Originally released back in 1997, this album sold a number of copies off the back of the hit single 'Can We' which featured MIssy Elliott and was the soundtrack to cult film, Booty Call as well as featuring an abundence of rap, production and vocal talent picked up from previous hits and probably the world renowned 'Right Here' from a few years previous.
Producers on the album include Sean 'Puffy' Combs, Deric 'D Dot' Angeleitte, Malik Pendleton, Roderick Wiggins and Timbaland and they all help to bring together a good array of tracks which gives the album the exact sound that was going around in R&B from the late 90s.
Although saying that, the features and production are at a good enoough level to cover up any short falls from the group. SWV (sisters with voices) are mainly known for lead singer Coko who eventually went solo, a little like Destinys Child but a less talented version. The otehr two, Taj & Lele, offer good backing vocals but sometimes they can be left behind in the wake of Coko's voice. I once heard them try to sing a jingle on a british radio station and it sounded so poor that the
dj had to play it over and over again to show up that vocally they could be better. However, as songs go, they play their part in a good deal of the tracks here and most are of good standard.
Someone - feat Puff Daddy. Produced by Puff Daddy and features him aswell. He uses a sample from 10 crack commandments by the notorious big and this was the second single to come off the album. A good start and a well produced track
Release Some Tension - feat Foxy Brown. Not a wonderful track this and without the top production the average vocals come through. Foxy Brown's rap does nothing to keep you listening and im afraid its not a keeper
Lose My Cool - feat Redman. Again another average track which this time is helped by a feature but we dont hear enough of Redman. The layout is getting similar as each track starts with a rap and finishes with a rap with nice choruses in the middle and you start to wonder if this is the way the whole album goes.
Love Like This - feat Lil Cease. Samples Lil Kim's No Time which also features Cease on the album version. Same style, same layout, its getting standard now with the initial intro followed by a rap, 2minutes of singing then a rap, then outro. Im starting to think that the more rappers they can get in the less they need to actually sing?? Having said that this track is not that bad, although this is just purely because of the sample and production, on your first hearing it doesnt sound right but eventually it sounds acceptable
Can We - feat Missy Elliott. Timbaland produced and the best track on the album. Featured in the release of the Booty Call movie which starred Jamie Foxx and was always on tv adverts along with Joe's 'Dont wanna be a playa'. Production steps up a level and the vocal range is not too stretching.
Rain. Coko mainly features on this one on her own and was another single released from the album. A slower track that has no features and this is the first time we experience this. Quite a nice song and a change from the reworked r&b/rap set up like the rest of this album
Give It Up - feat Lil Kim. Poor track with average lyrics from Lil Kim. Back we go to the same old layout but this time the production and chorus are not up to it. Nothing catchy and Lil Kim's harsh angle doesnt mix well with the nicey nicey SWV girls
Come and Get Some - feat E40. A very good track this one but purely for the production. Im sure this type of production is very similar to another track released around this time but for the life of me i cant remember, its been bugging me for years! Anyway, a catchy clubby tune, E40 not really needed on this as he doesnt really rap anyway just talks a lot of rubbish but the girls do a good job on this one.
When U Cry. Slowed down again and they are doing it for me these slower tracks. Although the vocals can be a bit inconsistent at times, the main job is left to Coko and she shows everyone why she eventually went solo
Lose Myself. A filler this one of similar pace to the previous non featured tracks. It seems that anything that just involves SWV has to be of a slower pace. Maybe expense was spent on good production if a feature was involved? Anyway not a great track as we approach the end
Here For You. Again nothing really happening in this track to keep peoples attention, as you look at the album tracks you see Snoop Doggs feature on the final track and this one just gets left behind. Too chilled and nothing happening.
Gettin Funky - feat Snoop Dogg. A bit weird this one, interesting production and Snoops voice fits in well but the vocal arrangement doesnt sound spot on here. Simple beats with a laid back tone start the track but SWV dont bring much to the game, im afraid.
Overall, looking at the features on this album, it shows to me that theres something not quite right with SWV's vocal arrangements and the big producers are only bought in to help them sing 2 minutes worth of a song and let a rapper do half to fill the time. Its ok, could be better but some good tunes on here. I wouldnt recommed buying it but Can We is a classic. I believe only a christmas album was released after this and the girls have gone on their seperate ways. Taj recently appeared on a US reality show named 'I married a baller' referring to her marriage with NFL player Eddie George. Useles fact there for you all!
Live the dream.
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