No longer a child star, Brandy delivers sexy R&B ballads with polished sophistication on AFRODISIAC, her fourth CD. If not the most exciting album of the year, it's appealing and pleasant. Brandy's lyrical messages veer wildly between feisty independence and extreme neediness (sort of like real life?); her voice is lovely and strong; the music tracks are produced with skill, care, and even a bit of imaginative playfulness.

Changes in Brandy's personal life--becoming a mother and ending a relationship with her baby's father--seem to bring depth and maturity to her performance as well as to her lyrics. "Just for the sake of my daughter/I tried to stick to the plan/But I had to get rid of the ring/on my fourth finger, left hand," she sings about her short "marriage" on "Who I Am." But Brandy has not only left this relationship behind--she's also dumped long-time producer Rodney Jenkins. This time around, she chose to work with Timbaland instead, and his influence is obvious and unmistakeable.

The first single from the CD, "Talk About Love," features Kanye West singing with Brandy in a Hip-Hop/R&B duet, and the chemistry sparkles. Another high point is "Sadiddy," an irresistable dance tune with wonderful call-and-response backup vocals and an infectious rhythm track. Brandy's vocals are skillfully self-assured; she also sounds like she's having some fun.