One of the natural reactions to a release like this -- studio scraps and otherwise unfinished material reanimated with new productions and patched-in guest spots, all for the sake of a "new album" from a late artist -- is, of course, horror.

Would Lopes approve of these vocal efforts being polished up, without her input, for release? Would she approve of the productions and the "collaborators"? There's some relief in knowing that a portion of the sales will be going to Lopes' charity for Honduran children, and the album was clearly put together with a lot of love and respect.

It neither looks nor sounds like an opportunistic release.

In fact, it is stronger all-around than Supernova, the poor 2001 album that never came out in the States, with the stitches less audible than the average post-humous album.

And yet, nothing here comes close to rivaling the best TLC material, not even the song that features Chilli and T-Boz.

A partial list of other contributors: Bobby Valentino, Wanya Morris, Chamillionaire, Missy Elliott, Lil Mama, and Lopes' sister Reigndrop.