Lina - "Come to Mama" (iTunes Single of the Week)

What iTunes says: Start snapping your fingers! The Hidden Beach record label (Jill Scott, Darius Rucker, Kindred the Family Soul) has found another star in the making, R&B singer/songwriter Lina has delivered one of the best singles of 2005 with her new track "Come to Mama." Combining an excellent blend of today's R&B production with a touch of the classic Soul II Soul production from the early '90s, "Come to Mama" is an example of the limitless creative directions of R&B.

What I say: If this is an example of the "limitless creative directions of R&B," I say rhythm and blues is dead, my friends. This is so straightforward in its productions its painful to listen to the lack of creativity. It uses a smooth jazz piano beat and quasi-modern bass beat to back a vocal that could be found on an En Vogue ballads album. It's biggest crime is that its frightfully boring. I'd be proud of the fact that Lina writes her own stuff, but the lyrics aren't anything to write extensively about. And is that French in the refrain? Yikes.

1/5