Customer Reviews

Untitled

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

As a long-time R. Kelly fan, it hurts me to have to admit that he is no longer the great musician he once was. This so-called 'Untitled' album is testament to that.

A short while after its release and out of curiosity, I popped into a local music retail store for a quick listen. Though I did not spend more than a couple of minutes on each track, after less than fifteen minutes of listening, I felt sick and needed a brown bag. This couldn't have been the R. Kelly that brought us '12 Play', the self-titled 'R. Kelly', the double album 'R' and [...]! It is not that the music on the album is bad by today's standards. The problem is that R. Kelly has dumbed his music down to accommodate certain expectations, no doubt.

As a mid-thirties father to a daughter, the music on this record made me very uncomfortable at a certain level. Come to think of it, my old man who is fiftysomething, was a huge fan of Kelly (probably still is!), but he has not spoken of him in at least four years! I guess the point here is, Kelly has not grown with his fanbase over the years, instead choosing to go backwards. This has pushed his mature fanbase towards artists like Anthony Hamilton, Brian McKnight, Joe, Musiq Soulchild and other similar artists. I tend to agree with a reviewer who suggested that Kelly look at his birth certificate and try to catch up.

Here's hoping that in the near future Kelly will go back to the studio and record the great album we all know he is still capable of.

I'm going to make this a very simple review by saying that R. Kelly does very well on everyone of the songs on this album that he stays in his zone on, but it's when he steps out of his zone to attempt to "have something for everybody" he goes horribly wrong. With that said, the album is still solid considering what's available from the RnB crowd of today. I still wish R. would leave some of the childish feeling crap alone.

The 1st 8 songs (Crazy Night, Exit, Echo, Bangin' The Headboard, Go Low, Whole Lotta Kisses, Like I Do, & Number One) on this album are all very enjoyable, but he fails with the next 3 thereafter (I Love The DJ, Supaman High, Be My #2). The next song is "Text Me" and I can't say that I hate the song, but it's one that would possibly get skipped by me depending on my mood as it is the type of song that really does nothing for me, but I'd listen to it. R. manages to regain strength and closes the album strong with the last 3 songs (Religious, Elsewhere, & Pregnant).

Were I able to give the album 3.5 stars that's what I would've given it but the majority of the album is good so I had to go with 4 stars. R. Kelly can definitely do better and I hope that he will on his next project. He has absolutely nothing to prove to the young cats as his catalog demolishes all of their material combined. I really would like to see R. get back to quality 1st and being hot 2nd. Honestly I haven't heard anything from R. Kelly in the last at least 8 years that would reach the classic mark, although he does have a very nice song floating around the net now called "Fallen From the Sky" that proves to me that dude still has the ability to delivery classics. I'm hoping to hear one soon.

Look. I'm going to be flat out honest and tell you that this album is horrible. I used to be a huge fan of R. My favorites are Honey Love, Slow Dance, Dedicated, and most of the original 12 Play album and the remixes for it. After 12 Play, it started going down hill as he started trying to be an R&B thug and rap. Kells can flat out sing, but what mature adult is gonna play a song called "Be my #2" or "Banging the Headboard"? Truthfully, I gave up on Kells when he came out with "Feelin' on your Booty" and I like the beat for that song. Yea, you will still get a nice ballad on CD he releases from time to time, but nothing like his previous projects. Apparently he is reaching out to the younger generation with songs like "Text Me" and all this over the top sex crap he keeps releasing. I look at the track listings and shake my head in shame.

My advice to you if you are a mature adult: pass on this. If you are a young thundercat: this may appeal to you. My advice to R. Kelly: Grow up! Get back to the basics and sing some love ballads. If you have too, make a double CD with one CD being the R&B Thug crap and the other CD straight up ballads with emotion and passion. You are getting too old for the thug crap plus we see through that fake image anyway. Be true to yourself and be true to your fans.

P.S. Readers, drop some comments. I'd be curious to see who all feels the way I do.

Deuces!

First off I have to say to all the people that don't like the album. Most of you probably don't know about the music business. Kellz has to do something for every generation. I've he only made music for the people that has listen to him from the beginning then he wouldn't sell as many albums. There are more young people in this world then older people. Yes I grew up on all his albums and I must say that this album is in my top 5. To those that say that this album is like a greatest hits or recycled music then your mistaken. Yes "Whole Lotta Kisses" and "Go Low" are recycled. If any of you know about "Loveland" and "Chocolate Factory" then you would know that the same thing happened to "Loveland". Like "12 Play 4th Quarter", "Loveland" was leaked and he had to make changes. If you notice in "Chocolate Factory - Step in the name of love (Remix)", he mentions that "We are gonna do the same dance that we didn't in Loveland...", just for proof. This album is another classic by Mr. Kelly; a must have.

I think R. Kelly's "Untitled" is a great album. Tracks like 'Echo', 'Pregnant', and hit single 'Number One' are all fantastic examples of R. Kelly's continued inventive approach to the R&B genre. Personally, I was a little disappointed by his last two albums "Double Up" and "TP.3 Reloaded," they were big steps down from earlier albums like "12 Play" and "Chocolate Factory." I think "Untitled" is a huge jump back in the right direction for R. Kelly, just falling a little short of his best work. Ultimately, I'd strongly recommend this album. Keep it up Kells, props from ATX.

Also, 'Elsewhere' is probably the most soulful and poignant song I have heard in years. If you download just one song off this album, make it this one.

