One of many “Two Eleven” tracks that layer Brandy’s distinctive, husky alto on top of a more breathy falsetto, “So Sick” is a bumping, heartfelt ode to anyone who’s been stuck in a one-sided relationship. “Two Eleven”‘s second single and arguably its strongest moment, “Wildest Dreams” is a return to the beat-driven ballads upon which Brandy built her name in the 90s, with warm layers of piano and even jazz flute that recall 1995’s “Best Friend.” It’s also destined to be a live favorite at upcoming shows, with producer The Bizness whispering the singer’s name and even Brandy name-checking herself on the second verse (“Just wanted someone real to love me for me / Me / Just Brandy”). Which tracks are the best on “Two Eleven?” Read on for Billboard’s track-by-track review.Ī throwback to the interludes that populated albums like “Never Say Never” and “Full Moon,” this percolating instrumental is really just a one-minute warm-up to what’s about to come. It also has a who’s who of contemporary R&B songwriters, from a pair of tracks with Chris Brown to previous collaborator Frank Ocean to Sean Garrett, Rico Love and Mario Winans. While “Two Eleven” won’t touch that album’s chart impact (truth be told, it may even struggle to match or surpass the disappointing 214,000 copies that “Human” sold), it nevertheless features some of her freshest beats since 2004’s experimental, critically adored “Afrodisiac,” courtesy of a list of collaborators that includes Bangladesh, Mike WiLL Made It, Major Lazer’s Switch, Jim Jonsin and Nate “Danja” Hills. So it’s comforting, then, to hear Brandy at her most assured on “Two Eleven,” a collection of old-school R&B songs with a modern, often futuristic twist with no trend-chasing experiments with EDM and virtually no guest stars (save for a Chris Brown cameo on lead single “Put It Down.”) In fact, it’s her most focused album since 1998’s “Never Say Never,” the Rodney Jerkins-helmed LP that made her a global superstar.
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