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All rights reserved.Crazysexycool - TLC (CD 1994)
A Little Crazy, Definitely Sexy, And Very CoolReview created: 07/25/03
by: broomqueesha -- a member of Epinions
Pros:
Really soulful and flows well from song to song.
Really soulful and flows well from song to song.
Cons:
Some of the production and background vocals and too many interludes.
Some of the production and background vocals and too many interludes.
The Main Idea:
After a fairly successful debut album, the women of TLC changed both their look and their sound for their sophomore effort. CrazySexyCool, which released in 1994. The album title refers to the three ladies themselves, and it's very appropriate. This record is a smooth R&B classic with catchy hooks and melodies and well-arranged vocals. Keeping with the style of their debut, however, several songs contain important messages about values and morality and equality. TLC stepped it up on CrazySexyCool, and there's been no turning back ever since. This was a definite creative turning point for the group.
Song-By-Song Breakdown:
1. INTRO-LUDE - If you've read my previous reviews (insert shameless self-promotion here), you'll know I'm not a big fan of interludes, but I like the mellow vibe of this one, which features guest rapping from Phife of A Tribe Called Quest. This production and melody appears on most of the interludes on this album - 4/5
2. CREEP - One of the best songs on the album. T-Boz's vocals are well-suited to this track, which is a smooth R&B groove that's complimented by some excellent horns and production. Though it's a fairly laid back song, this one can be thrown on at any party because it's got a good bassline. I think this track probably best sums up the vibe of the whole album - 5/5
3. KICK YOUR GAME - This Jermaine Dupri-produced smash has TLC's signature soulful sound. The chorus is simple yet catchy: "I've been watching you, watching me/And I know you want it/But it depends on how you kick your game." Yes, it's a bit suggestive, but suggestive without being raunchy. The sample of a cat meowing adds to this track's smoky, almost mysterious sound - 5/5
4. DIGGIN' ON YOU - This is a really fun, danceable song that reminds me of cruising with the windows down during the summer. The vocals are amazing; I never thought Chilli could sing that well! Babyface did an excellent job on this hit's production. It has a classy, unique sound, and it's unlike any other R&B song I've heard. Definitely one of the best songs on the record - 5/5
5. CASE OF THE FAKE PEOPLE - Though I like the lyrics to this song, which tell of getting rid of all the backstabbers in your life, everything else is pretty bland. The production would sound good with any other song but this one, and the vocals are arranged in a bit of a whiny, annoying way. Not one of the best songs on the disc, but it does have a sound that's all its own - 3/5
6. CRAZYSEXYCOOL (interlude) - This is basically the same as the intro except it's just T-Boz reciting some verses about what CrazySexyCool is. It has a really good beat and great production and should have been made into a full-length song - 4/5
7. RED LIGHT SPECIAL - Babyface did well again on this excellent slow jam. The vocals, especially T-Boz's, are arranged really well and sound very soft and sensual. The guitar solo in the middle of the song makes it even more charming than it already is. This is the perfect song to get you "in the mood," I guess. Not that I, a fourteen-year-old, would know much about such things, but you get what I mean :/ - 5/5
8. WATERFALLS - What really needs to be said about this classic Organized Noize-produced smash? This was the biggest hit of TLC's career, and it's obvious why that is so. The lyrics send a strong, clear message, and there's that addicting hook: "Don't go chasing waterfalls/Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to." Left Eye's rap on this song is probably the best of her career. A great, meaningful mid-tempo song - 5/5
9. INTERMISSION-LUDE - This is just the background melody from the previous interludes - just someone whispering "CrazySexyCool" - with no real vocals or rapping or anything. It's very slick and soulful, so I actually don't mind this one too much - 4/5
10. LET'S DO IT AGAIN - Production-wise, this is the best song on the record, once again due to Babyface's genius. The vocals are up to par, as usual, except they send extremely soulful and convincing on this track. This song pretty much goes hand-in-hand with #7, as they have the same overall theme. A great mid-tempo song with good arrangements; one of the best on the album - 5/5
11. IF I WAS YOUR GIRLFRIEND - This is actually a cover of a Prince tune, and, though it does have a nice funky edge to it, I don't really like it that much, mostly because I'm not a big fan of Prince. The lyrics are sort of weird - "If I was your girlfriend/Would you let me dress you/I mean help you pick out your clothes/Before we go out" - and the girls' voices don't blend well with the production - 3/5
12. SEXY (interlude) - This is probably one of the greatest interludes of all time because it's so freaking funny. It starts off with Chilli calling some guy (played by then-Puff Daddy) and saying she wants him to help her... Well, I don't wanna spoil it. Listen to it yourself because it's just so hilarious - 5/5
13. TAKE OUR TIME - Another love song that's along the same lines as #'s 7 and 10. This one has slow, peaceful production, and the vocals are arranged really well, though Chilli oversings it in some areas. The song is a bit too simple and sappy for my tastes, but it's a good, soulful song. It blends in well with the rest of the album - 4/5
14. CAN I GET A WITNESS (interlude) - This one has the same background music as the first three interludes and features rapping from Busta Rhymes and ad-libs from Left-Eye. It's basically just a guy version of #6, so nothing really special, though Busta sounds really cool and chilled on this one, which is very unlike him - 4/5
15. SWITCH - This is a really fun, danceable jingle and a good track to put near the end of the record. It's about leaving your man when he starts to get into your business too much, which is something a lot of people can relate to. Jermaine Dupri added some excellent production to this one, though I think the girls need to start singing some more of their own background vocals - 4/5
16. SUMTHIN' WICKED THIS WAY COMES - This socially conscious track was produced by the same people behind #8 and features some really good guest raps from Dre of Outkast. One of the best songs on the album, mostly because it sends a good message and contains another excellent rapping from Left Eye. Though it doesn't fit in with the rest of the album, it doesn't need to - 5/5
The Big Picture:
CrazySexyCool is TLC's most mature record to date. They grew up so much between their first and second albums that it's almost hard to believe. Their first record was cutesy hip-hop that talked about boys and friendship and all the other things you would expect from a few twenty-something young women. They were testing the waters on their debut, and now it seems they've found a place of their own with their sophomore release. CrazySexyCool is crazy, sexy, cool, sassy, funky, sensual, soulful, playful, and fifty bajillion other adjectives that I can't think of. Most of all, it's pure R&B music with pop appeal and street-wise hip-hop credit. It's definitely more diverse than their debut. TLC became women on this record.
