Flesh Tone

Kelis | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 6, 2010)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: A&M Records
• ASIN: B003GDYN24
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,176 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. INTRO

2. 22ND CENTURY

3. 4TH OF JULY (FIREWORKS)

4. HOME

5. ACAPELLA

6. SCREAM

7. EMANCIPATE

8. BRAVE

9. SONG FOR THE BABY

Editorial Reviews

Flesh Tone was singled out by spin.com as one of the "25 Summer Albums That Matter Most" and The New York Times called it "one of her strongest records yet." Perezhilton.com hailed it as "one of the summer's best," adding: "There are soooooo many good songs on Kelis album! Actually, they are ALL good!" Reviews in the U.K. have been stellar also. "Kelis. Genius. Pop Auteur. Credible diva. Welcome back," said NME, giving Flesh Tone an 8 out of 10 rating. The Sunday Times of London called it a "celebratory slice of dancefloor heaven" while Glamour gave it five stars. "She's still fierce and fabulous, and we're thrilled to have her back!" said Time Out London.

Flesh Tone Production Credits: INTRO - Produced by: Burns; 22ND CENTURY - Produced by: Boys Noize; 4TH OF JULY (FIREWORKS) - Produced by: Damien Leroy aka DJ Ammo; HOME - Produced by: Free School; ACAPELLA - Produced by: David Guetta / Co-Produced by: Fred Riesterer; SCREAM - Produced by: David Guetta / Co-Produced by: El Tocadisco (Roman De Garcez); EMANCIPATE - Produced by: Alle & Benny Benassi; BRAVE - Produced by: Alle & Benny Benassi / Co-Produced by: will.i.am; SONG FOR THE BABY - Produced by: Free School

Kelis debuted in 1999 with Kaleidoscope, which featured the ubiquitous MTV/BET hit "Caught Out There." The track entered the U.K. Singles Chart at No. 4 and Kelis went on to win a BRIT award ("International Breakthrough Act"), an NME award ("Best R&B/Soul Act") and a Q award ("Best Music Video" for "Caught Out There"). Over the past 10 years, she has worked with a wide variety of artists, including The Neptunes, Andre 3000, Björk, Enrique Iglesias and Raphael Saadiq. Perhaps best-known for her GRAMMY-nominated, Top 5 smash "Milkshake" and the million-selling ringtone "Bossy," the fashion icon is also a certified chef and a recent graduate of Le Cordon Bleu.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gonna make you sweat..., May 18, 2010

By 

Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Flesh Tone (Audio CD)

Kelis' new CD "Flesh Tone" comprises 9 tracks of Eurodisco. Working with producers like David Guetta, Benny Benassi and will.i.am, it reminds one of Donna Summer's non-stop seventies Disco classics. A number of the songs intertwine with the next, with some having codas distinctively different from the main song. No skeletal Neptunes Funk ("Milkshake") or Cee-Lo penned Pop ("Lil star") here.

The midtempo "Intro", despite its name, is a proper song with swirling synths with Kelis singing in that straining-to-reach-the-notes voice she does with such ease. This segues into the propulsive "22nd century" with surging synths, electronic swishes and flourishes, gently stomping beats that come in fully after the first chorus and her vocals mechanically tweaked to lend it a futuristic bent. It ends in a piano coda that segues into "4th July (Fireworks)" which has a jittery Techno feel.

"We are all running in a race, to find everything that you're searching for is right there" she tells us in the Trancey "Home" that does itself feel like a race. Lead-off single, a UK #5 hit is the semi-skeletal Guetta-produced "Acapella" with staccato beats and lovely harmonies, segueing into the piano-sprinkled Guetta-produced "Scream" with spoken/chanted verses.

"Emancipate" is one of the grooviest songs and should appeal to fans of her prior R&B sound, as should the beautiful celebratory horn-peppered "Song for the baby" sounding like eighties Soul set to a Disco beat, an ode to her son Knight. "Brave" features buzzing synths and light vocoder effects, a stomping Club anthem with biographical lyrics.

A brave change in direction for Kelis which should be a big hit in Europe. Kelis said she wants this album to make the listener sweat, and with music this hot, you will.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Direction, July 7, 2010

By 

Douglas King (Cincinnati, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flesh Tone (Audio CD)

A big switch in musical direction for an artist is usually the result of one of two things ... either big changes in the artist's personal life, or a marketing strategy to appeal to a different or bigger demographic.

In the case of Kelis with "Flesh Tone", I think it's a little of both. Kelis was pregnant and going through a nasty and public divorce while recording the album, which could explain the album's themes of liberation, birth, and rebirth. At the same time, the album's club/dance/electronica vibe could also have to do with the recent success of dance acts like the Black Eyed Peas and Lady Gaga.

In the end, I think it comes down to whether it works or not. "Flesh Tone" works. On her last two albums, Kelis had been playing the role of tough/sexy R&B diva, downplaying the spaciness of her earlier work. But the vibe of "Flesh Tone" allows Kelis to completely blast off into space, and it suits her. And although the tracks are full of throbbing beats and electronic sound affects, Kelis' raspy, soulful voice keeps the tracks from ever sounding too mechanical, and her lyrics, probably her most vulnerable and heartfelt ever, add an emotional core that was lacking in some of her R&B hits like "Milkshake" or "Bossy".

Ironically, by making a switch to dance music, Kelis has come up with the most soulful album of her career.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect slice of electro-house pop. A SUMMER album!, July 6, 2010

By 

Arnold B. - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Flesh Tone (Audio CD)

"Flesh Tone" is a deliciously perfect blend of electro-house pop. I bought the album today and I have been playing it non-stop and now I'm waiting for my hard copy so I can play it until it plays no more! The music is euphoric and the lyrics are beautiful. Yes, here is an electronic-pop album with deep and meaningful lyrics. I did not care for Kelis before, I just liked her "Milkshake" and "Bossy" hits like everyone else, but after hearing her single "Acapella" and "4th of July" I learned more about her and watched some interviews and performances--Tavis Smiley and saw her on Kimmel and Leno. She is so amazing live that I already bought my tickets to see her in concert with Robyn! (YES!)

This album is like the ultimate lullaby to her son and a kind of declaration of her independence and strength as a woman. Her divorce from Nas did not turn her into a crying woman that cowers back and loses it all. With this album she picks herself up, pieces everything together and rises from the problems with strength!
The music is amazing. If this is her new musical direction, then more power to her! There are so many club stomping hits on this album, it is incredible. My personal favorites are "22nd Century", "Acapella", "4th of July", and "Song for the Baby". I just cannot get over the fact that this is a dance album with beautiful lyrics and for such a cheap price ($7.99) it is a STEAL! It is has gotten praise from critics and bloggers alike, and all I can say is that they hit the nail on the head. This album is HOT!

Finally, this is the PERFECT SUMMER ALBUM! Buy it NOW!