Tamia - 'Between Friends'

On her fourth solo album, Between Friends, the Canadian singer Tamia fails to do enough to distinguish herself from the legions of other pretty-faced/moderately talented singers out there. That's not to say that she can't sing - she actually has a clear, strong voice. But what she doesn't have, however, is: a) strong emotive abilities; b) a wide vocal range, c) a distinctive singing style and d) much of a personality.
Many successful singers have a couple of these problems - some even have three. But a combination of all four is a definite recipe for mediocrity.

One of the biggest problems with Tamia's fourth album, Between Friends, is that too many songs are so lightweight. They're not bad songs, but they're just kind of - there. This includes an unremarkable cover of Aretha Franklin's "Day Dreamin," the forgettable "Sittin' on the Job" and the cliched "Last First Kiss."

The album's filled with by-the-numbers songs with themes (love, lust, romance, bad relationships) that have been recycled over and over by R&B artists for decades. There are however, a few above-average songs, among them: "Almost," about almost having had a relationship with someone, and lamenting letting them get away; the uplifting ballad "Me," on which Tamia sings about self-love and choosing one's self-respect over a boy. It's a clever, well-written song and one of the strongest tracks on the album. Another winner is the mid-tempo break-up song "Love & I," which closes the album.

Compared to many contemporary singers, Tamia's image is wholesome and practically squeaky-clean, so she seems out of her element on the Rodney Jerkins-produced banger "Too Grown," during which she complains about dudes trying to get at her at a dance club. The upbeat jam would have been fine for a young, 19- or 20-year-old girl to sing, but the 30-something Tamia - who's been married to NBA player Grant Hill since 1999 and is the mother of a little girl who'll be 5 in January - just sounds wrong singing the song. Which is too bad, because the track's production is hot.

Another problem is that she seems to be concentrating too much on trying to sing well, instead of just letting it flow. Her vocal presence isn't as natural, as a Beyonce Knowles or Mary J. Blige. And that's not to say that Tamia can't sing, she just lacks a little of the flavor that other, more emotive singers bring to the table.