When Tweet disappeared from the R&B world in 2005, most thought her immediate return was inevitable. Her last full project, released in 2005 on Missy Elliott’s Goldmind label, was arguably her best work. It charted mildly well and was met with positive reviews from fans and critics alike. In other words, her future looked to be getting increasingly brighter – especially under Missy’s wing. Fast forward 11 years later, however and we are just now getting her third studio album, Charlene. Some may count 2008’s EP Simply Tweet, as her reintegration into the music scene but this LP is really what her core fans have been waiting for.
Tweet’s birth name is Charlene Keys, so by naming the album simply Charlene, the stripped down approach is clear and consistent. On past projects, Charlene included, Tweet lets her voice carry the momentum. She never hides behind dramatic production and by many standards, it’s just good ol’ fashioned R&B.
The album is incredibly acoustic driven. All 15 songs are built around a lush acoustic guitar layered with smooth instrumentation and of course her charming vocals. Charlene’s production is handled primarily by her long time collaborators Charlie Bereal and Jubu Smith who seem to ensure nothing is over produced. In fact, when listening to the album, you can easily picture Tweet performing each song at your local coffee shop with guitar in hand.
Tweet’s songwriting on Charlene is profound enough for us to feel something but doesn’t go over the top with wild emotions. Most of the tracks deal with the commonalities and quirks associated with love; something Tweet appears to have much experience with. “I Was Created for This” is the one cut that dives deeper into her personal psyche. It isn’t easy to pull off a catchy soul song focused directly on religion without having it sound identical to something from Sunday mass – but Tweet gets it right.
It’s hard to believe that Tweet is only three albums deep into her career. Eight years is a long time between projects to grow as an artist. But astonishingly enough, the project doesn’t sound much different from her 2013 EP or her 2005 LP for that matter. Tweet should by no means start teaming up with the likes of DJ Mustard to create her own version of “2 On” but the album should have come with more excitement. “Somebody Else Will” with Missy Elliott has a minor Hip Hop edge but other than that, not much pushes the proverbial envelope.
What the hell kind of review this? It sounds like it an extremely well made and consistent album outside of the fact that the writer of this article has a short span.
Exactly…..Its a very consistent and quality album
i agree. the album is incredibly boring, even for Tweet standards. Not one song that makes me want to revisit the album. I honestly think her first album Southern Hummingbird was 100 times better than Its Me Again. Its Me Again had some great songs, but something happened in the middle of the album where it never picked up again. Listen to Southern Hummingbird again. Its fire front to back.
Tweet from my city Rochester, Ny. I think since she been on she came back to Rochester once Smh. Still I wish her the best. Should have fucked her when I had the chance. 585 Stand up!!!
You guys (including Scott) are bugging!! This album is refreshing compared to the BS that’s being called R&B these days! 5/5
I AGREE!!! IT WAS A WONDERFUL ALBUM!! I HOPE SHE GET SOME AWARDS!!!
I THOUGHT THAT ALBUM WAS GREAT!!! I GREAT COMEBACK!!!!! HOPE SHE WINS SOME AWARDS EVEN SOME GRAMMYS!!!!
Wonderful new music from an artist that’s been deeply missed. Possibly her best album since her masterpiece Southern Hummingbird.
You guys got to be kidding me! This album is so refreshing! I listen to all music genres , and I must say most majority of music is collaborating and mixing so that it’s all repetitively sound the same ! Since that first day I heard the lp single of ” Oops ooh my” on the radio, my trained ears knew there was something about artist that was special to me. I literally broke my neck to #1 purchase album, #2 listen to it day and night,#3 gotten my friends on board to eventually purchase their own,#4 to be first one in line to meet this incredible woman when she came to Atl in Decatur summer 2002 to just get an autograph!Tweet has a way to soulfully sing to you,speak to you as your best friend, empower you through her lyrics and music all through your chosen listening devices! Please!! Boring, this album is not the case! Everyone wants to return back to Southern Hummingbird and I agree that album was the *** ish,but we as human beings experience growth in our lives , shouldn’t artists and their music do the same????
Hey first album was the best of hers.