Terry Dexter

Terry Dexter is a year older than Brandy and two years older than Monica, which puts her — 21-years-old when her debut album was released — already at a disadvantage in competing for the young R&B diva crown. Like her better known peers, she sings songs of romantic discord and devotion over generally slow, prominent percussion tracks, providing the lead variations over repetitive choral parts. She is co-credited as a songwriter on several of the songs, including the leadoff single "Better Than Me," but that doesn't make them any more distinctive. Eight different producers contribute, including Jazze Pha and, on four of 11 tracks, Darryl "Day" Pearson, and they successfully give Dexter a contemporary R&B sound that apes much of what other singers of her ilk are wailing over. And she wails competently, but no more so than any other youthful Mariah Carey wannabe on the market. [Terry Dexter was also released with a bonus track.]