Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston
Harry
Going into this review, it was hard to think about genuine comments about an album by such a massive cultural icon. Indeed, I ended up writing few notes as a result. My biggest take away was the real variety in the songs throughout. It is hardly a safe first album; By contrast, this is a massive statement with songs spanning multiple genres and vibes. From the Talking Heads-inspired funky 2nd track “Thinking About You” to the tear-jerking balladry of “Saving All My Love For You”. And we can’t forget the disgusting pop banger that is “How Will I Know”. Despite this, Houston commands the songs with her extraordinary voice and brings them together to create a concise album. It is no surprise that she captivated so many people and her death devastated a nation. A remarkable album.
Classic/100
Zach
Whitney’s debut, self-titled album can be described in its simplest form, as a guide on how new artists should present themselves to the world. When discussing someone with a legacy as great at Whitney, sometimes you wonder if the music actually lives up to the hype, however Whitney Houston is a superstar. The song writing maturity for someone of such a young age (22 at the time) is outstanding, and with regard to her singing voice, literally fuck off. She shines throughout the album on great dance tracks, to soulful tracks that couldn’t be more 80s if you tried, to ballads that are largely unrivalled throughout history. My main criticism of the album is that there are potentially too many songs too similar to each other, while this is understandable for someone developing their sound, I would’ve like the songs within the same genre to sound a bit more distinct.
Fave Tracks: Saving All My Love For You, How Will I Know
Spazzy McGee 