Search - Blaque :: Torch

"TORCH", the 3rd & strongest chapter of BLAQUE

G. Portades | National City, CA | 10/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After the shelving of their 2002 album "Blaque Out" (which was an excellent sophomore album by the way), Blaque moved from Columbia Records to Elektra Records in hopes of a better deal. The lead single "Ugly" featuring Missy Elliott was an infectious single that had crossover appeal, only if Elektra had been 100% behind it and pushed for a video. After that and a mixtape-only track "No Ganksta", Blaque was introduced to the world with the second single (now called the 'lead') off the album "I'm Good", which was the first single off the 2003 "Honey" soundtrack. However, due to the single not becoming a hit, thus, the second album of their careers to be shelved happened. Shortly after, Natina turned to becoming a minister, while Shamari Fears is now working on her solo album (and impending marriage to New Edition member Ronnie DeVoe).



Tracklisting & review of each song is as follows:

01. Blaque Out

A different track than the 2002 "Blaque Out", this new version is just as good as that 2002 version, even with new lyrics & a new instrumental. Two completely different songs, with the same title and by the same group, excellent!



02. Freakazoid

For a majority of the album, I've only heard snippets of, but what I remembered, they were all great. Which is unheard of, especially for an album that got shelved. For the remainder of my review, I'll write about the songs I HAVE heard in complete (or I remember).



03. Deeper (Try Harder)



04. It's Not Me



05. Ugly

An excellent track, that resonates with the listener and stays stuck to your mind like a club anthem.



06. Fall Through



07. Helpless

The 3rd single off the album, although "I'm Good" never appeared on the advance tracklisting at all. Another GREAT song, that never was officially released to radio.



08. Nappy Dugout



09. Dat's Right



10. If It Was Me



11. Fall Back



12. Love Em Down



13. Her Name

A touching tribute to the late Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes, perhaps an even better tribute track than the others (TLC's "Turntable", Missy Elliott & TLC's "Can You Hear Me?").



In another case of R&B albums gone to waste in Elektra's unreleased library, this goes with the others that deserved to be released too (Adina Howard/Welcome To Fantasy Island, Yo Yo/Ebony, Gina Thompson/If You Only Knew, Torrey Carter/The Life I Live, Nicole Wray/Elektric Blue)."

A Torch That Did Not Get Lit

W. L. Quiney | Ypsilanti, MI | 02/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Blaque's 3rd album was incredibly impressive. I truly cannot understand why Elektra chose to "shelf" this album. The group's first 2 albums (their 2nd "Blaque Out" also shelved) hales in comparison to this body of work. To this date "Torch" has only been leaked online and in snippets at that. The production Darkchild did on this album is some of his best next to Brandy's "Never Say Never" album. Whether us fans will ever get the album in its entirety is a mystery. Here is my detailed review:



01. I'm Good - Produced by Rodney Jerkins

The amazing lead single from the Honey soundtrack and movie.



02. Blaque Out featuring Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz - Produced by Rodney Jerkins

This is Darkchild's version of the title song taken from their 2nd album. One of the few songs to be leaked in full. Amazing club banger!!!



03. Freakazoid - Produced by Missy Elliott

Great fast to mid-tempo song about a guy trying to use the girls as his late night freak.



04. (Deeper) Try Harder - Produced by Wylee

A nice mid-tempo grove. I could see this song being played on the radio.



05. It's Not Me - Produced by Linda Perry

The beat awesome. Single worthy. This song is one of my favs.



06. Ugly featuring Missy Elliott - Produced by Missy Elliott

This song was meant to be the 1st single of the album and was released to radio but never had a video made. Great club song!!!



07. Fall Through - Produced by Jazz

Nice sexy ballad. Talking about wanting your guy to leave his friends on a rainy night and "Fall Through" to your place.



08. Hopeless - Produced by Rodney Jerkins

HANDS DOWN MY FAVORITE TRACK ON THE ALBUM!!! This was supposed to be their 3rd single. This song would have been HUGE!!!! and taken them back to platinum status.



09. Nappy Dugout - Produced by Missy Elliott

Very seductive ballad. Though the slang is a bit weird, the lyrical content is on point. Nappy Dugout is referring to p***y. The song is about how a guy isn't going to get any from the girls and how they're waiting on someone they love to give it to.



10. Dat's Right - Produced by Missy Elliott

Another amazing club joint. The beat is out cold. Missy's screaming "New Blaque" and "Ok" through-out is a tad annoying but it's still a great song.



11. Fall Back - Produced by Rodney Jerkins

My 2nd fav. Very smooth and sexy. This song deals with telling a girl to "Fall Back" and stay away from their man. Otherwise she'll have to deal with the consequences.



12. If It Was Me - Produced by Warryn Campbell

Amazing song!!! Mid-tempo track. Not often wrote or sung about. In this song the girls are fantasizing about their friend's boyfriend and what it would be like to be his girl.



13. Love 'Em Down - Produced by Linda Perry

This song had to grow on me but it's decent. I guess they had to have filler somewhere. Mid-tempo alternative vibe.



14. Her Name - Produced by Warryn Campbell

This is the group's tribute to their mentor and creator Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. It's very sweet and what's different is it's not a ballad. This is a honey-sweet club track.



15. No Ganksta* - Produced by Missy Elliott

This song is a bonus track and was heard a lot on the underground mix-tape circuit before the girls revealed plans for the album. It borrows lyrics from 50 Cent's "Wanksta". Kind of like a female version of "Wanksta" but R&B and with smooth seductive beat.



I hope anybody who reads this review finds it helpful and curbs their appetite for the album. All the true Blaque fans should know that the girls would have delivered a great album. 25 stars from me!!!!!!!!"