Customer Reviews

Aaliyah (Reis)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

First of all, let me be clear. This was not Aaliyah's debut CD (her first CD was titled "Age Ain't Nothing But A Number", this is a reissue of her third CD AAliyah and this is an import. This CD is an awesome purchase because not only do you get all of the songs from her third CD, you get the bonus/new tracks which were featured on the 2002 release "I Care 4 U." Yes, you get the songs, "Erica Kane," "I Don't Know What To Tell You," "Miss You," and you even get "Try Again," which is from the "Romeo Must Die," sound track. You don't get the song, "Come Over" because that is included on the "One In A Million" import release but this is a worthy purchase.

This 2004 edition is superb! It just reminds us what an amazing talent Aaliyah was. From the laid back "We Need A Resolution" to the sultry "Rock The Boat" to the timeless classic "I Care 4 U", this album is a must for ALL Aaliyah & R&B lovers! It also includes some bonus tracks right at the end. Rest In Peace Baby Girl - We Miss You So Much. God Bless. ~A~

This CD, is unique. I bought it in 2001, and still play it to this very day. Theres a song for whatever mood you are in. Aaliyah is a very underated artist. Put away the fact that she passed. Aaliyah had classical training vocally, and her acting skills were about to rise.
This album, she refered to as her baby. You will not find a CD like this for a long time. If your thinking that its another RnB chick singing about heartache and clubs, you are wrong. This album doesnt even have a genre. Aaliyah had a dark mysterious edge and you can see that through this magnificent album. Aaliyahs brother introduced her to new genres of music, such as hardcore Rock, and you can see her influences greatly within this cd.
Aaliyah was about to explode, open up to new audiences and create a storm of fans around the world, her life taken has left us with the legacy of a beautiful entertainer.
I reccomend this album to everyone. Its not your average RnB chick cd as I stated before.

THIS REMAINS STILL TODAY THE BEST R&B ALBUM TO DATE, NEVER WAS THERE AN ALBUM THAT YOU CAN PLAY ALL THE WAY THRU AND NOT HAVE TO SKIP A SINGLE TRACK LIKE THE OTHER HALF OF THE CIARA ALBUM, THIS IS TALENT, A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND STRENGHT, AND CLEARLY WHERE SHE WAS HEADED AS AN ARTIST AND A YOUNG WOMAN, SHE REMAINS AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE HIGHEST MOST EXAULTED ONE THE BEST.

WE LOVE YOU AALIYAH FOREVER AND ALWAYS

this 2004 Germany re-release of Aaliyah's 3rd self titled album SUCKS. It is copy protected. I can't put it onto my I pod. Music piracy is wrong but so is copy protection. If I wanted a way not to be able to put this album on my I pod, I would have bought the US Vinyl LP or cassette release. STOP COPY PROTECTION. RIP AALIYAH

i have all of Aaliyah's singles, album and everything anf this is an awesome cd. She has a voice of an angel i cannot pick a fave becoz they're all so very good but i love MORE THEN A WOMEN becoz thats wat Aaliyah was.

R.I.P Aaliyah aka BABYGIRL
i luv u and i MISS u
love your #1 fan eva MASHONDA

I was a little annoyed by the Germany release of Aaliyah's third album. This is also included in "Special Fan Box" (That is where I got this from). I felt replacing the hidden track "Messed Up" with "Try Again" was wrong. I felt doing that was removing an essential track from the album and replacing it with one that is not meant for the album. Also, the back cover art states that they cd is copy-protected. That is false. I had no trouble putting this on my IPod. I find that false advertising. That was just a tactic to scare people out of pirating the album. I do not agree with copy-protection but I also do not agree with false advertising. Now, since this album no longer has a US print, then if you still want to get a copy of this album, the go with this edition. It is a better edition than the one by Snapper Classics UK (ASIN : B000F6ZFPO). That one is a digi-pack that falls apart easily.

