Are you in love? Are you heartbroken? Do you want your lover back? Are you going through a break up, or getting over one? Are you and your lover looking to get kinky? If the answer if yes to any of these questions (and let’s face it this pretty much covers all aspects of a relationship, so you probably answered yes to one or multiple of them) then “The Album,” by Teyana Taylor is perfect for you.
The G.O.O.D. R&B singer delivered an outstanding 23 song album that touches on every aspect of a relationship you could think of. In the world of streaming today, a 23 song album is pretty much the standard, and in most cases an album this long can be hard and take a long time to listen too. However with this album, it never felt like it was dragging, never felt like it was too long and never had me looking at the track list wondering, “How many songs are left?” This album clocks in at around one hour and 20 minuets and take you and a journey of a relationship, breaking each section up into about four to five songs, each starting with an, “interlude,” even though these interludes are not so much interludes as they are songs that introduce the theme of the next section.
Beginning with an intro of a baby being born (I am guessing her baby, as she hints at this on the final track of the album, “We Got Love,” featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill) Teyana jumps into the first section letting you know how much she loves the person she is with. “Come Back To Me,” featuring Junie and Rick Ross is the first track, and beginning the song (and the album, minus the talking in the intro) with a Rick Ross verse is not a bad choice. People always say, “The first voice you should hear on the album is the artists own voice,” but I wasn’t mad at hearing Rick Ross over a slow emotional sounding track. Rick Ross is known for his story telling and imagery, especially when it comes to “love” songs, however even though I am a fan of the track as a whole, I think his verse could have been stronger. Following that with three more tracks in the same vein all with features (Iman, Erykah Badu, and Quavo) the first section is a strong showing of a woman in love, expressing her love to her man. Iman’s verse in “Wake Up Love” I will say isn’t the strong point of the song, but it does fit into the theme of the song. Quavo surprised me (as I am not the biggest Migos music listener) with how he was able to go completely R&B and use melodies on “Let’s Build” so much so I had to look at the song feature to know it was him, because I though it was a singer.
Using the second, “interlude” “1-800-One-Night” to transition into “Morning” featuring Kehlani, is the Segway into love making. Explicit tracks (strictly by lyrical content and them nature, not because of language) Teyana along with Missy Elliott, Future and DaVido give you the perfect four song sex section. “Booming like an 808,” “Let’s make the Cancer sign,” “I’ll be the six you be the nine” should let you know exactly what time it is during this section. Coming off telling you how much she loves you, if you have someone to call your own, throw on the four songs in this section and it is sure to be a good night.
After the fun is all over, she docent hesitate in the next section to let you know what will happen if you get on her bad side, or do her wrong. Using a strong island vibe on, “Bad” a quick minute and 30 seconds of telling you she isn’t the one to play with, introduces you to the break up section. “You turned a good girl into a bad bitch,” is her way of letting you know, you messed up, it’s because of you she is this way, and following that with, “You got the wrong bitch, I ain’t sticking around for the run around,” Teyana is not playing games. “Shoot it up” featuring Big Sean, she ends the section letting you know that even through it all, you are still the one.
After getting through the break up, it is time for reflection. “Bare with me,” is her way of asking you to be patient. We all have things that make us who we are, we all have scars, have all have issues, and sometimes we need that one who can be there when we need them and hang in through the bad times. “Lose Each Other,” is a song that everyone can relate to. We all have one person that even after it was over we still wanted to be friends with, still wanted to hang out with, still wanted to stay in contact with. “I meant it when I said I loved you, and love just don’t go away, and baby we don’t have to lose each other.” She is pleading that even though it is all over, we don’t have to never speak or see each other again. We were in love, and those feeling don’t leave that fast, we can still be friends, and we can still be in each others lives even if we can’t be together at the moment. A powerful song for anyone in the midst of a break up or feeling as though the love of their life is slipping away or possibly has gone away. It is not easy to lose the one you love, and sometimes it’s harder to remain friends but sometimes that is what can be done if the feelings are that strong.
Leading into the final sections, Teyana is asking if there is still something there, is there still a chance we can try again. “Ever Ever,” is her attempt at seeing if you are still visible and reachable, can I call upon you if I need to, will you answer if I call in a time of need? “Try Again,” is the question we all ask, and sometimes only ask ourselves. We were good together, maybe we can go back and try again and see if we can work this out.
Which takes us to the final section, the one where we have made it out the other side and have come to terms and ready at attempt to move on. “Friends” is her saying, “If it’s not me that you want that’s cool.” It is time to move on, I sometimes wish I never had you but now that I did and you are gone it is ok, I am ok and I am ready to move one. “How You Want It?” Featuring King Combs is a strong effort from both artists on a slow R&B track. A sexual song asking “What’s the quickest way to turn you on?” I would say King Combs has one of the strongest features on this album, and leaving him until the end wasn’t a bad choice. Leading into the track, “Made it,” where she speaks on her confidence, work ethic and how she has made it through, made it out the other side, and looking right, is all a great empowerment, and strong song. Finally, finishing with an uptempo dance track “We Got Love,” featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill is a great way to end “The Album.” Who can be mad at an outro from Ms. Lauryn Hill after hearing Teyana sing about finding love, having love, and being strong together?
“The Album,” is a strong showing from Teyana Taylor. Every song is great, they each sound acoustically great, the lyrics, the content, the structure, the sequencing, and the features all have a purpose and take you on the journey of a relationship cohesively. Each person can find a section on this album to relate to, and in the era of long albums, this 23 song album is the perfect length and keeps you intrigued the entire way through.
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