Customer Reviews

Kelly

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Monday, May 2, 2011, was designated as my "get prepped for Kelly Price's `Kelly' album release day." To get prepared, I listened to some of her classics like "It's Gonna Rain," "Again," "At Least (The Little Things)," and "Friend of Mine." I even listened to the song she recorded with P. Diddy "No Way Out." She steals the show on this track and she only does the hook. While listening to these songs, I realized how much I've missed this incomparable voice--a true instrument.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011, album in hand...

I must begin with the song that I keep going back to: "Speechless." Wow--what a song! In a lot of ways it's a really simple song but that Prince, Minneapolis sound absolutely kills me. The lyrics are wonderfully descriptive in terms of the subject matter of the song. Great writing. In the second verse, listen carefully to the run that she does at 1:35. This is when I knew that Kelly was in top form.

Of course I knew this from the opening track "Tired." Very gospel. Very reflective. Very endearing. It's one of those universal tracks that attempts to bring everyone into Kelly's world. I love the way this track builds. Great instrumentation.

"And You Don't Stop"-The strings on this song are amazing. Great track. Did I already mention the strings? Great sample of War's "Galaxy."

Kelly and Stokley of Mint Condition fame do a fantastic duet with "Not My Daddy." This was a great single choice to create interest in both Kelly's and Mint Condition's great album "7." Very enjoyable track that continues to receive play on good radio stations.

"Himaholic" is Kelly's sensual track on the album. The operative word being "sensual" here. Done the right way. The theme reminds me of Rahsaan Patterson's "Loving You" from "After Hours."

"I'm Sorry" and "The Rain" finds Kelly very comfortable in her element. Forgiveness and rebirth are the themes of both tracks respectively. She sounds amazing on both tracks but neither move me in the way the previous tracks do. However, the beauty of good music is that we can go to it when we need it. With that said, during the coda of "The Rain" she is singing her heart out. Beautiful.

Things heat back up for me again with "Vexed." Funky. Soulful. Drums. Great.

"Feels So Good" is simply dope. This is the riding song of the album. Let your windows down and enjoy.

"You Don't Have To Worry" is classic Kelly! The flow of the song is very reminiscent of her earlier work. It's a nice reminder though.

"Lil Sumn-Sumn" is Motown/Tambourine Shaking/Beautiful guitar greatness. Love it.

The album ends with "Get Right Or Get Left," a Gladys Knightesque track with Beyoncé reference points that Kelly beautifully brings together to make it distinctly her own. Great song.

Her writing is good. Her voice is impeccable. The instrumentation is fantastic. This is, by far, Kelly's best album--no question. I love the fact that we get an artist's best work this late in their career. This is a testament to the love of the art more than anything else. I wholeheartedly recommend this album to anyone who truly loves good music.

Welcome back Kelly.

4.5

im not going to sit here and right a 500 word essay about how great the cd is.....

its amazing and go and buy it!......and if u miss that old good feeling R & B buy it

if u like bubble gum.......dont!........its just that simple ....

it reminds me of the original kelly price ....."soul of a woman."......REAL MUSIC!

By the time Kelly Price debuted in 1998, she was already a seasoned veteran. She paid her dues behind the scenes as a background singer for Mariah Carey and being a session singer on some very known songs, such as Mase's "Feel So Good" as well as The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Mo Money Mo Problems". A lot of people wanted to see the face behind the voice, so Kelly delivered her debut album "Soul Of A Woman" that featured her big hit "Friend Of Mine". Things got off to a good start for her until 1999, when a corporate merger resulted in a label shake up where the former Island Records recording artist was moved to Def Jam Recordings. In 2000, she released her sophomore album, the long winded "Mirror Mirror"- accompanied by a newly svelte image from the fomerly full-figured Price. A few years later, she released her third album, the critically acclaimed but commercially underperforming "Priceless". She laid low for a few more years and issued her long talked about gospel album "This Is Who I Am" in 2006, and disappeared into relative obscurity shortly thereafter. Her hiatus ended in summer 2010 when she emerged with the song "Tired" followed by the internet leak of her Mint Condition duet "Not My Daddy" several months later. Both songs elicited a generally positive response from fans about her new material, so she released her first secular album in eight years- the aptly-titled "Kelly" on southern soul label Malaco Records.

