Ready Now
Somewhere between the nasty-girlisms ofMillie Jacksonand the morality tales ofShirley Brown--and come to think of it, the morality tales of Millie Jackson--rests Truth Hurts. After one album under the auspices ofDr. Dre, the singer returns withRaphael Saadiq's Pookie label. Even Saadiq's most straightforward projects come with offbeat moments:Right Nowputs Truth's not-shy persona and her rich, overdubbed vocals alongside his insinuating steel guitar ("Catch 22") and Bollywood-tinged tracks that suggest that producers Alonzo Jackson and Brian "B. Dub" Wilson have been paying attention toTimbaland's recent work. At the heart of all this is one woman's, er, truth, regrets and all. Suited for both street cruising and bedroom listening,Ready Nowpromises more to come from this intriguing talent.--Rickey Wright