Customer Reviews

Between Friends

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THIS ALBUM IS A-MAZ-ING!

I hardly ever review any more but I had to show this GREAT album some love.

I downloaded and have been listening to the shorter South African version (it was released there first, apparently she has a big fanbase there) of this album every day for the past month and I am totally hooked on it! It is leagues better than her 2004 album "More".

The whole point of the "Between Friends" concept is Tamia collaborating with Shep Crawford (a prolific writer/producer "Stranger In My House", "Same Stage, Different Cast", "Nobody's Supposed To Be Here") and Rodney Jerkins (who are real life friends of hers) and just getting in the studio and making music just for the love of music. With no agenda as to what is "hot" or "what sells". We all know by now that Billboard is a joke anyway.

After being dropped from Elektra Records (which actually is a compliment beacuse Anita Baker was dropped from there as well) Tamia decided to release this project independently. Which is great for her because she's already rich (NBA star Grant Hill's wife) so she no longer needs to do music for money and with this project she was free to do whatever she wants without some stupid record label cutting things out (like they did on the last album).

I will review each of the tracks:

1. The Way I Love You
A bright upbeat way to open the album. It features some great belted vocals from Tamia on the bridge.

2. Happy/Every Part Of Me (interlude)
Another upbeat song with great piano accompaniment and is tinged with steel drums to give a subtle island feel. The interlude is Tamia talking about going independent and her life and her baby daughter who sings along with her on some parts of it. How cute?

3. Almost
This song wasn't on the SA version so I haven't heard it yet but I can't wait to buy my copy today!

4. Too Grown For That
A standard Darkchild song. Hot beat, electronic strings. No new territiory here but still a hot song!

5. Me
One of the best written R&B songs I've ever heard! Shep Crawford killed this one. Fans actually sent out an online petition when this song was scrapped from the "More" album. Tamia and Shep decided to release a more stripped down acoustic version of it here.

6. Can't Get Enough Of You
The first single of the album. I love this song. I love the way Tamia can be sexual and playful without being nasty (ie: "Imagination").

7. Day Dreaming
OMG! Tamia remade one of my favorite songs ever, Aretha Franklin's "Day Dreaming". You just can't go wrong with this one.

8. Sittin' On The Job
This was an interlude tacked onto the end of "Day Dreaming" on the SA version now it's been extended into it's own song. Basically it's Tamia talking about sitting at here 9-5 job thinking about some guy and hoping that he's the one.

9. Last First Kiss
This has to be the most romantic song I've heard in a long time. The premise of it is that Tamia is hoping for this guy to be her "Last First Kiss". The guy that she hopes to kiss for the first time and that will be the last time she kisses a guy for the first time because they will be in love forever. Beautifully written Shep! The sythesized string-like part toward the end... pure genius!

10. Why Can't It Be?
A midtempo song asking 'why can't we be together'?

11. When A Woman
OMG! Another beautifully written Shep Crawford song. This song is SOOOOOO TAMIA! It's about a woman being done wrong and taking abuse from her man over and over again until finally she stops crying about it and leaves. And the part where they take it to church right before the end... OFF THE HOOK! Tamia SANG this one!

12. Become Us
This song wasn't on the SA version so I haven't heard it yet but I can't wait to buy my copy today!

13. Have To Go Through It
This song wasn't on the SA version so I haven't heard it yet but I can't wait to buy my copy today!

14. Protect My Heart
A midtempo song about trying to trust someone in a new relationship.

15. Hanky Panky (interlude)
A spoken word/acapella sung interlude that is a recording of a practical joke that Tamia and Shep pull on Tamia's husband Grant Hill. This shows Tamia's goofy side. What a good husband Grant is.

16. Love And I
A hauntingly beautiful ballad written by Shep Crawford that personifies love as a woman that Tamia is "breaking up" with but always finds herself going back to. A GREAT way to end the album!

What else can I say? THE ALBUM IS AMAZING! No tracks to skip here! Definitely worth the purchase!

