Title: [amazon_link id=”B009PCHB5Q” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Beautiful[/amazon_link]
Artist: Teena Marie
Label: UMe
Genre(s): R&B, Soul, Classic Soul
Released: January 15, 2013
Last week the world got a new album from the late Teena Marie. Lady T laid down the tracks to Beautiful before her 2010 death; the album was mixed and mastered, posthumously, by Maries 21-year-old daughter, Alia Rose.
Beautiful is filled with swagged out lyrics and sexy (The Long Play) and up-tempo (Rare Breed) tracks. However, this is by far not a classic album. Maria Bonita is no Portuguese Love; there are no Square Biz or Lovergirl quality tracks. The youthful sensuality and high notes present in Lady Ts classics are missing from Beautiful. Maries desire to portray an image of a hot MILF, falls flat and seems, well, rather old and corny.
Although this is not Maries best album, it is not a bad album. There are no great songs, but Luv Letter, Sweet Tooth and Love Starved are fun tracks that you might find stuck in your mind after you hear them a few times. The subject matter is pretty typical of Lady T: love and sex. However, there are several sentimental tracks including Maria Bonita, a song for her mother, and the title track Beautiful, a song for her daughter.
The sound and vibe of this album is definitely for the 40+ crowds; the Ivory Queen of Soul wont attract a new generation of fans with this album, but loyal admirers will appreciate the farewell gift.
Rating: B
Favorite Tracks:
Luv Letter
httpa://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBL6lsdjb8E&w=420&h=315
Love Starved
httpa://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=58g9Tvbqk7c