Teedra Moses is a name that will be unfamiliar to a lot of people, even those who claim to be a fan of R&B will struggle to recall a time at which they have stumbled upon Miss Moses. Allow me to enlighten you. Teedra Moses was born in Louisiana, New Orleans and later moved to California, daughter to gospel singer Shirley Moses.
Complex Simplicity was the debut album from the girl who formally worked as a wardrobe assistant for the likes of R&B superstars R Kelly & Kelis amongst others. It has to be said, what a debut it is. The purest form of R&B beautifully executed and 100% underground, and extremely credible.
01. Be Your Girl -------------------------- The album kicks off with the highly addictive and sexually charged 'Be Your Girl'. A gorgeous track with a tried and tested themed. Vocally this is delivered so wonderfully and Teedra from the opening verse to the final words uttered, shines. Sensual, emotive and soulful a great opener and an obvious choice for what would become a strong standout single from this 17 track strong album.
02. You'll Never Find (A Better Woman) Featuring Jadakiss ------------------------------ Whilst Be Your Girl showcased Teedra's soulful side, You'll Never Find highlighted she could also provide us with great club tracks. Not a crunked up shout fest, but a sublime R&B anthem. Hooking up with one of Hip-Hop's hottest properties at the time, Jadakiss. Who was fresh of collaborations with Jennifer Lopez to name but one. This was the first single and a monster at that. A real stand up and take notice, this unknown girl from Louisana was on the map and what better way than to annouce yourself than with Jadakiss on the cameo. One of my favourites on the album.
03. Caution ------------------------- This one is short and sweet and over in less than 3 minutes. Another side of Teedra is unleashed her, and a funkier track is the result of Caution. Synthetic pads warm the background with electronic bleeps and beeps, there's definitey a hypnotic vibe to this one. Original and quirky. As with the first two the vocal is delivered with great style and sass.
04. Backstroke ---------------------------- By the time Backstroke kinks in we have a good appreciation for the kind of style which Teedra is working with. Cool production with a fresh approach to backing tracks, synths combined with accounstic instruments, raw but well produced. This one has an Aaliyah feel to it, so many artists draw from one of the genres most revered artists of recent times. This one is a slow and gentle track which has a real feel of summer about it.
05. No More Tears ------------------------------- More hypnotic guitars and gentle beats commence No More Tears. A nice and pleasant break-up song. There's not to much man bashing going on here, more a positive outlook on moving on. Smiling and chilling being the order of the day. A simple track yet very listenable.
06. Rescue Me ----------------------------------- This is another one of my personal favourites from the album, a sultry slowjam which a gorgeous melody. It really gets in your head this one, the hook is well thought out and you'll be humming this one for days. Lay back, relax and float away to this beautiful record. About as close as you get to pure Rhythm & Blues in a modern era. That might not be something commercial and very marketable like Beyonce, but what you do get is credible and totally classy.
07. Take Me Featuring Raphael Saddiq ------------------------------------- If you thought Rescue Me was good it is merley the ensemble before the outrageously brilliant Take Me. Raphael Saddiq is a man whom with his Lucy Pearl backed project has discovered a formula to making massively loveable smooth R&B. This formula is applied to Teedra's sexy voice and the result is this track. My number one favourite track on the album and one of my favourite unsung slow jams of all time. This one really does get the hairs on the back of your neck on end, Raphael's verse is short but the two pick up the chorus in true duet fashion and sit together like they were meant to be. Production trickery, Rapheal panned totally to the left, Teedra to the right. Blissful R&B.
08. You Beter Tell Her Featuring Lil Scrappy ----------------------- Just when you thought you'd got this album figured out comes Tell Her. An emphasis on Rap along with Teedra's monster hook. This one is more uptempo and has a much tougher edge, 'you better get that bitch told tonight' a fiesty side to Teedra creeps out, one which up until this point you totally didn't think was there. A bolt from the blue which really really works.
09. Outta My Head ------------------------- This one is very beat driven with an old-skool sound. A classic loop combines here for an enjoyable track with a harder edge than a lot of the tracks on the album, the perfect track to follow Tell Her. The energy levels are slowly turned and the journey-like qualities of Complex Simplicity are really felt by the time you get to this one.
10. Doin' You ------------------------ In terms of club material Doin' You is up there with the uptempo tracks on this album. Somtimes tracks designed for the clubs suffer from poor lyrics, but Doin' You manages to keep it's head above water well and whilst keeping a fun side, doesn't skimp on lyrical quality which is a foundation for the album.
11. Complex Simplicity ------------------------- The album's title track.
12. For a Lifetime ------------------------- This one starts with the sound of rain pouring and then the beats drop, hard hitting snare drives this one on, the track is essential down beat but is extremely colourful. This one definitely doesn't suffer the pitfall of bland-ballad. Emotive and powerful.
13. Caught Up --------------------------
14. Last Day ------------------------------ The album draws to a close but there is still time for some really good tracks and you don't feel the fillers are being rolled out. Last Day has a similar vibe to For a Lifetime and the production values are consistent, this one is slightly quicker in pace and has nice content. One to think about. Yet again, more great listening material from Teedra. It won't make you get up on a dance, but essentially that's not what this album is designed to do.
15. Shirley's Song (Interlude) ------------------------------ intro to I Think of You, Dedictaed to Teedra's now deceased mother.
16. I Think Of You ------------------------- Sentimental dedication song.
17. Still Got Love (UK Bonus Track) ------------------------ This one features Rapheal Saddiq on production and Truth Hurts. One of the most upbeat tracks on the album slipped in as a bonus track. One of the best basslines you'll hear when this one is cranked up, it's hidden so well. Takes the chorus hook from Nivea's Still In Love With You, almost like a remix.
Overall this is a fantastic album, underrated and timeless. This will sound as good as it does now in 5 to 10 years time thats for sure. Commercial success was never the intended destiny for an album like this. Making you dance is not a main point either, but if you are after beautiful, sexy, thought provoking R&B this is an album well worth checking out.
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How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Not applicable
How does it rate alongside the competition
Outstanding
Cover / Inlay Design and Content
Satisfactory
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