I was first introduced to Tamia when she appeared on a track entitled "You Put A Move On My Heart" which was featured on Quincy Jones' "Q's Jook Joint" CD. Her self titled debut CD was in heavy rotation for a long time with tracks like "So Into You", "Never Gonna Let You Go", "Loving You Still", "This Time It's Love" and "Rain On Me". Tamia's 2nd CD "A Nu Day" sounded as if it was going to get off to a good start with "Stranger In My House", but I didn't enjoy Tamia's 2nd CD as much as I did her 1st one. My favorite tracks ended up being Tamia's remake of DeBarge's "Love Me In A Special Way", "Dear John", "Can't No Man", "Tell Me Who" and "If I Were You". Tamia released her 3rd CD "More" in 2004. The 1st single was "Officially Missing You" and my other favorite tracks were "Still", "Smile", "(They Long To Be) Close To You" w/Gerald Levert (RIP), which was also featured on the "G" man's "Stroke Of Genius" CD and "Questions". For some reason "More" went virtually unnoticed.

I was watching VH1 Soul one night and I saw a video for a song from Tamia that I had never heard before entitled "Can't Get Enough". I instantly became a fan of the track and I went to search amazon to see when a new CD from Tamia would be released. "Between Friends" was released in November of 2006 and I finally purchased the CD in January of 2007.

Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins gets "Between Friends" off to a nice start with the track "The Way I Love You". It's a tight midtempo track and Tamia definitely displays why she still should be considered a force in the overcrowded r&b game. Tamia keeps things going strong with one of my favorite tracks on the "Between Friends", "Happy". Tamia sings about how things use to be so good in the past and now how things are clearly not the same and that the affection is gone. She still wants to make sure that things can work. She just wants to make sure that her other half wants to do the same. "Almost" describes a situation where Tamia met a particular man that she considered to be a good catch but she couldn't really do anything because she was already in a situation (I.E. Erykah Badu's "Next Lifetime") Shep Crawford, who is the main producer on "Between Friends", uses a nice sample on the track as well. "Too Grown" has "Darkchild" in his comfort zone and Tamia is able to vent about certain men who like to harrass her when she tries to go to a club for a night on the town with the girls. On "Me", Tamia talks about a situation where she is in a relationship where things aren't working out and she decides to put herself over being unhappy in the relationship. Although, Tamia took a chance to remake the Aretha Franklin classic, "Daydreamin'", she actually makes things work. When the track came on and I realized what it was, I was kind of hesitant but Tamia does a real good job with the track. "Sittin' On The Job" describes a scenario where Tamia just met someone and instead of being focused at work she starts to start daydreamin' about this new man in her life. This song is definitely single material. "Last First Kiss" ends up being a nice love song and Tamia just wants the man in her life to be the last person that she ever has to share a first kiss with. "Why Can't It Be" describes a situation where Tamia is out on the town, more than likely in a club, where she has found a man that she is interested in, but she is waiting for him to make the first move. She starts to get impatient and just wishes that he would make the first move so she can get on with the rest of her night. "When A Woman" has Tamia talking about the typical situation where a woman just gets fed up, as R Kelly would say, and when your woman starts not to care about how late you stay out, how many lies you tell, and when you see her not crying, that you know that she is about to pack up her things and leave. "Become Us" is definitely one of my favorite tracks on this CD as Tamia has the feelings of love all over her vocals on this Shep Crawford track. This is another nice midtempo track that she has on this CD. "Have To Go Through It" features Eric Benet, who featured Tamia on his track "Spend My Life With You" that was featured on his 2nd disc, "A Day In The Life". The track deals with the good and the bad things that happen in a relationship. If you deal with the bad things the right way then the good times will be that much better. Now this track isn't as nice as "Spend My Life With You" but it is still a track worth listening to. "Please Protect My Heart" talks about Tamia trying to deal with having a new relationship after dealing with a bad one. She is just asking the new man in her life to not repeat the same things that her last man did in their relationship. Tamia ends things off something lovely with the powerful "Love And I". At the time things just aren't working out and she wants to take a break from this so-called love.

Overall, ladies and gentlemen I feel that this is Tamia's best solo CD, even better than her debut CD. None of the CDs that she has previously released has been this well rounded track by track. She may have better songs like "You Put A Move On My Heart" and "Stranger In My House" but none of her previous CDs are better than "Between Friends". If you are a fan of Tamia's previous work then you can not afford to pass up on "Between Friends".

James' Top 5

1) Can't Get Enough
2) The Way I Love You
3) Happy
4) Become Us
5) Sittin On The Job

Honorable Mention

1) Last First Kiss
2) Day Dreaming
3) Too Grown
4) Almost
5) Love And I
6) When A Woman

Ranking Tamia's Discography:

1) Between Friends
2) Tamia
3) A Nu Day
4) More

I was a very disgruntled Tamia fan who vowed to never buy another one of her records after my disappointment with both NU DAY & MORE. Thankfully I saw BETWEEN FRIENDS in a record store and plunked down the $$$ and have been happily listening to it since! This is a HUGE improvement and ranks up there with her debut - most of the songs are mid-tempo grooves but the excellent production and Tamia's beautiful voice save most from "filler status" in my book.