There are a few flaws with this record - the girls didn't write most of their own songs or sing most of their own background vocals - but there's really nothing that interferes with the overall sound of the album. It's full of raw energy and soul, something that's missing in today's music. By enlisting such hitmakers as Babyface, Jermaine Dupri, and Puff Daddy, TLC created a record that you could blare in your headphones while studying in your room, yet wouldn't feel out of place while driving through the hood with the windows down. CrazySexyCool remains one of my favorite records of all time, even nine years after its release. It's that timeless quality that has made TLC the best-selling girl group of all time. They create feel-good music that fits in with any time, any occasion, and this record is a perfect example of that.
Final Notes:
Average Song Rating: 4.375
Best Song(s): "Red Light Special," "Creep," "Diggin' On You," and "Sumthin' Wicked This Way Comes"
Worst Song(s): "Case Of The Fake People" and "If I Was Your Girlfriend"
How Would I Rate This Record's...
Vocals? 4 stars
Lyrics? 4 stars
Production? 5 stars
Timelessness? 5 stars
Artistry? 4 stars
Also Recommended:
Mary J. Blige - No More Drama
Alicia Keys - Songs In A Minor
Destiny's Child - Destiny's Child
After a fairly successful debut album, the women of TLC changed both their look and their sound for their sophomore effort. CrazySexyCool, which released in 1994. The album title refers to the three ladies themselves, and it's very appropriate. This record is a smooth R&B classic with catchy hooks and melodies and well-arranged vocals. Keeping with the style of their debut, however, several songs contain important messages about values and morality and equality. TLC stepped it up on CrazySexyCool, and there's been no turning back ever since. This was a definite creative turning point for the group.
Song-By-Song Breakdown:
1. INTRO-LUDE - If you've read my previous reviews (insert shameless self-promotion here), you'll know I'm not a big fan of interludes, but I like the mellow vibe of this one, which features guest rapping from Phife of A Tribe Called Quest. This production and melody appears on most of the interludes on this album - 4/5
2. CREEP - One of the best songs on the album. T-Boz's vocals are well-suited to this track, which is a smooth R&B groove that's complimented by some excellent horns and production. Though it's a fairly laid back song, this one can be thrown on at any party because it's got a good bassline. I think this track probably best sums up the vibe of the whole album - 5/5
3. KICK YOUR GAME - This Jermaine Dupri-produced smash has TLC's signature soulful sound. The chorus is simple yet catchy: "I've been watching you, watching me/And I know you want it/But it depends on how you kick your game." Yes, it's a bit suggestive, but suggestive without being raunchy. The sample of a cat meowing adds to this track's smoky, almost mysterious sound - 5/5
4. DIGGIN' ON YOU - This is a really fun, danceable song that reminds me of cruising with the windows down during the summer. The vocals are amazing; I never thought Chilli could sing that well! Babyface did an excellent job on this hit's production. It has a classy, unique sound, and it's unlike any other R&B song I've heard. Definitely one of the best songs on the record - 5/5
5. CASE OF THE FAKE PEOPLE - Though I like the lyrics to this song, which tell of getting rid of all the backstabbers in your life, everything else is pretty bland. The production would sound good with any other song but this one, and the vocals are arranged in a bit of a whiny, annoying way. Not one of the best songs on the disc, but it does have a sound that's all its own - 3/5
6. CRAZYSEXYCOOL (interlude) - This is basically the same as the intro except it's just T-Boz reciting some verses about what CrazySexyCool is. It has a really good beat and great production and should have been made into a full-length song - 4/5
7. RED LIGHT SPECIAL - Babyface did well again on this excellent slow jam. The vocals, especially T-Boz's, are arranged really well and sound very soft and sensual. The guitar solo in the middle of the song makes it even more charming than it already is. This is the perfect song to get you "in the mood," I guess. Not that I, a fourteen-year-old, would know much about such things, but you get what I mean :/ - 5/5
8. WATERFALLS - What really needs to be said about this classic Organized Noize-produced smash? This was the biggest hit of TLC's career, and it's obvious why that is so. The lyrics send a strong, clear message, and there's that addicting hook: "Don't go chasing waterfalls/Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to." Left Eye's rap on this song is probably the best of her career. A great, meaningful mid-tempo song - 5/5
