Hearsay
Alexander O'Neal · 1987
45 min · 17 tracks · contemporary R&B
A vibrant blend of funk and soul infused with synthesizers, creating an energetic yet smooth listening experience.
Top tracks — play these first
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(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me — This track showcases O'Neal's powerful vocal delivery paired with lush instrumentation, effectively capturing the album's emotional core.
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Criticize — As one of the album's standout singles, Criticize blends heartfelt lyrics with a catchy melody, becoming a defining anthem of O’Neal’s career.
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Never Knew Love Like This — This track exemplifies the romantic themes present throughout Hearsay while highlighting O'Neal's vocal range and emotive phrasing.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends funk and soul with synths but is hampered by repetitive intro tracks that affect cohesion.
What we noticed
- Each song typically employs a strong, danceable groove with prominent bass lines and layered synthesizers, characteristic of the late 80s R&B sound.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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4/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- heartfelt emotional expressions throughout
- smooth grooves for relaxed moments
- wave-like energy flow experience
- engaging sing-along choruses
- for intimate gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced listening experiences
- seek standalone hit songs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on July 29, 1987, Hearsay was Alexander O'Neal's third studio album, following his self-titled debut in 1985 and the sophomore effort, 'Criticize,' in 1986. At this point in his career, O'Neal was solidifying his reputation as a leading voice in contemporary R&B and funk, building upon previous successes while expanding his sonic palette.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Gerald Levert· Keith Sweat· Johnny Gill
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Criticize
The song shifts from a plea for understanding to an assertion of self-worth marks a pivotal lyrical turn.
This transition emphasizes personal empowerment and challenges the listener to embrace self-acceptance amidst critique.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Intro 0:34
- 2 (What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me 4:24
- 3 Intro 0:57
- 4 Hearsay 4:01
- 5 Intro 0:13
- 6 The Lovers 4:37
- 7 Intro 0:44
- 8 Fake 3:55
- 9 Intro 0:37
- 10 Criticize 4:09
- 11 Intro 0:28
- 12 Never Knew Love Like This 5:09
- 13 Interlude 0:16
- 14 Sunshine 5:59
- 15 Crying Overtime 5:12
- 16 Intro 0:24
- 17 When the Party's Over 3:30
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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