Sunday, December 28, 2008
A+E, Music, Reviews

KEYSHIA COLE

“A DIFFERENT ME” (GEFFEN)

For a minute—actually about four—on her new album, it seems as though Keyshia Cole has dodged the contemporary diva bullet, as the R&B singer leads off with “Make Me Over,” an audacious, exciting and energetic finger-popper that favorably recalls the Pointer Sisters.

But all too quickly, it’s back to business as usual, with overproduced, underwritten songs that play strictly by the slick rulebook we’ve heard dozens of times before. Guest appearances by rappers dead (Tupac Shakur) and alive (Nas)? Check. Smarmy, syrupy bedroom ballad (“You Complete Me”)? Gotcha. Talking skit with another female artist that turns into a duet (Monica on “Trust”)? Step right up.

That’s not to denigrate what is by any standard a professionally recorded and perfectly acceptable set any current soul lover with a few Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey or Brandy albums in their collections will enjoy.

But all the gobs of production layers created by approximately a dozen names can’t compensate for songs so structured and cluttered it seems they were composed by committee. As soon as Cole starts to wrap her sturdy voice around a tune, she falls prey to drum machines, overdubbed backing vocals and a ProTools-dominated sound that’s as subtle as the tattoos on her arms.

As background music for a night of romance, you need look no further. But anyone hoping for Cole to break free of the stylistic boundaries that make contemporary R&B so infernally bland and soulless will need to search elsewhere. 2.5 STARS—Hal Horowitz