Ms. Kelly
01 - Like This (featuring Eve) - I'll be honest: I did not like this song in the least at first. However, because she came from the group of my girls (Destiny's Child), I decided to give it a chance. This song is definitely a grower and Eve definitely saves the song. The video also makes this song more than what it actually is (because Kelly is one fine sista and she can sing). Instrumentally and lyrically, it's nothing special, but it is catchy. Rating: 3/5
02 - Come Back - Dance floor material, and the beat is hot. The vocal is fire, not because it's unique (which it certainly isn't) but because Kelly brings some fire to it; she has that sass necessary to carry a very nothing special and quite contrived lyric. This track, however, is interesting: it could end up as a filler track, but with the right remix this song could be huge. Rating: 3/5
03 - Ghetto (featuring Snoop Dogg) - First, Snoop is in the way. Second, this lyric is and the interpretation thereof is completely Beyonce. I tried my best to avoid comparing her to cousin Bey, but this one you could clearly hear Beyonce singing. Third, I understand what Kelly is trying to do--do the EXACT OPPOSITE music that Beyonce does and find success. So, she stays in this urban R&B vibe when she's capable of so much more vocally and in her delivery. Rating: 2.75/5
04 - Put It In - Highly danceable, but lyrically it's no where near a masterpiece. Kelly has the fire to deliver a vocal like this and, while this sounds like everything else on the radio right now, it's strangely refreshing to hear it from someone who can actually sing. Sometimes her vocals are lost amongst the instrumentation (which is a tad loud and annoying at times) but this is definitely a very decent track. Rating: 3/5
05 - Flashback - The instrumentation is a throwback to the middle 80's with the robotic sounding synthesizers and it actually distracts from everything else going on the song. Lyrically, it's in the same vein as Fantasia's "Truth Is" from her debut. Vocally, I don't know what's going on; it's a very lazy and nothing special vocal. She's capable of so much more vocally, especially after seeing her do "Bad Habit" from "Destiny Fulfilled" live. Rating: 3/5
06 - Every Thought Is You - Instrumentally, it's a direct ripoff of Fantasia's current single, "When I See You" with interpolations of cousin Bey's "Me, Myself, and I" vocally. In fact, the chorus actually uses the phrase, "when I see you." It samples some 70's song that I can't quite put my finger on, too. This is probably the best track so far. Everything about the song works, and if she were smart, this would be her next single. Rating: 3.5/5
07 - The Show (featuring Tank) - Nice slow groove R&B, very much in the vein of her contemporary Brandy, especially on "Never Say N.E.V.E.R." and "Full Moon." The song is probably a little longer than it needs to be, but the vocals are excellent and the instrumentation is quite nice. I forgot Tank could sing! Rating: 3.5/5
08 - Interlude - Why this is an interlude is COMPLETELY BEYOND ME! The piano track, her delivery, the interpretation are all EXACTLY what I've been expecting and exactly what this album needs! This is one interlude that I would actually place on repeat. It's simply not long enough. Rating: 5/5
09 - Still In Love With My Ex - This is her answer to Tarralyn Ramsey's "Remedy," the way she delivers it vocally. While it's not as strong a vocal as Tarralyn's it's definitely delievered the same way. The album needs more tracks like this; while the lyric isn't strong, her interpretation there of more than compensates for that. Rating: 3.25
10 - Love - Good track. Her delivery of the vocal is hot! Kelly is doing some serious sanging on this track! I love it. Rating: 4/5
11 - Better Without You -The song is a nice mid-tempo groove, quipping, "Happy without you; better without you; loving without you." Kelly delivers a great vocal. This track is a grower as well, but it's a good track once you get past how fragile it begins and how repetitive it is. Rating: 3/5
12 - This Is Love - This is a wedding song if I've ever heard one and Kelly delivers a soulful interpretation of these cliched lyrics. The acoustic guitar the accompanies her is just enough to be effective. Also, the run from 4:01-4:03 is very Whitney-like. I've rewound it so many times, but that's actually Whitney's run and tone on the run. Good job, Kelly! Rating: 4.25/5
13 - Gotsa Go (featuring Da Brat) - While this song is misplaced in the tracklisting, I can understand why; it was recorded over a year and a half ago, way back when her album was scheduled to be released before Beyonce's. I heard it then and decided that this song's saving grace is Da Brat. Without Da Brat this song falls completely apart. In fact, when Da Brat isn't rapping, you're waiting for her to come back in to add more life to the song. Rating: 3/5
Overall Album Review:
The album itself is not bad, but I believe much of the album was written around staying out of the same arena as Beyonce so that she doesn't have to compete with Beyonce. That's a shame; the urban, R&B Kelly does not convince me. She's far more fierce in the pop/R&B arena than in the urban/hip-hop/R&B arena. The second half of the album is far better than the the first. This is not a stronger album than Paris Bennett's, but it is not a bad album by a long shot. I quite enjoyed the majority of it.
Overall Rating: 3/5
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