Complex Simplicity

Complex Simplicity
Studio album by
Teedra Moses
ReleasedAugust 10, 2004 (2004-08-10)
September 27, 2019 (2019-09-27) (re-released)
Recorded2003–2004
Studio
GenreR&B[1]
Length62:03
LabelTVT
Producer
Teedra Moses chronology
Complex Simplicity
(2004) 		Cognac & Conversation
(2015)
Singles from Complex Simplicity
  1. "You'll Never Find (A Better Woman)"
    Released: November 11, 2003
  2. "Be Your Girl"
    Released: June 1, 2004
  3. "You Better Tell Her"
    Released: December 27, 2005

Complex Simplicity is the debut studio album by American singer Teedra Moses. It was released on August 10, 2004, by TVT Records. The album was produced largely by Paul Poli, with additional production from Raphael Saadiq and Lil Jon.

Singles

The album's lead single, "You'll Never Find (A Better Woman)", was released as a 12-inch vinyl in the United States on November 11, 2003. It was serviced to US rhythmic contemporary radio a week later, on November 18, 2003.[2] The track, which features rapper Jadakiss, peaked at number 86 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[3]

The second single, "Be Your Girl", was released as a 12-inch vinyl in the US on June 1, 2004, and impacted rhythmic and urban contemporary radio on the same day.[4] It was also released as a CD single in Germany on February 21, 2005. The single reached number 87 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[3] The accompanying music video was directed by Hype Williams.

The third and final single, "You Better Tell Her", was released as a 12-inch vinyl on December 27, 2005. The single version features rappers Pitbull and Lil' Scrappy.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Pitchfork8.0/10[5]
Rolling Stone[6]

AllMusic's Andy Kellman lauded Complex Simplicity as "the best R&B album of 2004—if not the best pop-oriented R&B album since CrazySexyCool."[1] Matt Cibula of PopMatters described the album as "awe-inspiring and cool and touching and kind of avant-garde in a weird homegrown way".[7] Jon Caramanica of Rolling Stone wrote that Moses has "a cheery, twee voice, and on her debut she uses it to sass the men in her life."[6] Patrick Taliaferro of Vibe viewed the album as "a great entry into the R&B game", adding that "Moses is appealing when revealing her country B-girl bravado, but at the end it's actually all we see, variations in her approach would have been nice."[8] The album earned Moses comparisons to R&B artists such as Mary J. Blige,[1] Deniece Williams,[6] and Cherrelle.[9]

Track listing

All tracks produced by Paul Poli, except where noted.

Complex Simplicity track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Be Your Girl"
4:09
2."You'll Never Find (A Better Woman)" (featuring Jadakiss)
4:13
3."Caution"
  • Moses
  • Poli
4:37
4."Backstroke"
  • Moses
  • Poli
3:37
5."No More Tears"
4:11
6."Rescue Me"
  • Moses
  • Poli
4:06
7."Take Me" (featuring Raphael Saadiq) (producer: Saadiq)
  • Moses
  • Saadiq
4:44
8."You Better Tell Her" (producer: Jonathan Smith)
  • Moses
  • Smith
6:15
9."Outta My Head"
3:39
10."Complex Simplicity"
  • Moses
  • Poli
4:16
11."For a Lifetime"
  • Moses
  • Poli
4:15
12."Caught Up"
  • Moses
  • Poli
  • Robinson
4:14
13."Last Day"
  • Moses
  • Poli
3:41
14."I Think of You (Shirley's Song)"
  • Moses
  • Poli
  • Robinson
6:06
Total length:62:03
UK edition[10]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."Doin' You"
  • Moses
  • Poli
3:58
11."Complex Simplicity"
  • Moses
  • Poli
4:16
12."For a Lifetime"
  • Moses
  • Poli
4:15
13."Caught Up"
  • Moses
  • Poli
  • Robinson
4:14
14."Last Day"
  • Moses
  • Poli
3:41
15."I Think of You (Shirley's Song)"
  • Moses
  • Poli
  • Robinson
6:06
16."Still Your Girl" (featuring Raphael Saadiq, Truth Hurts and Scipio) 4:15
Total length:91:16
15th anniversary edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Doin' You"
  • Moses
  • Poli
3:58
16."You Better Tell Her (TVT Mix)"
  • Moses
  • Poli
3:44
17."Cabernet Sauvignon"Moses3:24
18."I Think of You (3 Generations)" (featuring Shirley Moses, Raj and Taj Austin)
  • Moses
  • Poli
  • Robinson
6:43
Total length:77:04

