tlc are one of those bands that truly reached the pinnacle of pop culture in their hey days. They are recognized as the best selling female group of all time and paved the way to groups like Destiny's Child and more recently Fifth Harmony. After three highly acclaimed albums tragedy kicked in during the recording of fourth album "3D" and member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes died in a car cash in 2002.
Since then, the remaining members Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilly" Thomas have struggled at launching a solo career and have been trying to revive the TLC brand in a series of ill-conceived moves that only proved, time after time, those days of glory were gone with the sad passing of Lopes.
The new album has been financed through a 2014 kickstarter's campaign which raised 450'000 $ thanks also to a 5'000 $ donation from Katy Perry. T and C promised to release the album in 2015 then pushed it back to 2016 but a release date has yet to be confirmed. Fans who petitioned to have their money back are being reassured the album's been completed and a press release is on the way.
TLC, from 3D to 2D
Do T-Boz and Chilli really have the material and vision for such a comeback or will it turn out to be another lazy gimmick like the 2005 UPN's reality show "R U The Girl?", where they unsuccessfully tried to find a new third member for the band? TLC were a product of the times and their success heavily relied on the members single personalities and talents to the point none of them could be replaced or taken out of the equation.
Unlike inDestiny's Child there has never been a clear leader, all elements bringing a fundamental ingredient to the formula. On the other side, none of them seemed strong or nuanced enough to stand alone in a major solo career. Almost 15 years from the tragic death of Lopes and the last album 3D is the pop world waiting for a new "TLC" album?
Sounds unlikely, especially if judging by a recent string of north-american gigs. TLC aren't coming back because they have something new to say, nor because they have brilliant unreleased material of Lopes from the vault (it's been announced there probably won't be trace of her at all). T-Boz and Chilli, abundantly in their 40's, look determined in only replicating the old formula of songs produced by Dallas Austin and perform in rehashed leathery outfits and robotic movements. TLC will forever hold a special place in the history of modern r'n'b, and that is the best one can say about this anachronistic return.
