Monica is a very talented singer, a rarity, in this age of flash in the pan auto-tuned sex-sationalized female artists. Had this album been released in the day when R&B SINGERS like her, Aaliyah, and Brandy were actually even considered in the game, without all of the RED shtick, The fail in her music, this time out of the gate, was putting the shtick before her sound...that horrid red weave, and the PR backstory, stole her limelight. She put up a good fight, but I wonder, in retrospect, had it been better to allow the album to speak for itself? Hmmmm. Sade never has this problem...because her PR team knows that her loyal fans want to see her live, and cash in on one lead single and the tour. That's what's happening to our classic singing ladies. PERIOD.