TEENA MARIE
Beautiful
UMe 2013
R&B star Teena Marie, known for hits such as ‘Lovergirl’, ‘I Need Your Lovin’ and ‘Shadow Boxing’, died on December 26th, 2010 at the age of 54. Now, just over two years later, the singer’s final album, “Beautiful”, is seeing the light of day after some posthumous tinkering from her singer daughter, Alia Rose.
Now, I must admit, I’m a fan of the time when she was working with Rick James. He know how to get the best out of her voice, and what grooves would suit her best. I lost interest when she went more mainstream in her Epic years, and although her comeback albums, “La Doña”, in 2004, and follow up “Sapphire”, in 2006 had their moments, they never quite matched up to her early brilliance. And this falls into the same category. Don’t get me wrong, there are some really good tunes here, but there are just as many clunkers.
Things get off to a bright and breezy start, with ‘Luv Letter’, a tremendous dance tune, and the Latin tinged ‘Maria Bonita’ is a real treat. There is one standout ballad in the shape of ‘Love Starved’, but too often clunky, intrusive and dated synth sounds get in the way of what could be a good tune. Some songs just don’t work at all. I’m talking to you, ‘Wild Horses’ and ‘The Perfect Feeling’, as well as the unnecessary cover of Curtis Mayfields ‘Give Me Your Love’. But, and it’s a big but, her voice was still there, and it’s a voice that is always a pleasure to listen to, even on the lesser material.
My favourite song is probably the ballad ‘Definition of Down’, which showcases her vocals to perfection, and in places you can hear just why Teena Marie should be celebrated as one of the great voices of R&B, “the Ivory Queen of Soul”. This isn’t her best, but it was her last, and still merits a listen.
The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
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