Aaliyah - Ultimate Aaliyah (CD)

All Music Guide

Ultimate Aaliyah was released in the U.K., but it has a lot to offer U.S. fans of any degree, especially if they have a regionfree DVD player. Between the two audio discs in the set the first is a greatest hits, the second is a helpful grabbag set all but three of Aaliyah's chart entries are included ("Age Ain't Nothing But a Number," "I Refuse" and "Come Over" are missing), and a DVD contains an hourlong documentary that features interviews and promo clips. Disc two contains the remainder of her tracks from the Romeo Must Die soundtrack as well as material from the Timbaland and Timbaland Magoo albums she guested on. As of 2005, this was the most thorough Aaliyah bestof available, since 2002's I Care for You was split between past hits and new material. From the delightful "Back and Forth" through the alltoosobering "Miss You," Ultimate Aaliyah adequately represents the shortened career of a tremendous talent who benefited from some of the best songwriting and production work by Ti...mbaland, Missy Elliott and R. Kelly. Casual fans will get most of the hits; collectors will be pleased to plug some gaps and get the documentary as a bonus. - Andy Kellman, All Music Guide Read more Less