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add {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}

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{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Complex Simplicity
| type = studio
| artist = [[Teedra Moses]]
| cover = Teedra Moses - Complex Simplicity.png
| released = {{Start date|2004|8|10}}<br> {{Start date|2019|9|27}} (re-released)
| recorded = 2003–2004
| studio = {{plainlist|
* Blakeslee, [[North Hollywood, Los Angeles|North Hollywood]], California
* Enterprise, [[Burbank, California]]
* Poli's Crib
* Quad, New York City, New York
* Stampede Origin, [[Culver City, California]]
}}
| genre = [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]<ref name="allmusic"/>
| length = 62:03
| label = [[TVT Records|TVT]]
| producer = {{hlist|Paul Poli|[[Raphael Saadiq]]|[[Lil Jon|Jonathan Smith]]}}
| next_title = [[Cognac & Conversation]]
| next_year = 2015
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Complex Simplicity
| type = studio
| single1 = You'll Never Find (A Better Woman)
| single1date = November 11, 2003
| single2 = Be Your Girl
| single2date = June 1, 2004
| single3 = You Better Tell Her
| single3date = December 27, 2005
}}}}
'''''Complex Simplicity''''' is the debut [[album|studio album]] by American singer [[Teedra Moses]]. It was released on August 10, 2004, by [[TVT Records]]. The album was produced largely by Paul Poli, with additional production from [[Raphael Saadiq]] and [[Lil Jon]].

==Singles==
The album's lead single, "You'll Never Find (A Better Woman)", was released as a [[12-inch single|12-inch vinyl]] in the United States on November 11, 2003. It was serviced to US [[rhythmic contemporary]] radio a week later, on November 18, 2003.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2003/RR-2003-11-14.pdf |title=Going for Adds: Week Of 11/17/03 |magazine=[[Radio & Records]] |date=November 14, 2003 |page=27 |issn=0277-4860 |accessdate=January 31, 2018}}</ref> The track, which features rapper [[Jadakiss]], peaked at number 86 on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] chart.<ref name="US R&B songs">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/teedra-moses/chart-history/bsi/ |title=Teedra Moses Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs) |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |accessdate=January 31, 2018}}</ref>

The second single, "Be Your Girl", was released as a 12-inch vinyl in the US on June 1, 2004, and impacted rhythmic and [[urban contemporary]] radio on the same day.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-05-28.pdf |title=Going for Adds: Week Of 6/1/04 |magazine=Radio & Records |date=May 28, 2004 |page=24 |issn=0277-4860 |accessdate=January 31, 2018}}</ref> It was also released as a [[CD single]] in Germany on February 21, 2005. The single reached number 87 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.<ref name="US R&B songs"/> The accompanying music video was directed by [[Hype Williams]].

The third and final single, "You Better Tell Her", was released as a 12-inch vinyl on December 27, 2005. The single version features rappers [[Pitbull (rapper)|Pitbull]] and [[Lil' Scrappy]].

==Critical reception==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="allmusic"/>
| rev2 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev2score = 8.0/10<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/teedra-moses-complex-simplicity/|title=Teedra Moses: Complex Simplicity Album Review|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|last=Shepherd|first=Julianne Escobedo|date=February 12, 2023|access-date=February 12, 2023}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="RS"/>
}}
[[AllMusic]]'s Andy Kellman lauded ''Complex Simplicity'' as "the best R&B album of 2004—if not the best [[pop music|pop]]-oriented R&B album since ''[[CrazySexyCool]]''."<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |last=Kellman |first=Andy |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/complex-simplicity-mw0000206180 |title=Complex Simplicity – Teedra Moses |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=January 31, 2018}}</ref> Matt Cibula of ''[[PopMatters]]'' described the album as "awe-inspiring and cool and touching and kind of [[Avant-garde music|avant-garde]] in a weird homegrown way".<ref>{{cite web |last=Cibula |first=Matt |url=https://www.popmatters.com/mosesteedra-complex-2495995253.html |title=Teedra Moses: Complex Simplicity |work=[[PopMatters]] |date=October 18, 2004 |accessdate=January 31, 2018}}</ref> [[Jon Caramanica]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' wrote that Moses has "a cheery, twee voice, and on her debut she uses it to sass the men in her life."<ref name="RS">{{cite magazine |last=Caramanica |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Caramanica |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/teedramoses/albums/album/6115499/review/6561290/complex_simplicity |title=Teedra Moses: Complex Simplicity |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=November 11, 2004 |accessdate=November 30, 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215014207/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/teedramoses/albums/album/6115499/review/6561290/complex_simplicity |archivedate=December 15, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Patrick Taliaferro of ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'' viewed the album as "a great entry into the R&B game", adding that "Moses is appealing when revealing her country [[B-girl]] bravado, but at the end it's actually all we see, variations in her approach would have been nice."<ref>{{cite web |last=Taliaferro |first=Patrick |url=http://www.vibe.com/news/reviews/2004/09/cd_review_teedra_moses_complex_simplicity/ |title=Teedra Moses: Complex Simplicity |work=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]] |date=September 13, 2004 |accessdate=March 2, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060714010343/http://www.vibe.com/news/reviews/2004/09/cd_review_teedra_moses_complex_simplicity/ |archivedate=July 14, 2006}}</ref> The album earned Moses comparisons to R&B artists such as [[Mary J. Blige]],<ref name="allmusic"/> [[Deniece Williams]],<ref name="RS"/> and [[Cherrelle]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/bio/teedra-moses/2761943 |title=Teedra Moses Biography |publisher=[[Artistdirect]] |accessdate=January 31, 2018}}</ref>

