In the mainstream R'n'B/pop genre 3LW are definitely a group who deserve to have a long and successful career. Although the three girls in this group are around 16 years old they are already showing people that they have the talent to survive in the music industry. The flavour of their debut album is a fusion of R'n'B, pop and just a little bit of rap thrown in and for a debut album for an act so young, this is a stunning CD.
Track 1 - No More (Baby I'ma Do Right) The first track to be released from the album was this one and although it only reached number 6 in the charts, it was one of the most played songs on mainstream radio and TV for weeks. This is one of the more R'n'B tracks on the album and is midtempo, featuring a rap from group member Kiely who also takes the lead on this song. This track is about a girl telling her boyfriend that she is tired of him playing her and she is dumping him. I think this was a great choice for release because the strong harmonies in this track show how well the girls' sing together as a group and the adlibs show their ability to sing.
Track 2 - Is You Feelin' Me I love this song an I definitely think that it should be released as a single. This is a very uptempo track and is again a pop/R'n'B track with Adrienne singing the lead vocals, it also has a great beat and would be a great song for the clubs. Again this song shows a great ability to harmonise by the girls and they sound fantastic together. This song is about a girl asking a guy
if he is into her like she is into him.
Track 3 - Playas Gon' Play This track was the second to be released off the album and just totally reminds me of summer, I don't know whethr it's because it's a summery sounding song or because the video was shot in a very hot looking exotic location. Anyway in this song the girls are singing about people that try to ruin their relationships with their boyfriends and are reassuring them that the rumours are just lies. Again this is an uptempo R'n'B/pop track and is great to dance to. On this track Naturi takes the lead vocals.
Track 4 - Gettin Too Heavy This is the first low-tempo track on the album although I wouldn't really describe it as a ballad because it isn't really that type of song. Because it is quite a slow song 3LW get a chance to really show off their vocals on this track and they sing it really beautifully - they sound great together, not only are their harmonies seamless but their voices just blend together perfectly. The lead vocals are shared on this track with Adrienne singing the first verse, Kiely singing the second and Naturi singing the bridge, also with this being a slow track the strength of their voices are shown and they can hit notes well!!
Track 5 - I'm Gonna Make You Miss Me This is another mid-tempo R'n'B/pop track in which 3LW sing about how they are gonna get a guy interested in them. Kiely sings the lead in this song but again on the hook they really sing together perfectly like a group should. Also the adlibs do not sound out of place at all. I think one of the things about this group that make them sound so good is the way they sing so well together, without any of them trying to be a solo star - they harmonise so well together vocally.
Track 6 - Not This Time This track an uptempo pop track with the girls singing about a guy cheating on them and saying that they are not gonna take him back again. In this track the lead vocals are shared again between the group and there is a rap towards the end of the track by Naturi, this compltely flips the track at this point and totally changes it. I like this song because of the changes in it, the rap is kind of juxtaposed with the really sweet singing in the chorus.
Track 7 - More Than Friends (That's Right) This is an uptempo track but sang in quite a sad way - it's about 3LW singing that they wish a particular guy was with them instead of another girl and it's sang in kind of a wistful tone. This to me is a really relaxing song, it's great to sit back and just chill to because it just kind of flows along, even though it's an uptempo track you can still relax to it - it's not the type of sng thats gonna make you go dancing round the room like a chipmunk on steroids!
Track 8 - Curious This to me is the first ballad of the album, it's a slow tempo R'n'B song about being curious about taking a relationship a step further and wondering if you have found true love or not. This is a very teenage song which is really fitting for 3LW's age, it's not too young and not too old for them to be singing about and so they don't sound out of place singing it. In this song the lead vocals are again shared and because it's a slow song the way that they sing, adlib and harmonise are emphasised and they sound really good together - this is the type of the track that shows they are going to be singing together as a group for a long time.
Track 9 - 'TIl I Say So This track is an uptempo R'n'B/pop song with a little bit of rap thrown in, it's all about a girl being in control of the relationship and not letting the guy progress until she says so. Again in this song the harmonies are quite a big feature of the song and show why the group are not solo singers. The lead vocals are again shared and a rap is added near the end which switches the song a little and kind of moves it from being straight up to pop into more of an urban style. I think this would be a great choice for release as a single and would do really well. Not only is this a great song, it kind of carries on Destiny's Child's 'Independent Women' vibe.
Track 10 - Crush On You This track is another uptempo song which would do really well if released as a single. Again this song is really apropriate to 3LW's age group and a teen age group - it's about having a crush on someone and bending a few of the rules with your parents for them. Again this is quite a pop/r'n'b song with a rap by Kiley in the middle. There are quite a few changes in this song, in rhythm, melody and tempo and the overall effect sounds great.
Track 11 - Ocean This is a really beautiful ballad dedicated to God, this is one of my favourite tracks on the album and is the type of song that gives you goose bumps when you hear it and has the power to make you cry. 3LW sing this track so beautifully and harmonise so well that even if you are not a religious person you would still find yourself loving this track, really it's applicable to anyone who gives you unconditional love. This track really shows how good 3LW sound together as a group - it's a fantastic song.
Track 12 - I Can't Take It (No More Remix) (Featuring Nas) This is definitely the hip hop song of the album although you would probably guess by seeing that Nas is featured in it. This starts of with 3LW singing No More but then just compltely flips to Nas rapping. This is one of my favourite songs on the CD and I think they definitely should have made a remix video to go with this - I think if this had been given airplay like No More it would have been a really huge track especially in the clubs.
Overall I think that this album is a great CD for a debut group. I think that just their style alone shows that they will probably go really far in the music industry because they sing together like a group and not as solo singers. I can't wait to hear what else this group can do as they get older because they have so much talent! You should really check out this CD, I love it.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
This album is ok, some good tracks but I tend to find the whole album a bit average. Great review though! You gave clear descriptions of the tracks. Much better than I do! I love the track with Nas on. x
two000angel 06.03.2002 11:12
grat op i liked thier songs and u made the album sound brill must get this one i think thanks two000angel@)-->--
mbmb11 03.01.2002 14:45
An excellent op - 3LW are brilliant and i too love the Nas remix of No More - these girls have a good future ahead of them, talented, beautiful and voices to die for!
Mel x
3 L(ittle) W(omen) are the latest version of the naughty-but-nice vocal acts that nimbly ... more
straddle pop, R&B and hip-hop. Part 'round the way girls, part lil' sisters, this trio has sass and attitude, along with hot beats, which often counts more than ac...
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Jan 3rd, 2002
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