Avg Rating: 
4.0 ( 12 total votes )
Not since Joe’s My Name is Joe has the title of an r&b album been more accurate than Monica’s sixth studio album Still Standing. Let’s review. After breaking onto the national stage at the tender age of fifteen, Monica became an unqualified success, selling over three million copies of her debut album Miss Thang. The sky was the limit for the blossoming superstar, but a series of personal tragedies – the suicide of her boyfriend, the incarceration of her fiancée C-Murder and a plethora of other personal setbacks worthy of a telenovela - were reflected … ...Read the full album review
Fans can also check out Monica's previous albums: Monica - New Life
DJBooth Album Review
Not since Joe’s My Name is Joe has the title of an r&b album been more accurate than Monica’s sixth studio album Still Standing. Let’s review. After breaking onto the national stage at the tender age of fifteen, Monica became an unqualified success, selling over three million copies of her debut album Miss Thang. The sky was the limit for the blossoming superstar, but a series of personal tragedies – the suicide of her boyfriend, the incarceration of her fiancée C-Murder and a plethora of other personal setbacks worthy of a telenovela - were reflected in her inconsistent musical output over the early part of the past decade. Now, nearly six years after her last album, the sweet young girl we watched duel Brandy for a boy is now very much a woman. A woman who has faced more tragedy in ten years than most people see in a lifetime. A woman who has overcome. A woman who is still standing.
It can be extraordinarily difficult for an artist to achieve true success after years away from the spotlight, so Monica has a long way to go if she wants to make it back to the top, but fortunately she sounds more than prepared for the journey. While Still Standing certainly has some potential hits, it’s first and foremost a deeply personal and soulful album. An album that’s unlikely to attract legions of new fans, but should grab longtime fans and not let go, and over the long run that’s exactly the kind of music that will last an artist a lifetime. If this album is any indication, there’s no reason Monica won’t still be standing for a long time to come.
This might feel a little soulless, but in today’s musical climate a smash single is more valuable than ever, so we might as well start thing off with Still Standing’s more radio ready material, starting with the album’s most recent single Everything to Me. Produced by Missy Elliott, who reaches into her soul playbook for a classic r&b jam, Everything to Me showcases Monica’s gospel roots as she delivers a dynamically hypnotizing vocal performance. Ok, bad example. Maybe I should have gone with Missy’s other contribution If You Were My Man, a bouncing and 80s influenced track that notably features a somewhat unfortunate quasi-rap from Monica. It’s the album’s most openly upbeat track, and it does briefly elevate Still Standing’s mood, but I still can’t see it gaining serious spins. Maybe the title track Still Standing will launch the album into the stratosphere. After all, it does contain a Ludacris verse…and unflinchingly powerful vocals from Monica…and inspiring lyrics. Maybe not.
Actually, now that I think about it, there really aren’t any overt attempts to conquer the mainstream charts on Still Standing. Not only is there nary a club song to be found, but the aforementioned Luda is the album’s sole guest. Instead, Monica has made a deeply, deeply personal album full of tracks like the darkly intense Mirror, a track that women everywhere – real women – should be able to relate to, and be inspired by (shades of Mary J. Blige anyone?). While Here I Am’s intentions may not be as admirable as Mirror, Monica is revenge cheating on her man, it’s an extraordinary example of her development as a singer. She knows just when to hold back and when to unleash the powerhouse notes, a musical wisdom that only comes from experience. I’m listening to it as I write these words, and I’m officially announcing that Here I Am’s my favorite song on the album. It’s official. But these tracks are still really only the tip of the sonic iceberg. Once In a Lifetime is the album’s purest love song, Love All Over Me proves that Monica’s a more powerful singer than she sometimes gets credit for (at times she sounds like a pre-Bobby Whitney Houston) and Believing In Me is an acoustic ode to moving beyond heartbreak. These tracks may not be perfect, but they’re honest, and the blend of vulnerability and strength Monica displays on Still Standing is precisely what makes it stand above the crowd.
So, ultimately, what does Still Standing mean for Monica? While the album may not have blown you away by the time Monica’s last note has faded, I frankly don’t see how anyone could claim to be an r&b fan and not at the very least enjoy this album. Monica has done more than simply stand. She’s triumphed, and I recommend you celebrate with her.
Listen to More: Monica Written by Nathan S.
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Member Reviews and Ratings
Average Member Rating: Total Ratings: 12
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 20 |
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i was really really surprised by this album. i didn't expect it to be that extremly good as it is. what probably makes it so good is mostly the selection of producers. i mean, you just can't go wrong with JD or b.cox. jd takes her singing on another level on 'Love All Over Me', though the snare is a little bit disturbing. furthermore we have a typical L.O.S beat, nothing more to add. and the beat that surprised me the most was jim jonsin's 'Mirror', which doesn't end up in his usual hi-hat massacre which he tends to do on slower songs (just listen to 'This Is Us' by Backstreet Boys, 'I Want You To Be My Girl' by Johnta Austion, or most recently 'Make Love (Into the Night) by Usher. imo the hi-hat in the chrouses doesn't fit to any of these songs.) but that's another story. i could write more about this great female r&b-album, which i am usually not into, but i'll just say: 4.5 rounded up
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| Posted on Mar 23, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1345 |
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Solid effort! My favorites are Superman and Here I Am.
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| Posted on Mar 24, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 433 |
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Wow, who else agrees that Missy Elliot is getting to be a real good producer? Heck, this album is almost perfect production. I love it.
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| Posted on Mar 26, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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im glad she's back. and im glad she and toni are back to form. dignified. good repeat value. believing in me for the nostalgia.
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| Posted on Mar 30, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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i love this album. its the best r&b album of the year.my favorites are one in a lifetime, love all over me and stay or go.
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| Posted on Apr 12, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Monica at her best as usual!
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| Posted on Apr 15, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
hey girl
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| Posted on Apr 18, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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hmm...its okay.. but i like auburn better... she has a goddess like voice..hehe.. love auburn(perfect two)
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| Posted on Apr 19, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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The album benefits from quality control and a handful of particularly strong ballads. It is one ogf Monica's stronger albums so far. One of the good things about this album is that it is gimmick-free and has a collection of cool Soul RnB tracks.
On the other hand, the songs are a little predictable. Monica has an wonderful voice with gorgeous tone but she is made to breath life into the songs which, some of them,don't even measure up to her capabilities and talent. 2 tracks that stick out for me in this album, personally are Still Standing and One In A Lifetime. |
| Posted on Apr 28, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 4 |
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LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!!!! SHOW THE WORLD THAT YOUR STILL STANDING! GO MO!!!!
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| Posted on May 13, 2010 |
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Professional  Total Ratings: 21 |
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My girl is back, I was disappointed in a few albums she had in between but this is nice. My favorites are Superman, Mirror and Believing in Me. My only small disappointment is mostly ballads to mid-tempo. Would have loved to see a few clubbin songs. I also like her recent collabs with both Keyshia Cole and Ludacris. This one stays in my rotation.
 Creative DJ who mixes many genres & enjoys taking listeners on a Musical Journey. Huge supporter of Indie Artists, something bout that new & raw love for the music! Read more: http://www.djbooth.net/index/dj/profile/98347/#ixzz0o7r0Nh6y http://SerenityGroove.com/ http://twitter.com/DeeJayClyde |
| Posted on May 16, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Now this was one of her best ones yet i listen to this EVERY day wjust gotta love it
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| Posted on Jun 29, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
I luv diz song, diz my babi theme song
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| Posted on Sep 07, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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i'm glad uu made this song i love it!!!!!
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| Posted on Apr 04, 2012 |
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