On this, her third album - and first for five years - Aaliyah has positioned herself as sophisticated, dark'n'foxy diva with a thing for handling large snakes.
Freudian suggestions aside, she deals with her problems far more sexily than those who opt for the all-men-are-bastards bitchfests. Her attitude more adult, even on 1996's 'One In A Million' she was mature beyond her years. Now, at 22, a veritable veteran with a blossoming film career on the go, it would appear a bit of auto-pilot may have set in.
There lies the problem. Aaliyah is at her best on the tracks where longtime collaborator Timbaland is giving it all a futuristic feel on the bass-less spook of 'We Need A Resolution', the exceptional 'Try Again' and the baroque liquid funk of 'More Than A Woman'.
The bulk of the album is handed over to newcomers such as Rapture & E Seats, Bud'da and J Dub who keep it relatively sane with late-night-taxi shimmers like 'Never No More', 'I Care 4 U', the shuntin' clippedness of 'Those Were The Days' and the Latin glimpses of 'Read Between The Lines'.
Overall, aside from the crummy rock-out of 'What If', 'Aaliyah' is accomplished fluid soul, with nothing too jagged or startling to spoil the polished veneer.
Taking care of business could be one way of looking at it, but Aaliyah will have to watch her back if she goes off for another five years, as a whole new generation of Beyonces and the like will usurp her if she's not too careful.