==Track listing==
All tracks produced by Paul Poli, except where noted.

{{Track listing
| headline = ''Complex Simplicity'' track listing
| total_length = 62:03

| title1 = Be Your Girl
| writer1 = {{hlist|[[Teedra Moses]]|Poli|[[Nas|Nasir Jones]]|Raul Santiago|Christopher Jones}}
| length1 = 4:09

| title2 = You'll Never Find (A Better Woman)
| note2 = featuring [[Jadakiss]]
| writer2 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli|Vee Allen|[[One Way (American band)|Al Hudson]]|Jack Hall}}
| length2 = 4:13

| title3 = Caution
| writer3 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli}}
| length3 = 4:37

| title4 = Backstroke
| writer4 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli}}
| length4 = 3:37

| title5 = No More Tears
| writer5 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli|Mac Robinson|[[André 3000|André Benjamin]]|[[Sleepy Brown|Patrick Brown]]|[[Big Boi|Antwan Patton]]}}
| length5 = 4:11

| title6 = Rescue Me
| writer6 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli}}
| length6 = 4:06

| title7 = Take Me
| note7 = featuring [[Raphael Saadiq]]) (producer: Saadiq
| writer7 = {{hlist|Moses|Saadiq}}
| length7 = 4:44

| title8 = You Better Tell Her
| note8 = producer: [[Lil Jon|Jonathan Smith]]
| writer8 = {{hlist|Moses|Smith}}
| length8 = 6:15

| title9 = Outta My Head
| writer9 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli|[[Teddy Randazzo]]|[[Bobby Weinstein]]}}
| length9 = 3:39

| title10 = Complex Simplicity
| writer10 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli}}
| length10 = 4:16

| title11 = For a Lifetime
| writer11 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli}}
| length11 = 4:15

| title12 = Caught Up
| writer12 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli|Robinson}}
| length12 = 4:14

| title13 = Last Day
| writer13 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli}}
| length13 = 3:41

| title14 = I Think of You (Shirley's Song)
| writer14 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli|Robinson}}
| length14 = 6:06
}}

{{Track listing
| headline = UK edition<ref>{{cite web |url=https://musicbrainz.org/release/39a332b7-efba-4b0f-ada5-5f17f4ba537e |title=Release "Complex Simplicity" by Teedra Moses |publisher=[[MusicBrainz]] |accessdate=January 31, 2018}}</ref>
| total_length = 91:16

| title10 = Doin' You
| writer10 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli}}
| length10 = 3:58

| title11 = Complex Simplicity
| writer11 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli}}
| length11 = 4:16

| title12 = For a Lifetime
| writer12 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli}}
| length12 = 4:15

| title13 = Caught Up
| writer13 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli|Robinson}}
| length13 = 4:14

| title14 = Last Day
| writer14 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli}}
| length14 = 3:41

| title15 = I Think of You (Shirley's Song)
| writer15 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli|Robinson}}
| length15 = 6:06

| title16 = Still Your Girl
| note16 = featuring Raphael Saadiq, [[Truth Hurts (singer)|Truth Hurts]] and Scipio
| writer16 =
| length16 = 4:15
}}

