Tweet's Southern Hummingbird is the classic showbiz story: an overnight sensation 10 years in the making. The sultry singer/songwriter travelled a long and twisted path to success, one that brought her in contact with Missy Elliott, who years later tracked her old friend down and rescued her from obscurity. The resulting effort is a crystal-clear triumph, much more old-school soul than contemporary R&B.

Aside from the dance-driven "Oops (Oh My)", Southern Hummingbird's sound is far less electronic than the usual Missy and Timbaland co-production. A good mix of party grooves and more intimate acoustic guitar work nicely balances Tweet's graceful vocals. Her style will inevitably draw comparisons to Minnie Riperton, though many would describe her as a female D'Angelo. Either way, fans of intelligent soul music will be glad Tweet stuck it out--Hummingbird is the work of an introspective and talented woman. --Rebecca Levine