- reviewed by Chris G

When Tweet popped up with the "Turn the Lights Out" video a few months ago, I was totally caught off guard. Who knew she was still making music? People say hip-hop is dead, last year commercial R&B consisted of Usher, Alicia Keys, sprinkled with Ciara on the side. If you asked me in January I wouldn't have been able to name one major R&B artist getting ready for the 05' spotlight.

So here was Tweet emerging from the mist, a pleasant surprise because of the familiar face of an artist who had some success and showed a flash of talent. What would she come up with this time? The shine and gloss of the video and the tasteful nature in which it was shot minus the cursory wiggling ass shots of many videos was a good way to start things off. more..

- reviewed by Chris G

When Tweet popped up with the "Turn the Lights Out" video a few months ago, I was totally caught off guard. Who knew she was still making music? People say hip-hop is dead, last year commercial R&B consisted of Usher, Alicia Keys, sprinkled with Ciara on the side. If you asked me in January I wouldn't have been able to name one major R&B artist getting ready for the 05' spotlight.

So here was Tweet emerging from the mist, a pleasant surprise because of the familiar face of an artist who had some success and showed a flash of talent. What would she come up with this time? The shine and gloss of the video and the tasteful nature in which it was shot minus the cursory wiggling ass shots of many videos was a good way to start things off.

Not to get too crazy, I wasn't expecting a classic piece from this chick, but how about a decent listen.. can we the people get a decent freakin album from someone this year? Can one artist, besides those mentioned above, step up to the counter, no stand on it, and wave that shiny little disc in your hands like your wild and insane.. "Hey people look what I have. Real music for that azz. No need to buy the bootleg or burn another blank disc. This is that fire."

Thank you.

Whether this CD will be used for flinging at mighty mice who don't know that lights on equals my time, or if it's worthy of a slot in the ever-growing CD tree, will be determined in the next 45 minutes. * CD is inserted, headphones are slipped on *

1. "It's Me Again" - Not much happening here, but what more do you want? It's an intro.

2. "Turn Da Lights Off" - Kwame returns from the Land of the Polka Dots with a screechy low-fi sample and hard drum combo is a perfect backdrop for Tweet's vocals. A new flavor that Missy taints by yelling over the intro. I'm not the only one who finds her a tad bit annoying these days. That lollipop Simon Cowell-lite performance in her Get Off Da Bus' show did a number on her bearability factor. People are pretty much tired of her act. Ok. I won't put you in it.. I'm tired of her act.

3. "Iceberg" - This is the type of song that sets the tone of an album. Clearly not a radio song, it's five minutes and change of slow flow goodness. Sit back and enjoy.

4. "Could it Be" - Who is the guy singing on this track? Dude is killing it. I almost forgot I was listening to a Tweet album. The guitar licks give it away.. gotta be Raphael Saddiq .. *looking at .nfo * Rell! Roc-A-Fella Rell? Who poured Let's Bullshit Chris juice in my cup?

5. "You" - Nice. I love the muted sample.. gotta turn this up.. this is cruising music.. let your trunk puff to this..Okay.. that's enough. .. Where are the lyrics? Whatever she's singing is drowned out by the repetitive music and the thumping. A bad mixture that sounds good for 30 seconds, maybe they should have recorded this as an interlude.

6. "Cab Ride" - Oh No! Not a Taxi sample! Not a Taxi sample on a song about riding in a taxi. If you're too young to have seen the Taxi television show, or never heard the theme, it would probably make for better listening. Right now it's parked in the middle of Cheezy Road. The flute is soothing though, so it bugs me that the cheez makes me want to grab a chai tea.

7. "Things I Don't Mean" - I mentioned Missy being annoying.. and she proves my point once again.. It's a big letdown to hear her on yet another disco flavored dance track. And what's up with the slut talk.. these are her words.... 'don't give up on my good love, the back rubs in the bathtub.. yeah I'm just a dirty slut." Way to take it down a notch.

8. "My Man" - Yawn

9. "Sports, Sex and Food" - True. True. But it sounds absolutely ridiculous as a song. I hope she's not serious. Write a book instead. Call it "How to Get a Wedding Ring with Sports, Sex and Food" or "Bankshot Booty." Take your chances with that last one, it's either the name of a bestselling novel or a porno flik.. can't figure out which.

10. "Small Change" - This is a good song. Ha ha! That says so much. After the last few songs it's nice to fade into a hypnotizing groove.. I want to rewind this.. *a chorus later* ..umm, maybe not.

11. "Two of Us" - This chorus sounds like it's going in circles. Who wrote the hook Ashanti? Wait a minute. Her daughter sings on this.. that's what she means by the two of us. Ok. Her daughter sounds decent enough and really mature. How old is she? They probably play this on Saturday mornings and clean the house with it blasting on the stereo. Overall it's like listening/watching a family home video, no one really wants to see it except the people in the flick.

12. "Where Do We Go From Here" - I'm sorry this is chick music.. just driving me crazy

13. "Steer" - Don't like it.. This is the third song with the same muted samples, banging drums and scr- scr- scratching. If this is another Kwame track someone should have fished threw his bag for the real beats.

14. "I'm Done" - Exactly. We're on track 14 and I just noticed that towards the middle of the album there is this up and down in musical moods which remind me of the vibe at the Jay-Z and R. Kelly concert. The energy shifts are too sudden.. it makes you tired of listening to both of them from lack of a cohesive or flowing theme. Somewhere in here is a good album that is victimized by poor track sequencing, and some bad choices in songs period.. sex, sports.. ..the daughter song.. the Missy disco track.. Unnecessary filler that take away from the album.

15. "We Don't Need No Water" - Someone pleaseeeee rip the mike away from Missy's hands. She's back on that party shit again. It's like she's the guy with the lampshade on his head. Lets dance and act crazy. I got my jumpsuit on. Let's Par-tay!!!!

Tweet does not need Missy doing her best P. Diddy impersonation .. all over the song .. all over the video. Yeah girl, you're close to overexposure. Despite being on hiatus for what seems like a year. It's time to reinvent yourself, we know you like to dance and dress up in space suits

This is about Tweet though..

Summary album comment: It's stuffed on the end of the "I'm Done" commentary. No need to risk carpal tunnel typing it again.