Album Review by Mark Bayross
Now, unlike Ideal US, this is r n’ b music I can appreciate. The all-female group has taken the trouble to ensure that there’s some variety on this album, and, like TLC (of whom they remind me at times), they approach subjects like life, love and the ‘hood with a sense of humour.
There are surprising moments on a number of tracks: a looped “I hate you so much right now” sample on CAUGHT OUT THERE; a string intro on GET ALONG WITH YOU; an Arab melody in the chorus of the rapped MAFIA; and playful keyboards with a helium-voiced chorus on GAME SHOW.
There are also some nice lyrical touches – “That was NASA? What did they want?” (on MARS) and describing a homeboy as “the ghetto Bill Gates” on GHETTO CHILDREN lend proceedings a sense of satire and zeitgeist.
The acoustic guitar on IN THE MORNING reminds me of a stripped-down TLC, while the trip-hoppy SUSPENDED has a distinctly Fugees feel to it. However, the stand-out track is the delightful “Roller Rink”, although why they let some guy swear all over the top of it is a bit of a mystery.
It’s not all hunky dory, though. The closing WOULDN’T YOU AGREE is a ballad of such R Kelly awfulness that it spoils an otherwise punchy and original album. Ignoring the aforementioned closing track, this is a commendable release. It takes a lot to win me over in the foggy MTV-friendly world that is r n’ b, but I’ll come back to this album again.
Full marks, ladies, for having the guts to try a few new ideas – you have more balls than Boys II Men and their bland, crooning ilk.
