Crazysexycool - TLC (CD 1994)

The Main Idea:
When T-Boz, Left Eye & Chili first blew onto the scene in 1992, people didn t quite know how to take them. They seemed to be 3 loud-mouthed, bad-mannered girls who said whatever they wanted to and didn t care what people thought. But TLC had something special about them that made people pay attention to them. They had actual talent so that was a bonus and all 3 of them are beautiful. After frankly talking about sex among other things on their debut CD, Oooh On The TLC Tip!, which sold over 3 million, the girls went through a bit of drama involving Lisa, some tennis shoes and some matches. You do the math. But that didn t let the girls stop them as they pushed forward to release this CD in 1994. The CD is an opus that shows all 3 of the girls personalities very well and helps to see what makes TLC, TLC. I also think the CD was a pioneer of sorts in a lot of ways and I ve never heard negative things about it after all these years so that s really saying something. The CD may be 10 years old but it s in no way outdated. My track-by-track breakdown:

1. Intro-lude - See, TLC are pioneers already by being the first to use the word intro-lude. This intro is simple and kinda boring as it s nothing but Phife from A Tribe Called Quest rapping about the 3 girls for about a minute over a simple beat with the words crazy, sexy, cool being whispered in the background. It s alright but it could ve been better. 3/10.

2. Creep - The album s funky 1st single written and produced by Dallas Austin a.k.a. Chili s baby daddy. The production is great and very funky with the horns and drums. It also uses a nice sample of Slick Rick s Hey Young World. TLC also pioneered in talking about subjects that may have seemed taboo at the time with the greatest of ease. This song is about T-Boz seeing someone on the side because her boyfriend ain t doing what he should be she does it in secret to protect him. At the time, this sound was fresh and new and it doesn t sound too outdated now. I think this is probably where Beyonc got the idea for the horns for her song. This song is great and one of the CD s best but I think that if Left Eye would ve put a verse on here, it would ve really set it off. 10/10.

3. Kick Your Game - This song is one of my least favorites. The production here is done by Jermaine Dupri so you already know it s less than spectacular. The synthesizers and cat meows are annoying and this production seems better suited for the early Xscape. I ve slowly started to like it a little more but I m not quite there. But I do think it s another pioneering song conceptually. The ladies sing about telling all the fellas that if they want to get with them, it all depends on how they kick their game. No rookies or lightweights allowed. But I do like Left Eye s rap on here so it does get bonus points for that. I suggest listening to this one at least once and deciding for yourself how you feel. Personally, it s borderline filler. 5/10.

4. Diggin On You - The CD s 4th single and another one of my favorites. The girls called on producer extraordinaire Babyface for this one and he does a good job as it s not his typical lovey-dovey fare. The production is very laid-back and relaxed and I love to sing along with the lyrics:

I was like deep in a cool, what'nt gone be nobody's fool
Could not care less who was there, could've been like anywhere
I was chillin with my Kool-Aid, did not want to par-ti-ci-pate in no silly conversations
Had no time for new relationships
I must admit to you, when I heard the lines you threw
Although it usually turns me off but this time you have turned me on
Lights off, lights on, I guess the groove is on and I am

Diggin the scene, diggin on you diggin on me
Baby bay-ooo-baby baby
It's on like that, it's on like that, I gotta be in love or somethin like that

In case you were wondering, the song is about falling in love without intending to. The lyrics do fit because this song does remind me of a summery day while chilling in the shade with some Kool-Aid. This is one of the CD s best tracks and definitely to put on repeat. 11/10.

5. Case of The Fake People - Dallas returns here and does another great job with the production. I love how Dallas always incorporates live instruments into his productions and still gives off a hip-hop/R&B vibe. I also love the concept of this song. It s about letting go of people who want to use you for what they can get out of you but not being true friends. The lyrics are true to life as well:

Goodbye, goodbye to all the fake people in my life
I never wanted you around me so be on your way now
You better think twice before you let people in your life
Because when you put down, no one is around you
You got a case of the fake people, a case of the fake people

TLC does another great job with this song and makes it another great track that s fresh, funky and true which makes it that much better. 10/10.

6. CrazySexyCool (Interlude) - This is a laid-back, sexy interlude with some sexy production as T-Boz talks for almost 2:00 about how a CrazySexyCool girl is the best girl there is. I like the whole vibe of this interlude which makes it a good one. 5/10.

7. Red Light Special - This is the CD s 3rd single and hands down, the sexiest and naughtiest song on the whole CD. It s also kinda shocking to read that it was written and produced by BABYFACE? With his track record, I wouldn t have thought that Babyface would be this naughty, no offense:

Take a good look at it, look at it now
Might be the last time you'll have a go round
I'll let you touch it if you'd like to go down
I'll let you go further if you take the southern route
Don't go too fast, don't go too slow, you've got to let your body flow
I like 'em attentive and I like 'em in control

Baby it's yours, all yours if you want it tonight
I'll give you the red light special all through the night
Baby it's yours, all yours if you want it tonight
Just come through my door, take off my clothes and turn on the red light

Do I really have to say with this song is about? OK then. The production is very slow and sexy which fits the song very well. I know you ll fall in love with this song after one listen. It s just that good. 11/10.

