Tamia:
More

Release Date: 22 March 2004

Reviewed By: Keya Modessa

1. On My Way - feat. Red Cafe

2. More - feat. Freck the Billionaire

3. Officially Missing You

4. Still

5. Questions

6. Whispers

7. I'm Yours Lately

8. Into You - feat Fabolous

9. Smile

10. Poetry

11. Mr Cool - feat Mario Winans

12. Close To You - feat Gerald Levert

13. Why Ask Why

14. Tomorrow

Usher - Confessions
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Many may not have heard of this R&B singer until Fabolous' 2003 hit single 'Into You', which featured Tamia, exploded onto the R&B scene over the summer. Yet this singer and songwriter has already had a string of hits and many credits to her name, including 4 Grammy nominations.

The Canadian born singer has finally released her new album 'More', which finds Tamia exploring her vocal ability further. This LP gives fans the chance to hear how the singer's vocals have emerged as a dominant female influence on the R&B spectrum since the '90s.

One major thing to expect from this CD is a more mature Tamia. Since her previous album releases, ('A Nu Day' and 'Tamia') the singer has had a few life changing experiences. Not only has she married and given birth to a daughter, but she was also diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last summer.

Fortunately, the singer is now in remission, and her faith has rewarded her with an excellent third album to boast. The 14-track disc features a small assortment of collaborations, including Fabolous, the son of O'Jays founder Mr. Gerald Levert, and the talented Mario Winans, who also lends a hand to production.

Other producers on 'More' include Babyface, Jermaine Dupri, R. Kelly and Shep Crawford, (who produced the smash hit 'Stranger In My House'). These tracks round off the album to give Tamia's signatory love song elements, especially on the track 'Smile', where her voice is as emotional as her words.

Currently receiving heavy TV airplay, the track 'Officially Missing You' is one of Tamia's more heartfelt ballads. Like the title implies, the track sheds light on what it's like to long for your lover. The follow-up to this single is the R. Kelly-produced 'Questions', which is soon to be released in the States. Although the track may not stand out initially, after a few hits on the rewind button, you'll change your mind.

The album doesn't feature any heavy club anthems, and we'll still have to see if this is something Tamia intends to work on in the future. Instead, the disc is a mellow mix of smooth, sensual, mid-tempo grooves and beautiful ballads; for want of a better phrase, pure musical pleasure. Tracks like 'Mr Cool' (featuring Mario Winans), is a bouncy, feel good track, which is one of the more energetic arrangements on this album. Winans' chilled out vocals are a great complimentary feature and results in one of the more outstanding tracks.

'I'm Yours Lately' uses the blend of a funky contagious chorus and rhythmic guitar beats, and her style can be compared to more notable artists like Chanté Moore or Deborah Cox. The somewhat plain 'Poetry' actually throws more emphasis on Tamia's singing ability, toning down the use of heavy musical accompaniment, with the spontaneous climactic bursts of her voice drawing more attention to the maturity in her voice.

Another love ballad is the melancholic track nine, 'Smile', which is about those times you put on a false but happy face for everyone to re-assure them that you are feeling fine.

Obviously the success of 'Into You' had already wet the appetite for the release of this album, but even without it being heard on MTV and the radio now, the track still stands out as one of the majors on this album.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Favourite Tracks:
8. Into You
11. Mr Cool
7. I'm Yours Lately

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