{{Track listing
| headline = 15th anniversary edition
| total_length = 77:04

| title15 = Doin' You
| writer15 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli}}
| length15 = 3:58

| title16 = You Better Tell Her (TVT Mix)
| writer16 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli}}
| length16 = 3:44

| title17 = Cabernet Sauvignon
| writer17 = Moses
| length17 = 3:24

| title18 = I Think of You (3 Generations)
| note18 = featuring Shirley Moses, Raj and Taj Austin
| writer18 = {{hlist|Moses|Poli|Robinson}}
| length18 = 6:43
}}

'''Sample credits'''
* "Be Your Girl" contains replayed elements of "One on One", as performed by [[Nas]]
* "You'll Never Find (A Better Woman)" contains a sample of "Better Woman or Bigger Fool", as performed by [[Alicia Myers]]
* "No More Tears" contains replayed elements of "SpottieOttieDopaliscious", as performed by [[OutKast]]
* "Outta My Head" contains an interpolation of "[[Goin' Out of My Head]]", as performed by [[Little Anthony and the Imperials]]

==Personnel==
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''Complex Simplicity''.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Complex Simplicity |type=liner notes |others=[[Teedra Moses]] |publisher=[[TVT Records]] |year=2004 |id=TV-2450-2}}</ref>

{{Div col}}
* [[Teedra Moses]] – vocals, vocal arrangement {{small|(all tracks)}}; executive production
* Rich Balmer – engineering {{small|(track 14)}}
* [[Gerry Brown]] – recording {{small|(track 7)}}
* [[Gerald Clayton]] – keyboards {{small|(tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 10–13)}}
* Kevin Davis – mixing {{small|(track 4)}}
* [[Clare Fischer]] – string arrangements {{small|(track 7)}}
* [[Ryan Freeland]] – mixing {{small|(tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 9–14)}}; engineering {{small|(tracks 9, 14)}}
* John Frye – mixing {{small|(track 8)}}
* Tony Gillis – mastering
* Mark Gray – recording assistance {{small|(track 8)}}
* [[Jadakiss]] – vocals {{small|(track 2)}}
* Bryan Leach – co-executive production
* [[Anthony Mandler]] – photography
* Charles "Chaz" Muhammad – organ {{small|(track 14)}}
* Paul Poli – production, vocal arrangement {{small|(tracks 1–6, 9–14)}}; engineering {{small|(tracks 1–3, 4–6, 10–13)}}; keyboards {{small|(tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 10–13)}}; executive production
* Mac Robinson – guitar {{small|(tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 12, 14)}}; bass, keyboards, percussion {{small|(tracks 9, 14)}}
* Danny Romero – recording {{small|(track 7)}}; mixing {{small|(tracks 7, 14)}}
* [[Raphael Saadiq]] – bass, guitar, production, vocal arrangement, vocals {{small|(track 7)}}
* Greg Smith – recording {{small|(track 8)}}
* [[Lil Jon|Jonathan Smith]] – production {{small|(track 8)}}
* [[Ne-Yo|Shaffer Smith]] – vocal arrangement {{small|(tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8–11, 13, 14)}}
* Benjamin Wheelock – design
* Dubbs Willie – executive production
* Kelvin Wooten – drums, guitar, keyboards {{small|(track 7)}}
{{Div col end}}

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Chart performance for ''Complex Simplicity''
! scope="col"| Chart (2004)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|168|artist=Teedra Moses|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 31, 2018}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardIndependent|11|artist=Teedra Moses|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 31, 2018}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|20|artist=Teedra Moses|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 31, 2018}}
|}

==Release history==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release history and formats for ''Complex Simplicity''
! scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date
! scope="col"| Label
! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row"| United States
| August 10, 2004
| rowspan="3"| [[TVT Records|TVT]]
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row"| Australia
| October 8, 2004
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sanity.com.au/products/2355392/Complex_Simplicity |title=Complex Simplicity: Teedra Moses |publisher=[[Sanity (music store)|Sanity]] |accessdate=January 31, 2018}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| Germany
| November 29, 2004
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row"| Japan
| February 2, 2005
| [[Victor Entertainment|Victor]]
| align="center"| <ref name="JPN">{{cite web |url=http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Teedra-Moses_000000000232545/item_Complex-Simplicity_1810987 |title=Complex Simplicity : Teedra Moses |publisher=[[HMV Japan]] |accessdate=January 31, 2018}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| United Kingdom
| June 20, 2005
| TVT
| align="center"|
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2004 debut albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Lil Jon]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Raphael Saadiq]]
[[Category:Teedra Moses albums]]
[[Category:TVT Records albums]]

Complex Simplicity - Revision history

imported>Ser Amantio di Nicolao: add {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}