2001 was the year that music lost one of its finest R&B singers - Aaliyah, the exalted one. Not only was she an excellent singer, but she was also a promising actress, a beautiful, caring woman and -most noticeably- one of R&B's most influential icons. Stacks of artists, ranging from Missy Elliott to Brandy, have respectfully payed tribute to this gifted woman, which stand completely justified with her self-titled third album. Even after 5 long years, her blend of risk-taking R&B still sounds as fresh as it did back in 2001, loaded with classic gems and upbeat dance numbers that balance Aaliyah's smooth, soulful vocals with stellar production.

Highlights go to lead single "We Need A Resolution" -a sexy Aaliyah/Timbaland duet where her seductively smooth, lightly sinister vocals ride over Timbaland's eerily dark production as she sings thoughtful lyrics about struggling to find a resolution towards a faltering relationship-, "I Care 4 U" -a beautiful ballad where Aaliyah angelically empathizes for a broken-hearted man over a simplistic, slow groove- "Try Again" -a slinky, minimalist club banger where Timbaland's infectious, synthesizer-heavy production combine with Aaliyah's smooth vocals for another thoroughly enjoyable listen-, "Extra Smooth" -another slinky, minimalist club tune where Aaliyah gives the boot to a self-absorbed lover overly eager to please- and the lusty slow jam, "Rock The Boat". Other unavoidable cuts include "More Than A Woman", the anti-hater Aaliyah/Static duet "Loose Rap" and the infectiously sassy "U Got Nerve".

As expected, this album has its fair share of filler and/or unsuccessful genre experimentations. In this case, Aaliyah's forays into Heavy Metal & Latin on the Las Vages-esque guitar riff-craziness of "What If" & "Read Between The Lines", respectively, lack both the vocal force and emotional heft to keep the tracks rolling consistently. One moment which does work, however, is "I Can Be", where Aaliyah's vocals dance and twist around dark synthesizers and wicked guitar riffs while she sings about having no problem being another man's lady "on the side", even if she's capable of giving that same man more than what his front woman can.

Ultimately, Aaliyah's untimely passing is tragic, but the gift she left behind, which was this album, is anything but tragic. 4 stars!



N/B:
In response to critics and other individuals who believe that her death overshadows her music, I personally believe that such a statement is not true. It is not her death that makes us sympathize for her music, but her music that makes us remember and mourn for her after her death. Aaliyah was a truly gifted woman, and in her short-lived life, she blessed us with many things we, her true fans, will never forget. R.I.P. Bay Girl, R.I.P.

Also, some international versions and re-releases will include "Don't Know What To Tell Ya", "Erica Kane" & "I Miss You".

i have always loved aaliyah her voice is beautiful. what i appreciate most about her music is that its not filled with all this illicit crap that alot of artist today have in their music. ts just sad that she passed in the prime of her career. in the meantime i will continue to enjoy her music.

...this is your FIRST Aaliyah CD would I recommend buying because then you're in for an R&B with pop elemental treat. It's very eclectic in spots but lovely throughout.

Album Art: B (don't like the brown, lol. red is always better. maybe silver next time?)
Songwriting: A- (too bad she never became a songwriter)
Vocals: B
Production: A+
Length: A
Overall: B+

1. We Need a Resolution - Aaliyah, Timbaland --> 4/5
2. Loose Rap - Aaliyah, Static --> 4.5/5
3. Rock the Boat --> 4.75/5
4. More Than a Woman --> 4/5
5. Never No More --> 4.5/5 (spousal abuse)
6. I Care 4 U --> 5/5 (great modern ballad. was Aaliyah's fav. =,^/)
7. Extra Smooth --> 4.25/5
8. Read Between the Lines --> 5/5
9. U Got Nerve -- 4/5
10. I Refuse --> 4.25/5
11. It's Whatever --> 5/5 (Christmas bells in the background make this worth-noticing)
12. I Can Be --> 4.5/5
13. Those Were the Days --> 4.5/5
14. What If --> 3.75/5 (weaker compared to the others)
15. Try Again --> 3.75/5 (ok i suppose. weird and doesn't quite fit)
16. Miss You [*] --> 4/5
17. Don't Know What to Tell Ya [*] 3.5/5
18. Erica Kane [*] 3.75/5

77.75/18 = 4.319444444444445

4.32 stars.