8. Waterfalls - The album s 2nd single that propelled TLC to superstardom and became their 2nd biggest Pop hit, not to mention helping them earn 3 Grammies. Produced by Organized Noize, who I think are highly underrated, the production here is funky, sexy and ahead of its time. All the instruments here, especially the guitar, sound really good together and make the song a little hypnotic. The message of the song here is excellent as well which shows that TLC can make good music and inject positive messages at the same time. Both girls sound great here and Left Eye s rap is one of her best. Another excellent song and if you don t like this song, you seriously need to have your ears checked. 11/10.

9. Intermission-lude - This isn t anything but :45 of the intro music being played with crazy, sexy, cool being whispered in the background. I guess it s time for a pee break. 0/10.

10. Let s Do It Again - This ballad was written and produced by the Babyface I know and like. The production is kind of ordinary to me as are the lyrics so this track doesn t really do anything for me. It s basically about the girls singing to their guys about making love again and doing it all night long. Been there, heard that. But I do like Chili s vocals on here as she tears it up but the moaning towards the end is just stupid. 4/10.

11. If I Was Your Girlfriend - Now the girls venture into uncharted territory by attempting to do a cover, one by Prince no less. They ve chosen his track If I Was Your Girlfriend. How did they do? Pretty good. I do like the production because it s funky and edgy and it fits the song really well and imagine my surprise when I see that Sean Puffy Combs produced it and without using any samples. Who knew? The song in itself is interesting as it s asking a guy if he would treat a girl differently if she was his girlfriend. The song has no real hook and I don t think that T-Boz should ve tried to sing like Prince with the falsetto because she s not capable of it vocally. Stay in your register, hon. But the cover isn t nail-on-chalkboard either so it makes it pretty good. 7/10.

12. Sexy (Interlude) - A rather funny interlude with Chili prank-calling Puffy. At first, she s talking all sexy and sounding as if she wants phone sex but then at the end, she asks him for something. What? You really wanna know? Are you sure? Positive? OK. She wants him to give her some [edited for content} so she can [edited for content]. It s actually really funny. 5/10.

13. Take Our Time - This is my least favorite track on the CD. The production is OK but the lyrics are too lovey-dovey for my taste. They try to combine lovey-dovey with sexy and it sounds like a Britney Spears song on crack. And Chili s singing on here is kinda erratic. This whole song is more funny than sexy. If you want a good laugh, check this one out. 2/10

14. Can I Get A Witness (Interlude) - The production on here is the same as track 6 and a then lesser-known Busta Rhymes appears on here and talks about how he wants a CrazySexyCool girl. The production is good but the interlude is boring to me and sounds like filler. 2/10.

15. Switch - Left Eye must ve been visting her parole officer for the last 5 tracks but she reappears ad-libbing on track 14 and on here. Jermaine Dupri produced this one but he actually did a good job but I think that s because of the heavy sampling of Jean Knight s hit Mr. Big Stuff. The song is basically about loving somebody, getting bored with them and then replacing them with somebody else. It also started a new motto for everyone; erase, replace, embrace new face. Left Eye s nasal voice was missed and does a good job on here. The whole song is just a fun one to bounce around to which is why I recommend this one. 8/10.

16. Sumthin Wicked This Way Comes feat. Dre n.k.a. Andre 3000 - I think the girls picked a fitting way to end this CD which is on a thought-provoking note. Organized Noize did this one as well so you know the beat is tight as expected with the rock guitars and drums. The song is about being disgusted at the deplorable state of the world. The lyrics are really good:

What gave you the right to misjudge me and write me off on the wall
Acting as if you understand me, in reality you just don't know me at all
Sometimes I can't help but wonder if this was how it's meant to be
But if you search deep enough in your soul, you'll always find a slight reminder of me
Won't somebody tell me

I just don't understand the ways of the world today
Sometimes I feel like there's nothing to live for
So I'm longing for the days of yesterday

Left Eye s rap is great here as she sounds like a poetess. and I love Dre s rhyme as it s very true and deep just like him. The whole song is excellent and was a tight record to end the CD with. We ve had fun but we can t forget about reality and that there are real problems to be dealt with so be smart. 11/10.

Final Thoughts:
This whole CD is a testament to why TLC was as big as they were and how much of pioneers they were. This whole CD pioneered and revolutionized music while setting trends to be followed for years to come. The girls talked about subjects that may have been shied upon with the greatest of ease and made everyone wake up. The production is excellent and the title fit s the CD and girls so well. Left Eye s crazy energy makes the CD fun while Chili s sexy vocals make the CD so romantic and enjoyable and T-Boz cool voice gets the message across point blank. I don t care what anybody says. Every female R&B act to follow TLC had to take some snippets from their careers to make their careers successful because TLC mapped out the blueprint and executed it without a hitch. True, they ve had problems and drama and tragedy but it hasn t affected their music one bit. They have longevity which is something lacking in music today. CrazySexyCool is a CD to buy for more reasons than can be named but this CD needs to be had by all. It s just as important and funky and fresh today as it was 10 years ago. There s a reason why it sold 6 million copies and when you hear this CD, you ll see why.