TLC

[Coochi]

Crazy Sexy Cool and Fanmail have higher highs but 3D serves cute bop after cute bop with no stinkers (unlike the other two). A trilogy!

But... Fanmail is a flawless album?! What a record.

 

[Booers]

I just had a moment with a Fanmail the song. Why wasn’t this ever a single?!

 

[johnoclock]

I just had a moment with a Fanmail the song. Why wasn’t this ever a single?!

Still one of, if not the best futuristic RnB songs ever.

 

[V3RYP05H]

We need a deluxe reissue of FanMail. Or, at the very least the two bonus tracks (and the full length Rap Version of “No Scrubs”) on streaming:

 

[Booers]

if just seems mad that it was never a single when it’s that good. Did Dear Lie just kind of stall the campaign or something?

 

[LPMA]

and the full length Rap Version of “No Scrubs”

After years of research the only full length rap version I’ve ever found has been censored, which is a tragedy. I was thankfully able to edit the swears back in.

 

[V3RYP05H]

After years of research the only full length rap version I’ve ever found has been censored, which is a tragedy. I was thankfully able to edit the swears back in.

That’s so shocking! I would’ve thought the single had it uncensored!

I assume this is fan made (no pun intended) but it should be the default version:

 

[Stopremix]

After years of research the only full length rap version I’ve ever found has been censored, which is a tragedy. I was thankfully able to edit the swears back in.

She says “ho” in this version. Is that what you’re after?

 

[LPMA]

She says “ho” in this version. Is that what you’re after?

Partially! It's uncensored alright but like @V3RYP05H linked the full-length is 4:00.

 

[nooniebao]

Still so fresh a quarter century later. Truly one of the best and most influential songs ever.

 

[gas]

FanMail is an elite album. IMO the best TLC released, and one of my Top 10 albums of all time.

 

[nooniebao]

FanMail is an elite album. IMO the best TLC released, and one of my Top 10 albums of all time.

It’s great but I’ve always felt like CrazySexyCool was their masterpiece. It just feels like such a clear mission statement for what the group was all about and what made them so special.

 

[gas]

It’s great but I’ve always felt like CrazySexyCool was their masterpiece. It just feels like such a clear mission statement for what the group was all about and what made them so special.

I get that -- and it is definitely "credited" as being their masterpiece by most.

But FanMail was ahead of its time.

 

[Angeleyes]

There was a period in the 2010's where people loved to point at FanMail as "dated" compared to CrazySexyCool, but I think seeing how much the y2k sound and aesthetic has gone on to inspire this generation of pop and R&B stars just goes to show how influential it truly was. "No Scrubs" was the first big hit for Kandi and She'kspere and still sounds as fresh as ever. Also "FanMail" and the "Communicate" interlude being about how computers connecting us actually makes us feel more lonely... oracles!

 

[Mvnl]

Yeah Fanmail still feels quite fresh while Crazy Sexy Cool definitely gives me more '90s throwback'.
Both very enjoyable in their own way.

 

[V3RYP05H]

“I’m Good At Being Bad” should’ve been a single. But also, if someone they do reissue I hope they put the original version with the “Love To Love You Baby” interpolation back.

 

[VeryPSB]

Fanmail is their masterpiece - so many potential singles.

However I do think 3D gets overlooked - it’s pretty much bulletproof from start to finish and still feels fresh. Personally I rank it above CrazySexyCool.

 

[Vanish Into You]

3D is to them like Forever is to the Spice Girls. Slick, catchy bops left and right but faceless and unrecognizable to the point by the end of Hey Hey Hey Hey I was solidly convinced the band was really done without Lisa.

 

[Angeleyes]

I don't want to be too optimistic, but I really hope we get digital EPs of the FanMail singles for its 25th anniversary like we did the first two albums. Almost five years have passed since they did that for CrazySexyCool, but it would mean so much to have the "Unpretty" mixes readily available. It would be a great opportunity for the full 4:00 mix of "No Scrubs" too, but I'm not holding my breath. It's almost like they lost the master of the longer version or something? There could also be the radio edits for "Dear Lie" and "I'm Good at Being Bad," etc.

 

[Robert]

What happens in those extra 25 seconds on the full length rap version of No Scrubs?