Lil' Kim

Blu Cantrell's follow-up to her excellent debut, So Blu, is another fine slice of contemporary R&B propelled above the ordinary by her arresting voice and the sympathetic and interesting production. Bittersweet didn't reach the same commercial level as So Blu, but that isn't due to any drop off in quality. The best songs here, like the slinky "Breathe" (which features an appearance by the ubiquitous Sean Paul), the sweet ballad "Risk It All," and the heartbroken kiss-off "Unhappy," place Cantrell at the top of the heap of modern soul singers. The record has a melancholy tinge and Cantrell sings with a depth of emotion that many of her contemporaries can't reach. At times, like on the powerful "Sleep on the Middle," she sounds like Minnie Riperton or Teena Marie, like someone who has something deeper backing up her stunning technique.

One of the great decade-long singles runs is straightforwardly documented on Respect M.E., a compilation distributed throughout Europe and, unfortunately, not released in the States. From 1997 through 2006, Missy Elliott's work – often the product of a partnership with producer Timbaland – was in steady rotation on the radio and on video programs. Nearly every time out, she came up with something fun, inventive, out of this world, and lasting, charting alternate paths for pop music while also projecting the image of a fully empowered plus-size woman in a mainstream populated by females who tended to be anything but. Although each one of Elliott's albums is well worth owning, nothing can deny the need for this release, which includes almost every noteworthy track she released during the period, from "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" through the underappreciated "Teary Eyed." The most significant omissions are "Lick Shots" and "Take Away": hardly deal breakers. An ideal companion release would contain the hits Elliott wrote and/or produced for other artists, such as Aaliyah's "One in a Million," SWV's "Save Me," 702's "Where My Girls At," Nicole's "Make It Hot," Total's "What About Us," Monica's "So Gone," and Tweet's "Oops (Oh My)." During these years, there was no greater force in popular music.

This September, Rhino are to release a new four-CD box set that shines a light on the collaborative work of Phil Collins. Plays Well With Others features an incredibly broad array of music from a diverse range of artists including Brian Eno, John Cale, Eric Clapton, Tears For Fears, Howard Jones, Paul McCartney, Adam Ant and more…. [superdeluxeedition.com]