Untitled proves to be another solid, though conservative R. Kelly effort. For the first time, perhaps, R. Kelly begins to show his age (42) on this set, despite the fact it is another quality offering from the R&B Vet's discography. As always, Kelly is in good voice, though he does come over as a bit restrained at times. Ultimately, the hardcore R. Kelly fans that buy and listen to this album will long for slightly more inspired material at times. Personally, I preferred Kelly's more hip-hop oriented set Double Up over this safer set, though some fans thought 'Kells' overstepped his boundaries on that set. All in all, it is a satisfactory album, though not Kelly's most memorable set.

"Crazy Night", featuring R. City, proves to be one of Untitled's more innovative, worthwhile listens, finding Kells supported by a skeletal hip-hop driven beat during the verses. "Exit", the follow-up, is typical R. Kelly at his best and proves to be well produced and Kelly sounds inspired enough. "Echo" also lays well, if slightly annoying, though it is the 'tried-and-true' R. Kelly record. "Banging the Headboard" is certainly no miss either, though it is definitely superseded by the more inspired "Go Low", which sounds most like classic R. Kelly, updated for 2009. The production takes cues from 2005's TP.3 Reloaded's "Remote Control". It is definitely a stand-out from this tame Kelly set.

"Whole Lotta Kisses" is a nice sensual, old-school jam, also very much signature Kelly. Here, some of Kelly's neo-soul side comes out, much like it did on one of his best albums of the 00s, Chocolate Factory. The horns (synthesized mind you), within the production hearken back to R&B/Soul's glory days of the 1970s. "Like I Do" uses the signature 'icy' drums popularized by The-Dream/Tricky, though it is produced by someone aside from the popular production team. Again, it isn't innovative, but it is a solid performance by Kells.

"Number One", featuring R&B newcomer/standout Keri Hilson, is solid, though I thought it was an odd choice to release as a first single. It never picked up, understandably, as Kelly has released better singles. The chemistry between Hilson and Kelly's vocals is great. "I Love The DJ" is fine, though the somewhat clunky, though fun "Supaman High" featuring OJ Da Juiceman is more alluring. Released as an early single, it never caught on either, and one might even argue it is too hip-hop for Kelly, a new-jack swing veteran. "Be My #2" is enjoyable, though I can't say that I truly love Kelly with this production work behind him.

"Text Me" is OK, though it is "Religious" that proves to be the valedictory performance of the album. Corny? Yes, but we must remember, we are talking about R. Kelly. On "Religious", R. Kelly achieves more of the grit he achieves on past albums that one might argue is missing more on 'Untitled.' "Elsewhere" finds Kelly in great voice (great tone) while "Pregnant" closes the album featuring an all-star cast (Tyrese, Robin-Thicke, and The-Dream).

Overall, Untitled isn't a flashy album, directly contrasting the indulgence into hip-hop that pervaded 2007's Double Up. Not Kelly's best album and perhaps arguably his least memorable (think the underrated Happy People/U Saved Me), but it is a solid, enjoyable album nonetheless. 3.5 - 4 stars.

What amazes me is not that this album is outstanding, because I fully expected it to be. What amazes me is that the man can crank out so many hit songs after almost 20 years! There is no one out there who can touch R. Kelly in the talent department...the man was put on this earth to make hit music. The album starts with Crazy Night, a nice club banger reminiscent of Ron Browz's Pop Champagne. From there, the album crosses several musical genres with an ease that only someone who knows what the hell he's doing can display. But it's not until the end that this album truly brings you to your feet. Religious and Elsewhere...OMG. Religious is old school Kells from almost two decades ago. But Elsewhere is something new. This ballad crushes anything on the radio by any other urban artist right now. Kells truly reaches deep within on this one, and the results will pierce you deep in your soul. The brother actually sounds like he's crying. You need to buy this one just to keep REAL musicians paid. R. Kelly isn't a perfect human being, but then again, neither is you or me. But his voice and his talent are gifts straight from God...and he is using them well. Keep doing your thing, R. For every 1 hater, there's 1,000 of us who love you...

Welcome back R. Kelly. We missed you in 2008 when this album was supposed to be released. Don't worry, I'm sure everyone has forgotten about the child pornography charges you were acquitted of last year. It's no wonder Untitled was released in December because, deep down, it's a holiday album. That is, assuming all you do during the holidays is call in sick to work so you can spend some quality time with one of your many partners.

Unlike his previous efforts, Kelly is only the lone songwriter on two tracks of Untitled. However, you would only know it if you read the album credits. Untitled plays like any of Kelly's best releases. The faster paced tracks like "I Love The DJ," "Superman High," and "Be My #2" are catchy and will, no doubt, become staples in the clubs, but the real highlights are in the slow songs. R. Kelly's voice is a step above the competition and it shines early on with "Exit" and "Echo." The two tracks written by Kelly alone, "Go Low" and "Whole Lotta Kisses" are also quality voice featuring songs with a romantic mood.

In the end, Untitled is lacking the single power of Kelly's previous albums, but as a whole, it is easily one of his most consistent works. From start to finish, R. Kelly takes us on a musical journey through more of his sexual exploits. He casually disguises his bragging beneath well designed beats and warm vocal melodies. Like the women he sings about, R. Kelly will leave his fans satisfied with this newest release.

Similar Artists: Ginuwine, Marvin Gaye

Track Suggestion: Echo

This album is fairly decent, being an R. Kelly fan I'm a little disappointed. Although there are still some very good songs and I have found that this album is growing on me. He could have done better though.

The songs on this album are Better than anyone elses, but just average for R.Kelly
Lots of guest appearances combined with talk about SEX,SEX and SEX means only one thing . .
These songs were probably leftovers from old albums. Its a Best Of R.Kelly that you never heard before.
You'll hear him say 12 Play 4th Quarter , But it really should be Untitled like it is.
A Title would have meant the album was about something

Peace, Diggiti