Don’t call it a comeback, they’ve been here for years! Tamara (Taj) Johnson, Cheryl (Coko) Clemons and Leanne (Lelee) Lyons are SWV. They’re back and better than ever with their eyes set on reigniting R&B diminished spark.
Modern day R&B icons for their lush harmonies, slow-jam classics, and Coko‘s infamous nails, this Grammy Award-winning trio holds the title as one of the world’s best-selling girl groups of all time. With 90’s standards like ‘Weak’, ‘I’m So Into You’, and ‘Downtown’, it’s no wonder why they’ve been able to survive the test of time, as true talent never dies.
After a fifteen year break-up, SWV is ready to press on with a follow up to ‘I Missed Us’‘s first single ‘Co-Sign’–while label politics always plays a role, fan input is nevertheless just as important. Lets review the prospects after the jump and sound-off below.
On April 17, 2012 SWV released their first album since their disbandment in 1997 finally satisfying the rabid appetites of R&B’s most devout loyalists. ‘I Missed Us’ debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Chart and also reigned in at No. 1 as iTunes’ top R&B seller. While ‘Co-Sign’ was a respectable first single to usher in a new era, it’s now time hit hard with a worthy follow-up to cement their presence in 2012’s musical tapestry.
The prospects are…
‘Show Off’
‘Show Off’ is a bossy uptempo that finds the ladies telling their potential lover that they’re [finally] ready for love. The track features a choir of crashing harmonies backed by a dark, downbeat groove and a guest verse from A/X.
‘All About You’
‘All About You’ is a mid-tempo song detailing the motions of falling in love. “All I can do is smile, cause you holding me down, I wanna tell you the truth, because it’s all about you,” the ladies harmonize using classic 90′s samples like ‘I Like The Way (Kissing Game)’ and nostalgic instrumentation.
‘Everything I Love’
‘Everything I Love’ finds each “Sister” singing lead in one of the album’s rawest and most impressive vocal performances. Goosebumps are inevitable.
‘Time To Go’
‘Time To Go’ features alternating leads as the other two create an airy vocal backdrop for the lead to glide over–it’s a radio-friendly, melodic track about the universal theme of heartbreak everyone can relate to.
‘Use Me’
The vocal synergy displayed by SWV on ‘Use Me’ is what separates a decent vocal group, from an outstanding vocal group, as its utterly breathtaking. With Coko in the driver’s seat, Taj’s contralto creates a highly textured chorus, which allows Lelee to fill-in the harmonies. If released, ‘Use Me’ has the potential to become a huge hit on urban/rhythmic radio formats.
Download SWV’s fourth studio album ‘I Missed Us’ from iTunes HERE.