Sample credits

  • "Be Your Girl" contains replayed elements of "One on One", as performed by Nas
  • "You'll Never Find (A Better Woman)" contains a sample of "Better Woman or Bigger Fool", as performed by Alicia Myers
  • "No More Tears" contains replayed elements of "SpottieOttieDopaliscious", as performed by OutKast
  • "Outta My Head" contains an interpolation of "Goin' Out of My Head", as performed by Little Anthony and the Imperials

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Complex Simplicity.[11]

  • Teedra Moses – vocals, vocal arrangement (all tracks); executive production
  • Rich Balmer – engineering (track 14)
  • Gerry Brown – recording (track 7)
  • Gerald Clayton – keyboards (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 10–13)
  • Kevin Davis – mixing (track 4)
  • Clare Fischer – string arrangements (track 7)
  • Ryan Freeland – mixing (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 9–14); engineering (tracks 9, 14)
  • John Frye – mixing (track 8)
  • Tony Gillis – mastering
  • Mark Gray – recording assistance (track 8)
  • Jadakiss – vocals (track 2)
  • Bryan Leach – co-executive production
  • Anthony Mandler – photography
  • Charles "Chaz" Muhammad – organ (track 14)
  • Paul Poli – production, vocal arrangement (tracks 1–6, 9–14); engineering (tracks 1–3, 4–6, 10–13); keyboards (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 10–13); executive production
  • Mac Robinson – guitar (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 12, 14); bass, keyboards, percussion (tracks 9, 14)
  • Danny Romero – recording (track 7); mixing (tracks 7, 14)
  • Raphael Saadiq – bass, guitar, production, vocal arrangement, vocals (track 7)
  • Greg Smith – recording (track 8)
  • Jonathan Smith – production (track 8)
  • Shaffer Smith – vocal arrangement (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8–11, 13, 14)
  • Benjamin Wheelock – design
  • Dubbs Willie – executive production
  • Kelvin Wooten – drums, guitar, keyboards (track 7)

Charts

Chart performance for Complex Simplicity
Chart (2004) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[12] 168
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[13] 11
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[14] 20

Release history

Release history and formats for Complex Simplicity
Region Date Label Ref.
United States August 10, 2004 TVT
Australia October 8, 2004 [15]
Germany November 29, 2004
Japan February 2, 2005 Victor [16]
United Kingdom June 20, 2005 TVT

References

  1. ^ a b c d Kellman, Andy. "Complex Simplicity – Teedra Moses". AllMusic. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  2. ^ "Going for Adds: Week Of 11/17/03" (PDF). Radio & Records. November 14, 2003. p. 27. ISSN 0277-4860. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Teedra Moses Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  4. ^ "Going for Adds: Week Of 6/1/04" (PDF). Radio & Records. May 28, 2004. p. 24. ISSN 0277-4860. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  5. ^ Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo (February 12, 2023). "Teedra Moses: Complex Simplicity Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Caramanica, Jon (November 11, 2004). "Teedra Moses: Complex Simplicity". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 15, 2007. Retrieved November 30, 2007.
  7. ^ Cibula, Matt (October 18, 2004). "Teedra Moses: Complex Simplicity". PopMatters. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  8. ^ Taliaferro, Patrick (September 13, 2004). "Teedra Moses: Complex Simplicity". Vibe. Archived from the original on July 14, 2006. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
  9. ^ "Teedra Moses Biography". Artistdirect. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  10. ^ "Release "Complex Simplicity" by Teedra Moses". MusicBrainz. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  11. ^ Complex Simplicity (liner notes). Teedra Moses. TVT Records. 2004. TV-2450-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ "Teedra Moses Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  13. ^ "Teedra Moses Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  14. ^ "Teedra Moses Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  15. ^ "Complex Simplicity: Teedra Moses". Sanity. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  16. ^ "Complex Simplicity : Teedra Moses". HMV Japan. Retrieved January 31, 2018.