A Rose Is Still a Rose

Aretha Franklin - A Rose Is Still A Rose - CD

Considering her immense contributions to American popular music over the past four decades, the Queen of Soul could be forgiven for coasting a bit. That's why it's such a pleasure to see her turning in such impassioned performances on this set of contemporary urban R&B numbers, her strongest and more consistent effort in several years. The poignant title-song teams Aretha with the Fugees' Lauryn Hill (who also produced), while Sean "Puffy" Combs produced and cowrote the percolating "Never Leave You Again." Elsewhere, the album matches the star with state-of-the-art producers Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri, Daryl Simmons, and Narada Michael Walden, while Franklin wrote and produced the torchy tour de force "The Woman" herself, which closes the album on an emotional high note. --Scott Schinder