been though
A man can’t be generous in bless his fans wit more music I mean the brother haven’t drop a album in 2 years so I see it as 2 years worth of work
#HATERS ARTICLE. please keep your hating for yourself or shut up. no need to spread your cancer
Started to read…..then seen “intermittently long”….. sometimes the naysayers are right about the dx bullshit….it’s like someone just wanted to use big words…though intermittent isn’t really one…..for a guy who has a high reading comprehension level….that phrase is atrocious ….it’s a double album….the hell is “intermittently long “???
Amazing it is an amazing compilation of music!
He put his soul in this album and its one of his best ones to date, I have it on replay?????????
I bet if someone else were to have dropped this album it would’ve gotten a better score. The site has already shown it’s bias against Chris Brown. Anyways the album is unbelievably good, and might be his best album. It was meant for the fans, not just a money grab.
Best album of Chris so far.
He’s the BEST!!!
Big fan of Chris, hard worker no doubt but I was able to listen thru a few times and cut it down to only having 17 songs left of the album on my iPod
never been a big fan of chris but this album is straight fire. its not an album its an experience
I liked it.
In general, DX reviews are poorly written.
Who is writing these reviews? I’m a former music executive and this has to be written by people who don’t know music! Chris Brown created a Masterpiece!!
Fuck whoever wrote this shit, Heart Break Full Moon is Fire!!! Its been #1 on the RnB/HipHop charts for 2 WEEKS NOW AND STILL IS. NEXT TIME WRITING BS CONSIDER FACTS NOT EMOTIONS.
Fuck off Scott, you know the album is good.
STRAIGHT FIRE !!!!
Why am I not surprised DX gave it a bad review?
This is what happens when you get a random white guy with no musical background to write an article about music.
Why are you mentioning skin color? Oh, I know, because you’re racist. 10 Bandz… lol.
lol indeed.
An EPIC album from beginning to end
Couldn’t disagree anymore – this album is exceptional. I also think “Party” was surprisingly lackluster, so it may be a difference of taste.
I was never a Chris Brown fan, but now I am, and I have a huge respect for his artistry now as well. Where do you find this much quality in R&B or hip-hop right now? Please. He just made a bunch of artists look like Rebecca Black with this one…
This reviewer is a fool who shouldn’t have the internet space to share his asanine opinion. The album is fantastic, one of the best releases of 2017. Well worth the wait. Cut this guy’s mic off.
This album was long but it really showed off his talent as an artist
Sure this album is a lot to take in, however the quality is just outstanding. To have an album over two hours and have such quality is truly remarkable. Most people will not take the time to listen, but the people who gave the album a chance were impressed.
I am truly happy with every song on it, to my bed on fire out here n tbh I’m from the Caribbean, “privacy” n “questions” are banging !…on a 3 hour commute to work u can understand how this album is my everyday playlist ….every song is my favorite song now…..
I absolutely ADORE Chris Brown. I have followed him and his career from the beginning. Real music comes from the soul and if that’s what he feels than let it be . I mean HE IS what, 27? He’s a younger man , famous at that , the world and any woman at his disposal…I’m jealous bc I only WISH he had a song about me! No seriously… There are so many ppl who have negative things to say about him but I have NONE. I LOVE his music, style, EVERYTHING. And this album is the ONLY album on my daily playlist.. I know every word of every song and I hope he continues to make great music. I haven’t been to a concert yet but that’s next on my list of Chris Brown ‘to dos’. I am very happy that he has gone platinum. Keep it up! I really don’t know what That man is comparing his music to bc SURELY it’s NOT the trash I hear DAILY on the radio from these so called artists.. LOVE Chris Brown. Love. Him.
After reading this article my mind opened up a little bit again to a thing that i always said. Chris Brown is an amazing singer, and he is trully amazing in everything he does, but, as a huge fan of him, i see that he tries to do all by himself, even if it is to compose his song, i guess he should try to innovate and do some different things as joyner lucas is doing now and kendrick lamar did. With this new project with joyner lucas called “angels and demons”, i really hope that chris brown change a little bit the main theme of his songs, although i loved songs like To my bed, Hope you do and Rock your body, i think chris brown should really do some Videoclips about Yellow tape, Sirens, State of union, and more things like that. (sorry if i made some mistake, im brazillian)
Im a big breezy fan.dop ulbum .true legend. ?
I could listen to this album for the rest of my life. There is so many songs that pertain to so many different moods anyone can be feeling. His voice is so smooth and his songs are very relatable and that’s why is such a popular artist:)
Classic! This album transcends any body of work his ever put out. There’s a song for every mood and the fact that’s there’s 45 songs makes it even better. The music is quality. The only thing I don’t like about his music lately is his feature choices. Dating back since X his made some of the worst decisions with his features in my opinion.
I’m not sure what this website is going on about. They’ve completely slept on this album and decided to ignore most of success HBOAFM has achieved.
It’s a very good album it honestly got me by surprise cause I didn’t think it’d be that good and I wasn’t even a fan of chris brown when I was listening to it but the whole album is a listening experience it’s more comprehensive and not a pick one track kinda album