Tamia's fans should love the heck out of this disc and if someone unfamiliar with her asked me which of her cds to buy, I'd recommend this one & her debut due to the strong song quality and her performances.

The tracks I can't stop listening to are:

CAN'T GET ENOUGH - excellent choice for a lead off single, it's romantic and has a catchy hook and melodic production

HAPPY - I love the ending with her and her daughter Myla fooling around in the studio

THE WAY I LOVE YOU - I was very surprised to see that Darkchild produced this track, her vocals are definitely NOT overpowered by production & the song features catchy beats

SITTIN ON THE JOB - I hope this is the second single released, it's a real pretty tune featuring Tamia & guitars

LOVE & I - features an interesting vocal arrangement

WHY CAN'T IT BE - really catchy track

The disc also features an excellent remake of the Aretha Franklin classic, DAY DREAMING (although I'd dearly love for Tamia to cover a Minnie Ripperton song) and a duet with Eric Benet, HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT (although not the stunner that their previous song, SPEND MY LIFE WITH YOU was, it's still nice to hear two of the more beautiful voices in r&b meld again).

Kudos to Tamia & her husband, Grant Hill for putting their money where their mouths are in going the independent route because obviously Elektra had no clue as to how to put together an album for or market Tamia to the public. I truly hope that with word-of-mouth both her fans and those who are merely curious about her get on board and give this disc a try!

Tamia does it again with another great album....no booty shaking half naked body.....Just a great VOICE and well written songs....Shep Crawford does it again with some Rodney Jerkins doing 3 songs on the album....Here goes.

1.The Way I Love You-Tamia sings this song and i love the vibe, she is singing about LOVE! 4/5

2. Happy-I like this song they commpliment each
other on this song (Shep Crawford).....See wants to be HAPPY.5/5

3.Almost-Another good song, we've all been there and it ALMOST happen,Tamia wraps her voice around this song and OWNS it.5/5

4.Too Grown-Rodney Jerkins did a good job on this one....especially for
Tamia, Woman and i know you love this one cause some bruthas do that
to you at the club,Tamia is telling it and singing it like IT IS....4/5
5. Me-All i can say is "CLASSIC" Shep Crawford can write a song and give
it some sort of SURPRISE and this is the SONG...WOW Tamia and Shep were
made for this song...I love the twist....5/5 (Personal Fav)

6. Can't Get Enough-Another great song, different for Rodney Jerkins and
I give it up to him this one is classic, love the vibe and the video,
she is singing this one for Grant Hill you can feel the LOVE in this
song, her voice is on FIRE. 5/5 (Personal Fav)

7. Day Dreaming-Tamia always gives us a remake and i LOVE her for that,
this time she gets the nugget from the Lady of Soul Aretha Franklin
Tamia gives her interpretation and i like...Damn good job.5/5

8. Sitting On The Job-A cute song very nice and we all do this i am sure
Tamia is having fun with this one you hear it in her voice....What a
voice...nice and simple song.5/5

9. Last First Kiss-Another nice ballad and the twist is fun too, I really
dig this song...Tamia exudes coy and sexy with this one....the lyrics
are right on point.....5/5 (Personal Fav)

10. Why Can't It Be-Tamia co wrote this one and i like, wish she could
have wrote more. Nice beat i rides to this.4/5

11.When A Woman-Tamia is singing this song and telling us fellas that
she aint gon take it, the lyrics are strong just like Tamia's voice
pure radiant. LYRICS ARE POWERFUL...Take a listen...5/5(Personal Fav)

13.Become Us-I like this one, nice melody tamia's voice coats this song
and you hear it....very nice.4/5

14.Have to Go Through It-Tamia & Eric Bent together again and it sounds
SO GOOD, i think they make good duet partners.....They are playing
with each other on this song, their voices are blending and sounding
well together.5/5 (Personal Fav)

15.Please Protect My Heart-I love Shep Crawford is there anything this
guy cant do...writing,producing,arranging...wow the list goes on
this songis nice and mellow, I LOVE Tamias voice on this one. 5/5
(Personal Fav)

16. Love and I-Piano intro....Pure Shep i love his use of it in all
of his songs, nice and sexy. Tamia owns this song and you hear it
and you want to hear it again.5/5 (Personal Fav)

You cant go wrong with this CD cause Tamia is one of the great singer and dont get her due, i like her quality of songs and her catalog is GREAT! Here's to Tamia on another great record....Much continued success, Oh and there is a bonus DVD which is nice for the price you pay for this recording. ENJOY!

