AALIYAH
21 . . . WAYS TO GROW
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In most genres coming-of-age records are somewhat rare (rock’s proliferation of coming-of-middle-age records doesn’t count), but in R & B they’re a staple. Typically the COA recording signals an artist’s move beyond the influence of their Svengalis or their childhood selves into a realm where they can put their own spin on the music. Many such recordings are classics: Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall, Janet Jackson’s Control, Teena Marie’s Starchild, Jody Watley, Bell Biv Devoe’s Poison, and Stevie Wonder’s 1972 double dip Music of My Mind and Talking Book. But lately the COA record is taking a beating–at least judging by the two recent releases by Aaliyah and Shanice, both highly contrived and ultimately unconvincing announcements of maturity.
Shanice is much more earnest about her themes, but she can’t pull it off either. 21 . . . Ways to Grow is a marked improvement over the cloying girl-next-door attitude of her 1991 release, Inner Child (though I have to admit her 1992 hit “I Like Your Smile” was an ideal guilty pleasure). Shanice is all grown up now and ready for a modest attempt at the multiformat hit. Among the ten production teams–yes, ten, on 13 tracks–are Babyface, Jermaine Dupri, and Jam and Lewis proteges Lance Alexander and Prof. T.