9. INTERMISSION-LUDE - This is just the background melody from the previous interludes - just someone whispering "CrazySexyCool" - with no real vocals or rapping or anything. It's very slick and soulful, so I actually don't mind this one too much - 4/5
10. LET'S DO IT AGAIN - Production-wise, this is the best song on the record, once again due to Babyface's genius. The vocals are up to par, as usual, except they send extremely soulful and convincing on this track. This song pretty much goes hand-in-hand with #7, as they have the same overall theme. A great mid-tempo song with good arrangements; one of the best on the album - 5/5
11. IF I WAS YOUR GIRLFRIEND - This is actually a cover of a Prince tune, and, though it does have a nice funky edge to it, I don't really like it that much, mostly because I'm not a big fan of Prince. The lyrics are sort of weird - "If I was your girlfriend/Would you let me dress you/I mean help you pick out your clothes/Before we go out" - and the girls' voices don't blend well with the production - 3/5
12. SEXY (interlude) - This is probably one of the greatest interludes of all time because it's so freaking funny. It starts off with Chilli calling some guy (played by then-Puff Daddy) and saying she wants him to help her... Well, I don't wanna spoil it. Listen to it yourself because it's just so hilarious - 5/5
13. TAKE OUR TIME - Another love song that's along the same lines as #'s 7 and 10. This one has slow, peaceful production, and the vocals are arranged really well, though Chilli oversings it in some areas. The song is a bit too simple and sappy for my tastes, but it's a good, soulful song. It blends in well with the rest of the album - 4/5
14. CAN I GET A WITNESS (interlude) - This one has the same background music as the first three interludes and features rapping from Busta Rhymes and ad-libs from Left-Eye. It's basically just a guy version of #6, so nothing really special, though Busta sounds really cool and chilled on this one, which is very unlike him - 4/5
15. SWITCH - This is a really fun, danceable jingle and a good track to put near the end of the record. It's about leaving your man when he starts to get into your business too much, which is something a lot of people can relate to. Jermaine Dupri added some excellent production to this one, though I think the girls need to start singing some more of their own background vocals - 4/5
16. SUMTHIN' WICKED THIS WAY COMES - This socially conscious track was produced by the same people behind #8 and features some really good guest raps from Dre of Outkast. One of the best songs on the album, mostly because it sends a good message and contains another excellent rapping from Left Eye. Though it doesn't fit in with the rest of the album, it doesn't need to - 5/5
The Big Picture:
CrazySexyCool is TLC's most mature record to date. They grew up so much between their first and second albums that it's almost hard to believe. Their first record was cutesy hip-hop that talked about boys and friendship and all the other things you would expect from a few twenty-something young women. They were testing the waters on their debut, and now it seems they've found a place of their own with their sophomore release. CrazySexyCool is crazy, sexy, cool, sassy, funky, sensual, soulful, playful, and fifty bajillion other adjectives that I can't think of. Most of all, it's pure R&B music with pop appeal and street-wise hip-hop credit. It's definitely more diverse than their debut. TLC became women on this record.
There are a few flaws with this record - the girls didn't write most of their own songs or sing most of their own background vocals - but there's really nothing that interferes with the overall sound of the album. It's full of raw energy and soul, something that's missing in today's music. By enlisting such hitmakers as Babyface, Jermaine Dupri, and Puff Daddy, TLC created a record that you could blare in your headphones while studying in your room, yet wouldn't feel out of place while driving through the hood with the windows down. CrazySexyCool remains one of my favorite records of all time, even nine years after its release. It's that timeless quality that has made TLC the best-selling girl group of all time. They create feel-good music that fits in with any time, any occasion, and this record is a perfect example of that.
Final Notes:
Average Song Rating: 4.375
Best Song(s): "Red Light Special," "Creep," "Diggin' On You," and "Sumthin' Wicked This Way Comes"
Worst Song(s): "Case Of The Fake People" and "If I Was Your Girlfriend"
How Would I Rate This Record's...
Vocals? 4 stars
Lyrics? 4 stars
Production? 5 stars
Timelessness? 5 stars
Artistry? 4 stars
Also Recommended:
Mary J. Blige - No More Drama
Alicia Keys - Songs In A Minor
Destiny's Child - Destiny's Child
Review ID: 10000000000240689
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