Girlfriend

Even though Brandy Moss-Scott's debut album, Girlfriend, doesn't benefit from major-label polish or financing, it's still an impressive showcase for her silky singing. Moss-Scott brings some heartfelt vocals to the table with plenty of passion and some non-intrusive quiet storm musical backing. It's not a new sound in any sense, but by sticking to that time-honored tradition of smooth soul vocals over quiet storm instrumentation, Moss-Scott brings to mind many past artists like Sade — and, as a vocalist, she's on par with even the most lofty comparisons. Girlfriend's problem comes when you begin hungering for some better music to go along with her vocals. This is somewhat to be expected with an indie release like this, but that still doesn't excuse the lack of engaging music here. Moss-Scott seems hesitant to experiment with the backing music, giving the album an old-school '80s feel, and also plays it safe when it comes to songwriting, not departing too far from standard quiet storm lyrical motifs. Yet, in the end, it's Moss-Scott's performance as a vocalist that stands out, and you really just can't deny her talent. Makes you wonder what this album would have sounded like had she worked with bigger-name producers like Teddy Riley or Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.