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| The Ultimate Destination for Soul Music |
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| R. KELLY 2009 CD REVIEW |
| UNTITLED |
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 There's no doubt about it, R. Kelly's trial, though acquitted, took some shine off his profile and now he has to pick up the pieces of a career interrupted. His peak years now seem a long way off and probably for the first time in 15 years you wouldn't bet your house on Kelly having a hit album any more. So what of the music? Well there no doubt that the man can write a catchy melody but the tried and trusted sexual antics and club happy subject matter that makes up much of this album seem very tired and dated.
Now fortysomething, songs such as the mid-tempo bedroom ballads, "Bangin' The Headboard", "Echo" (that actually contains some impressive yodeling!) and "Go Low", seem more suited to a young buck in his 20's with raging hormones. On Kelly it just appears a little played out. Hasn't he got anything else to write about after all these years? It's a shame because melodically and musically they are good songs.
The club hoppin', ballin' poppin' bottles, spending dollars, player scenario, in this economic climate, not only appears a little dated but frankly a bit tacky. Part of the problem, I feel is that Kelly makes up his lyrics on the spot and doesn't write anything down. His lack of preparation shows. I must have heard references to the drink "Petrone" five times on the album. I wish someone had the nerve to tell him, "Yo, these lyrics are tired, man. No one cares about how much money you got, what you drink and what cars you drive. People ain't got jobs and are on food stamps. Write something that they can relate to or that takes them away from their pain, not rubs salt in their wounds. We ain't in the '90's no more".
For all the mind numbing lyrics Kelly can still ctaft a catchy tune when he puts his mind to it and probably one of the best on here is the old school, feel good jazz-funk of "Be My #2".
Rating: 7
About the Writer
Jeff Lorez has enjoyed a long and varied career in the music business. As a journalist he has written for a slew of publications and web sites including, Blues & Soul, Billboard, Yahoo.com and the Daily Telegraph and as a music publisher he has been involved in recent chart topping hits by Alexis Jordan and Cher Lloyd.
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