Today is the anniversary of the tragic death of Aaliyah, an artist who was literally on the cusp of world domination.

Aaliyah was a blues artist for modern times.  She always sounded guarded and her best songs (I Care 4 U, 4 Page Letter, We Need A Resolution) captured this and wrapped it in post-modern production that only enhanced her mystique. It’s no mistake that the most enduring image of Aaliyah is her face partially covered with a lock of hair.

She was an artist through and through.  She seemed unconcerned with being popular or adored or at the top of the charts, even though that’s where she was.  Her work felt deeply personal; her guardedness only made us love her and want to figure out what was goin on with her more.  Her dancing was unlike any other artist at the time.  And her voice was pitch perfect.

The imitators (Mya, Ciara, Brooke Valentine) came fast and furious, but no one can touch Aaliyah.  She left 3 damn near flawless albums behind.  It’s a small catalogue, but there’s much to unpack there.

Well a U.K. outfit has put out a free cover album today in celebration of Aaliyah’s music called Aaliyah Revisited. All of the artists who cover Aaliyah here – which includes Marsha Ambrosius, Jesse Boykins III, Tawiah, Jonas, Baby Sol, Black Einstein, AFTA-1, Nikko Gray, Vula, and that undefinable, undeniable genius, Sy Smith – reinterpret Aaliyah’s songs completely. There is nothing straightforward about their approaches, and in so doing, we are able to better appreciate the beauty of Aaliyah’s work.

Sy takes on If Your Girl Only Knew and gives it a stripped down treatment.  She does a terrific job, but I have to admit that when I ran across this album and saw Sy’s name I naturally assumed that she would take on Aaliyah’s finest song, I Care 4 U.  (Anyone who has heard Sy’s Bruise would understand why I would assume such a thing).

That job, though, goes to Jesse Boykins III, who turns it into the blues lament that it is.  It’s a surprising, beautiful version.

The most surprising cover is Black Einstein and Baby Sol on It’s Whatever, a Static/Major-penned gem from Aaliyah’s self-titled 3rd album.  The original was a bit overproduced, drowning out Static’s beautiful melody and lyrics, but Black Einstein and Baby Sol let the song breathe.  It’s straight soul.  I dare say it’s the one cover here that exceeds the original.

Anyway, the whole album is worth a listen so…

Download it.

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3. Album Review: Queen Latifah’s Persona