On this new album, she is reunited with her previous producers- Warryn Campbell and Shep Crawford- both of whom worked with her on her albums "Mirror Mirror" and "Priceless". On this new effort, Kelly does something that she has never done before- a record that is mostly live instrumentation. She makes a blatant retro dance track with "And You Don't Stop", while being addicted to a man on "Himaholic". On "I'm Sorry", she apologizes to herself for making bad choices in past relationships. She channels the sound of New Orleans band The Meters on "Vexed" and pays tribute to Prince and the Minneapolis Sound on "Speechless". She extols the virtues of being happy in a relationship on "Feels So Good", which should not be confused with the song of the same name by Mase that she sang on almost fifteen years earlier. The closing track on the album "Get Right Or Get Left" sounds like the best song that Aretha Franklin never recorded, and is Kelly's shining moment for her vocals. Overall, Kelly Price's "Kelly" could be viewed as her best produced album- and possibly her best studio album- as it has the material that complements her voice. She sounds as if she's really proud of this album- as she should be. The only real problem with this record is the fact that she didn't release it sooner.

Granted, not everyone in the music business is expected to nor can sing a song like its nobody's business. But when you hear a real singer like Kelly you realize what you are missing by not having her and others that can sing make real and true music. I've been listening to this cd since its debut. Can't seem to get it out of my system. I'm not a woman, nor can I completely identify from a woman's standpoint the material in which she sings, however, what she is singing has left an impressionable mark on me. In my opinion, and contrary to many professional reviews, the two most dynamic songs on this set is I'm Sorry and The Rain. Kelly sings the you know what out of these songs. When I'm listening to these songs as a man, I'm able to grasp the emotion and feeling that she is truly blessing the listeners with. Not taking anything away from Fantasia, but this Kelly right here should be the one to portray Aretha Franklin, HANDS DOWN. Enough said.

I have to say that this album was highly anticipated by this woman *points at self* and it has definitely lived up to my expectations. From start to finish this album is an instant classic and a MUST have in your collection for any music enthusiast. The production is AMAZING and Kelly is telling a wonderful story with her lyrics. Kelly Price is sanging her face OFF. Just when you thought she couldn't sound any better, umm yeah, she does that and more. "Intervention" is not only a groovy tune BUT a very important message to women in abusive relationships. Clever to put the hotline number in the hook. I love it! "Himaholic" is surely going to be an anthem but its just saying the things that has been on the minds of anyone who has been in love with someone. "Feels So Good" is just that... it feels good when riding in the car with the windows down on a lovely LA day. The strings in "And You Don't Stop" are crazy awesome! This album gives you just enough to have you wanting more but satisfied with the quality of the project. My Block Records is on to something here... Bringing people, not just music, but GREAT music again. Thanks. Cop this Record

G.

i'm so late in leaving a review for this album, but i recently just started and decided to add to one of the greatest/strongest and underrated r&b albums of 2011... i'm not going to leave a long-winded message b/c i don't think i can truly express how excellent this album is. all i know is that this album was a great comeback for ms. kelly after the disappointing 2003 album: priceless. all i can say that ms. kelly SUNG HER ASS OFF on this album from front to back!!! for those who remember the kelly singing 'friend of mine', not the remix, but the original, from the 'soul of a woman' album, she has a few tracks laying down those pipes that'll take you right back to that era... this album is definitely a must have. anyone else who doesn't think so, stop listening to that beyonce and enjoy a real vocalist!!!!!!

I was hearing nothing but positive things about this album. I had heard "Tired" and decided that I had to hear the entire work. Thank heaven I did. I am so impressed with this album for on every track she is giving you all she has vocally. Lyrically, these songs are as real as it gets. She speaks on heartbreak, being attached to your object of affection, being totally simple over someone and just feeling good. These are songs with emotion. "Tired" and "You Don't Have to Worry" are two standout tracks. Kelly is singing passionately on each and every track. You can feel her because she is singing from her soul! Also worth mentioning is the fact that there are live instruments on "Kelly." I appreciate she and her musicians taking the time to do that because it takes longer when incorporating live instruments on an album. Her voice has a lot of personality and it is clear that she is aware of that. There are plenty of ballads and a few up-tempo tracks.

Don't delay. Invest in this one, music lovers.

Mikeisha's Top 5

1. "The Rain"
2. "Lil' Sum Sum"
3. "Tired"
4. "You Don't Have to Worry"
5. "I'm Sorry"

KP MOS DEF BROUGHT IT THIS TIME! SHE IS SANGIN N POURIN HER HEART OUT! I'M TIRED TOO!!!!!!! I FEEL HER!!!!!!

When you listen to this voice on this album you become transformed into another world. Her singing is total perfection. Soaring, passionate, joyful and powerful. I have been digging into my extensive collection listening for a vocal performance like this. All I can say is, young Aretha,Natalie,Chaka. If Kelly price was not already considered among the all time greats I declare her after listening to Kelly to be so.

Kelly Price has done it again... bringing reall RnB back to it's roots.. destined to be the greatest selection you will have ever purchased. If you are true fan you will see and witness first hand why Kelly Price remains a favorite of everyone...