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Desolately Different (AMP Recordings, 2001) Despite the odd title (Such a strange pairing of adjectives, like "aerodynamically fuzzy."), this debut from little-known singer Tami Graves is a lovely, unexpected surprise. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Graves' style naturally has an American R&B flavor, although the material here largely remains true to the reggae genre. Oftentimes, the mixture of R&B with reggae isn't cohesive enough to draw me in, but the R&B tracks on Desolately Different -- such as "Could've Been Love," the Jill Scott-like "Put My Soul At Ease," and the Lauren Hill-styled "While You Sleep" -- are so sharply written and crisply produced, you have to give in. Even better, though, are the lovers rock tunes that form the core of this album, like "Growing Wild," "Real Bliss," and two of the best lovers tracks I've heard in a while, "Sweetheart and Friends" (which features a humorous situation in which a brave man tells his woman, "I would like you and my sweetheart to be friends. That's the only way this jealousy will end.") and a wonderful remake of Mariah Carey's "All I've Ever Wanted." When Graves speeds things up and adds a dancehall tempo -- as on "A Day in the Life," "Baila Baila," and a cover of Harry Belafonte's "Day-O" (not as bad as you might think) -- the impact of her vocals and her overall appeal dies down a bit, but it can't dampen the excitement that Desolately Different inspires. |
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