WOW. I just got back from a listening party for the new CD, and the best word I can describe it with is "WOW".

The new CD is called "Just Do It" and which came from a visit Tamar had to the Nike campus in Oregon.

Tamar wrote all the songs, and the musicians from the Tyler Perry play she did played on it. Our little buddy did not.

The style is what Tamar calls "Rock n' B" - R&B infused with guitars. But what really makes this CD shine are her vocals and harmonies. Tamar's voice is, IMHO, far and away the best of any Prince protege, and better than pretty much anyone's on the radio.

Here are the songs, along with my comments:

1. Intro - Cute introduction that sets up the "Just Do It" theme

2. Just Do It - Very up-tempo and VERY catchy song. Its hook is guitar-driven more than any of the other songs. The break features fantastic harmonies.

3. Heartbeat - Mid-tempo number with driving bass and tom-toms (replicating a heartbeat). The musicianship here is top-notch (it is on most of the songs). This song would be a great radio song, IMHO.

4. Kind Words - A guitar ballad that starts out acoustically and builds into some nice electric guitar work at the end. This song gave me a Beyonce vibe, and I mean that in a good way. Extremely strong vocals and the production on this number shines.

5. Interlude

6. Slow Down - A song that speaks to girls about the choices they have; they don't have to rush into things just because that special boy met your mom. It's a mid-tempo number with a synth groove, a strong vocal hook, and good harmonies.

7. Far Away - I ranked this one as "Tolerable/Strong Filler" but my 15-year-old classic-rock-loving son thought it was the best song on the CD. It's not a rock song but a bass-and-drums number with a male rap in the break. It's about the only song that I thought didn't have a hook.

8. Yesterday - Not the Beatles song. The full title is "Don't Take Me Back to Yesterday". It's about letting grudges and slights just go. It's a hip-hop groove that is very danceable, and the vocal work is S-T-R-O-N-G.

9. Bad All By Myself - Slow groove. Ace, if you're reading this, the hook is the same one Bruce uses on "The Rising", accentuated like when Bruce does that song live. It is a GREAT hook, and works well over the two chords used in the song. Tamar once again sings the beejeebus out of the song.

10. Fantasy - This is the other song I rated "Tolerable/Strong Filler" (everything else was either "Jamming" of "Jamming Hit"). It sounds like a Bria Valente-type song, so if you like "Elixer" then you'll like this song.

11. Red Carpet - Dynamite. Everyone wants to be on the red carpet. Lots of percussion in the groove, and it has a male rapper in the break. I'll bet you'll be hearing this in clubs and on the runway for a long time. I ran into Tamar's fashion designer, and he said the same thing.

12. You Never Know - It's a duet with Jermaine (?) Something. He won 3rd place on BET's talent show, and has a voice that "fills up the rafters". Very catchy mid-tempo song with a great beat and awesome vocals. This would be a good single, too.

13. Lifeguard - A very plush arrangement of a song that focuses on a keyboard scale and bass/drums. The vocal hook is great - I have no idea how Tamar came up with so many great melodies, but they are all over the place on this CD.

14. Electricity - Speaking of brilliant harmonies, this song has them. It's about chemistry, and this song oozes sex appeal. The harmonies are so good that I wish the song was 2 or 3 minutes longer.

15. Fire - A rock guitar groove that is meant for dancing. I thought I heard a reference to the song "Nasty Girl" at the end but I forgot to ask Tamar.

The CD still needs to be mastered, and Tamar hopes to release it on or around June 1st. It'll be available for sure through iTunes and her website.

She also plans to tour behind it. I've seen her with Prince - as many of you have - but I also saw her later on with her own band. She absolutely brings 150% to the stage. Her live performances are great. She said she learned a lot about playing live from Prince, and it's obvious. She's dynamic in every sense of the word.

I'll try to post a pic I took later on.
[Edited 4/18/09 15:12pm]

Dude, after reading this, I wish the cd was available today. You state she has some folks from the Tyler Perry play that are singing on her cd, and I saw a clip with some of them singing from the play she's been touring in, and they can sing. I like that term "Rock & B". I wish the cd was available today, and that we didnt' have to wait until June 1st, as I want to purchase it. June 1st seems like a long time, but I understand that she more than likely wants to make sure everything is up to par. Keep us posted and thanks so much for the review. I wish her all the best and much more!
[Edited 4/18/09 18:56pm]

Cool! June 1st is my birthday,

Anyone who's seen her live knows she definitely delivers the goods.

Waiting for pix.

Sounds promising! I bet this is much better than Bria's CD,which is mediocre at best.

Wow, we couldn't just be happy for Tamar without a dig at Bria. I wish her the best cause I still want to hear Milk n Honey because the times that I saw her on tv with Prince she sounded fantastic.

Sounds exciting. I am so getting this CD.

jimmyrogertodd said:

Unfortunately, I don't think M&H will ever be released. Maybe if this or another Tamar CD is successful, Universal will try to cash in and release it. Otherwise, it looks like they're going to sit on it.

But trust me - M&H is not anywhere near as good as the new CD.

I'll get it!

Count me in. I always liked her, M&H was pretty good.

I still want "Milk & Honey"

Maybe 3rd time's a charm...

Access 2 the material?

Graycap23 said:

Tamar hope to have it on iTunes and her website by June 1. No distribution yet, that I know of.

SoulAlive said:

CRANK DAT BRIA V! I love that album


Anyway I want to hear the samples

NouveauDance said:

Milk & Honey was great! I love about 3/4 of the album. Didnt like Holla & Shout or the title track, but the rest was really well done. Very heartfelt lyrics.

im wanting this.

You Go Girl! All the best to everything that you touch and touches you.

good luck to her!

YEY! I can't wait, I loved M&H! I really hope this comes out because I remember at one time she was releasing "World Premiere" @ one point and nothing ever came out of that. All I know is I will buy it the second it hits iTunes!

thanks for the review!!