Aaliyah

This album has been a long time coming. Since etching herself into the music world with her sophomore album "One In A Million", Aaliyah has been labeled as the "Baby Girl" of the music industry. Well, after about half a decade and a blossiming movie career..."Baby Girl" once again enters the music world with her third, self titled, album. With this lp, we see that Aaliyah still has it...and has grown even more as an artist.
We Need A Resolution (ft. Timbaland) – The first single from the highley anticipated third album, "We Need A Resolution" strays away from the dance/party tracks that Aaliyah has done for soundtracks over the last few years. Aaliyah returns to the style of her previous albums, and shows off ver vocal ability a tad more. On this track, Aaliyah says that she and her man need a resolution in their relationship. Timbo drops a nice beat, that creates a great song all across the board.

$3.50

"Who should be hurt, who should be blamed. (Am I supposed to change, are you supposed to change). Who should be hurt, who should be shamed. (Am I supposed to change, are you supposed to change). Who should be hurt, will we remain. (We need a resolution, we need a resolution, we need a resoulution...we've got so much confusion)" - Aaliyah

"I'm tired of them thangs, tired of these scars. I think I'm going to get me a drink, I'll call ya tomorrow" - Timbaland

Loose Rap (ft. Static of Playa) – On this more mellowed out track, Aaliyah shoots down a young man who comes up to her with that "loose rap", and she simply states that you should keep that.

$3.00

"I know you can come better, can come better than that. I'm sick and tired of the loose rap. Save that." - Aaliyah

Rock The Boat – Here, "Baby Girl" becomes a little freak as she says that she wants her baby to "Rock The Boat", and stroke the middle, and change positions ect., ect. This is a nice song, but not something I can listen to very often. Its far too slow for my liking. Its style reminds me of the tempo of "Hot Like Fire" on her One in A Million album (not the remix that was released as a single). Its a good song, but is very capable of putting you into a coma.

$.75

More Than A Woman – A complete 180 here, as Aaliyah gets another uptempo track. Here (with the background vocals of Playa), Aaliyah says that she will be more than a woman and a lover...she will be more than enough for you. The beat for this track is addictive, and the chorus is catchy. But the overall substance of this track is kind of questionable. Still, this is a hot track to blow the hell out of your speakers.

$2.50

Never No More – Whoa! I wasn't expecting a track like this from Aaliyah....'Baby Girl' is becoming a woman. On this track, Aaliyah sings about how she was physically and mentally abused by her man, and that she promised herself that she would never be hit any more. Btw...Playa is on the background here too. CAN WE GET A SECOND ALBUM FROM THESE GUYS?!?!

$4.50

"I should have left you when you called me out my name. I stooped to your level. Replied you the same. Now here we are again, you at my throat. Now I seen the same ol change, that I did before." - Aaliyah

I Care For U – I think I'm one of the few people who actually heard Timbaland's abilities on a slow beat. Playa's album is one of the most un-recognized albums out there, and Tim had some chances to show off his abilities on the slow side. Here, Tim drops another slow beat while Aaliyah sings a track written by Miss E. Here, Aaliyah tells her man that she just wants him to know that she cares for him.

$4.00

"Can I talk to you, comfort you. Let you know, I...care...for U." - Aaliyah

Extra Smooth – This cd is very well balanced, as we return to a fast paced Aaliyah track. On this track Aaliyah talks about about how a man who's got lines upon lines trying to catch her eye, and he's just trying to be extra smooth..and Aaliyah ain't fallin for it. Hot track, and Playa once again in the background. (Note about 75 percent of this album is written by Playa lead, Static).

$3.75

Read Between The Lines (ft. Playa) – Another uptempo track here, as the Matrix star sings about how her man thinks he's running games, but she's reading between the lines of his tired lies.

$4.00

"I hope you don't think you're pulling one over me, cause I know what's goin on. I hope you ain't been plannin on running me, cause that ain't what I'm on. I hope you don't think you're pulling one over me, cause you'll look up and I'll be gone. I hope you ain't been making plans on running me, cause I read between the lines.." - Playa

"Who got you thinking, your ish ain't be stinkin.Watching what you're speakin. (Why you barely speaking). Whats in this bubble bath, you know you in trouble. He's talkin in doubles. (Listening, but hardly believin)" - Aaliyah (Playa)

U Got Nerve - Another addictive beat here, and on this track Aaliyah lays it down on a boy that he has a lot of nerve trying to play all these games on her, and that she's bout to open a new chapter in her life..and clean out all the old bones in her closet.

$3.75

"Who do you think you are now...I can't believe you've got the nerve boy." - Aaliyah

I Refuse – This song has so much heart in it that its scary. ANYONE that listend to this song will start singing along at a moments notice, and more than likely use it as an anthem of sorts. The piano chords in this song, along with Aaliyah's voice make this one of (if not the)best song on the album. Hear this, if nothing else.

$5.50

"This is where I got to draw the line. Cause I refuse to let you think you can play with my mind. Always seem to think that you think that I'm blind. Cause there are always certain times when you're hard to find." - Aaliyah

"(And I refuse)I refuse to have one more sleepless night. (I refuse)I refuse to let a tear fall out my eye. (And I refuse)I refuse to continue to try. I felt like I would die, or l could break down and cry. (And I refuse)I refuse to let you walk back through that door.(I refuse) I refuse to let you hurt me anymore. (And I refuse) I refuse to continue to ignore, the fact I fell to the floor the day you walked out my door." - Aaliyah

It's Whatever – This song seems more like a Lauryn Hill type song, then Aaliyah. But, even though thats the case...Aaliyah does it well. Here, Aaliyah takes a laid back style approach to a song about how the relationship is "whatever" as long as its between she and her man.

$3.00

I Can Be – This track has Tank written all over it...guess thats why he wrote it. Aaliyah goes on a little rock vibe here as she says she could be the other woman in a man's life on this track.

$3.00

"I can be the other woman in your life. I can be the other reason you're out at night. I can be all the things you thought she might. I can be on the side, that would be alright, alright, alright."

Those Were the Days – This beat is wild, and Aaliyah uses it exceptionally well. On this track, Aaliyah reminisces about her relationship back in the days now that its over. Nice instruments going in and out through the background.

$3.25

What If - Like the other track Tank wrote, this one is another Rock-eque track. This one is wild as hell though, and definately has some knock. Here, Aaliyah asks her man "What If" to various questions..and asks what he would do.

$4.00

Messed Up (Bonus Track ft. Playa) – Digital Black (of Playa) did the beat for this track, while Aaliyah tells her man that he keeps on acting like she needs him when she really doesn't, and that is where he messed up. Now its time for her to cut her dead weight.

$3.50

It probably will be a very tough challenge to decide which of Aaliyah's tracks should be the next single. Not because they suck, but because they are all great and not your typical r&b bubble gum b.s that you come to expect from 3lw, destiny's child, and even the "Are you that somebody"Aaliyah. This album has heart, and thats something that r&b stations don't like to promote often. At 21, Aaliyah has spread her wings even more as an artist and decided to loose the style of typical r&b and become a more adult singer. She blends heartfelt & passionate songs like "I Care for you" & "I Refuse" seamlessly with mainstream tracks like "We Need A Resolution" & "More than A woman", and adds even more flair with rock inspired tracks and grown up "Lauryn Hill"-esque feeling music. Aaliyah may always be called "Baby Girl" by the music industry...but this album certainly shows that she is all woman.

Album worth: $52.00

Album price: $14.99

-Now that you've read something, he's written. Wouldn't you like to find out more about Vigilante? Here you go.

-Interested in buying the cd? Look no further: Aaliyah - Aaliyah.