The album is great. I've been jamming it for almost a week now. It's so good that I bought the album yesterday in addition to the promo.

Kelis is definitely in love on this album. It is singed in sex, love and carnal desire. Everything from the lyrics to the artwork attest to this impression.

My standouts include:

• Glow (featuring Raphael Saadiq) - I love the intro and the way the song slowly starts out then busts into a vintage Saadiq groove. A feel good track.
  
  
• Attention (featuring Raphael Saadiq) - Reminds me of something I would've heard on the radio back in the late 80s/early 90s. I keep thinking of Cherelle or Pebbles.
  
  
• Marathon Saadiq does it again with the production! The beat is stark and spacious. I love how it closes.
  
  
• In Public (featuring Nas) - So nasty. The beat is sticky and hot. It has this Vanity/Apollonia Nasty World vibe to it. This track is erotic and steamy. You can feel the sexual tension between she and Nas.
  
  
• Millionaire (featuring André 3000) - Sounds like something straight out of Prince's 1999. A complete early 80s throwback with a stellar synth-heavy groove.
  

Saadiq shines on this album. His production is outstanding and the grooves are top-notch. I'm looking forward to his 2004 work. He should be commended for his production and songwriting on this album.

Neptunes could've came a little harder. They set the bar really high with Wanderland and Kaleidoscope. "Rolling Through The Hood" and "Sugar Honey Iced Tea" were cool though. I was expecting much more from them considering the fact that Kelis is their protegee and she's been with them since the beginning.

I was disappointed there wasn't a slow jam reminscient to the cult classic "Suspended" from her first album or "Shooting Stars" on Wanderland. I wish there was a slow jam on here to exploit Kelis' valley-girl-mezzosoprano, but the uptempo tracks are cool.

I see "Flashback" made the leap onto the album from Wanderland, but I wish she could've given us "Perfect Day" as well. That's my all-time favorite Kelis song.

I miss the socially minded Kelis of old in those great social commentary tracks like "Little Suzie," "Mr. UFO Man" and "Ghetto Children" from her first two albums.

Overall, I'm glad I purchased this album and I hope she takes this album and her entire catalog on tour next year.

The best thing about this album is that it will bring light to her former albums if folks aren't familiar with her.

JANFAN4L said:

Great review. If you took off "In Public" (One of the few tracks I don't dig along with Milkshake and Trick Me) and added "Sugar Honey Iced Tea" I'm with you on the best tracks. Normally I disagree with all the Andre/Prince comparisons but you're right with Millionaire. I'm so feeling that track. I wasn't expecting what this album delivered. After downloading it last night, I'll be making a trip to best buy to cop it today.
[This message was edited Wed Dec 10 11:48:13 PST 2003 by intha916]

intha916 said:

"Trick Me" was hot to me. I'm still growing into the album, so my list of standouts will grow as the album gets more into me. "Sugar Honey Iced Tea" was decent.

i love her dance grooves...

but her album tracks sorta scare me...dont know why...

i really really really like this album... i think it's alot of fun, has some great funky tracks, and Kelis has a great voice. Good pop album.

and i'm still loving Milkshake, it's starting to get overplayed, though

I really wish Saadiq had done the whole thing. She might actually move some units if she would ditch the Neptunes.

Still listening to the album and I'm starting to get into "Rolling Through The Hood" more and more. The lyrics are getting to me...

Yesterday, I rolled through the hood
And I've seen something and it hurt me
Instead of scoring high in college
We're scoring high in garbage
And not remembering who we are
And not to mention forgetting who god is
Don't you know that you're special
and god will never forget you
The world is yours, watch what you do with it
Baby, I want you to know
The suburb to the ghetto
Joy is joy and pain is pain (pain)
One day sooner than you'll know
We'll be living tomorrow
We'll be laughing about today
Maybe tomorrow...
Maybe tomorrow...
Maybe tomorrow...

JANFAN4L said:

starting to feel that track too. Millionaire still is the sickest track on that album, (I play that shit about on the hour) but some of these others are growing on me. It looks like this album will have legs.

If Saadiq and Dre are on ANY track, you automatically know it's gonna be the shit!