No harm intended to anyone under 25 but this one is for the grown and sexy or at least for anyone is over hot tracks but into hot and meaningful lyrics. I don't write reviews either as most others have said but I felt like I had to give Tamia her just due on this album. There are no other words to say other than from start to finish you can listen to this CD without skipping one track and that is a rarity in todays music industry. With most albums being pure fillers with pure studio singers it is rejoicing to hear someone who sounds the same in and out of the studio. I have always been a fan of Tamia (since she appeared on Q's Juke Joint and sang "You put a move on my heart" and "Slow Jam" with Babyface), so I am not surprised that her album is so amazing nor that she doesn't get a lot of attention but she gets it from true fans so I am sure in her book thats all that counts.

As a Father my teenage daughter could not understand my absession with Tamia.I was old enough to be her father,yet her voice made me feel brand new.Today she is still my favorite female singer and i still have all of her albums..despite attempts by my daughter to steal them.She is the real deal the genuine article.My prayers and best wishes to her and family(if she has one)..keep up the good work your voice is a special gift from God.

I became a big fan of Tamia's when I was in college with the second Cd A NU Day and since then that chic has been blowing me away. I heard the African release of Between Friends before it was released in the US and was blown away. She is one of the most under-rated singers in the industry. In a world of none singing little kids she provides a breath of fresh air. "Me" can easily rival "Stranger in my House". Become Us" and "To Grown for That" are crazy up-tempo tracks. I instantly gravitated to "Almost" the minute I heard it! I've never heard that concept before. Last First Kiss says it all again this introduced another concept in a world of tasteless unoriginal R&B. "Sitting on the Job" is another one of my favorites. I'm really happy she changed this into a full song.

If you don't have this in your collection then you are truly missing a gem. HATS OFF TO TAMIA!

Imazing voice and beatiful caribean melodies, love this album, so far I had bought each one of her albums but this one is absolutly the best.

I have loved Tamia ever since her debut on Q's juke joint(slow jams and u put a move on my heart). I enjoyed it so much I culdnt wait for her album to drop and when it did it was awsome. I love all of her cd's but this is the best so far. I can really relate to almost all of her songs. Its a shame her old record label didnt know how to promote her cuz the girl is a power house and has a wonderful distinct voice she doesnt have to growl, yell, or sing hard (i.e fantasia and beyonce) and you can still feel what she is singing about. This cd is the best my favorites are ALMOST, ME, CANT GET ENOUGH, DAY DREAMIN (alot of artists have done it but hers is actually good sorry Natalie Cole) LOVE & I and WHEN A WOMAN. I have told all my friends and family to get her cd cuz its the best CD 2 BRING INTO THE NEW YEAR.

I decided to write a review after seeing some of the other reviews out there that I felt didn't give this album the credit it deserves. Tamia is highly underrated and unfortunately this album will probably not do much to change that. She has been around for awhile and hasn't been A-listed yet probably due to lack of unnecessary drama, tabloid frenzy, and overall wholesome image which is unfortunate. Just like with Syleena Johnson and even Teedra Moses she is seemingly always one step away.

The songs are all solid but from 1st listen the standouts would have to be Almost, Too Grown, Me, Can't Get Enough, When a Woman, Become Us, and Love and I. I have all of her albums and so far the only one I still listen to and can play throughout until now has been her debut album. Between Friends is just as good if not better than that one and doesn't suffer from second rate material and production like her previous two. To say that she doesn't show personality, isn't easily recognizable, or doesn't have range would be a complete LIE. The inclusion of the interludes "Hanky Panky" and the one with her daughter is for the obvious purpose of showing the public more of her personality and her voice always sounds good, clear, and polished.

Overall I really enjoy this album and would recommend it to anyone who appreciates talent matched with good music. It's obvious that by her choice to go independent she isn't that concerned with having to prove herself or competing with the many other R&B female singers out there and she rightfully shouldn't be. Like some others have mentioned this album will appeal to a more mature audience such as those who are 21 and up. I personally appreciate Too Grown and Sitting On the Job because I have felt that way one too many times. ;)