Album review: R. Kelly, 'Untitled'
It’s tempting to read into the title of R. Kelly’s first album since his acquittal on child-pornography charges last year. Is his 10th studio album since the early ‘90s called “Untitled” because Kelly wants to wipe the slate clean? Could it be the sign of a new beginning? An invitation to hear the artist from a fresh perspective?
Not even close.
“Untitled” (Jive) is business as usual in the candle-lit, silk-sheeted house of Kelly, which means, “sex in the morning, sex all day.”
And business is good. Even under a cloud of legal suspicion for six years, Kelly continued to sing about booty calls and sell millions of albums. As the most dominant producer-songwriter-singer in R&B; the last two decades, the south suburban resident married a sparse, sing-songy sound and salacious subject matter into a signature style that has made him a star.
Most listeners who pay attention to pop music have already made up their minds about Kelly. “Untitled” won’t change anyone’s perspective. It’s more a reminder, as he modestly crows in “Like I Do,” that when it comes to lust and music he “blow[s] the competition away.”
Who needs poetry? “Sex is like dope to me” – how’s that for simile? Most of the time Kelly just lets it bump and grind without filtering: “Ba-ba-bangin’ the headboard … squeakin’ the bed”; “I wanna be sippin’ on your sweet, sweet water”; “Drip, drip, drip with the candle wax”; “And a wooo and a weee.”
Kelly is the latest in a long line of R&B; bedroom maestros. The Dominoes’ “Sixty Minute Man,” Hank Ballard’s “Work with Me, Annie” and Etta James’ “Roll With Me, Henry,” were explicit odes to carnality from the Truman and Eisenhower eras. In later decades, the likes of Millie Jackson, Marvin Sease and Prince took turns out-raunching each other.
It could be argued that Kelly’s brand of lewdness stands in a class by itself because he was accused of a sex crime and yet continued to make millions singing about bedroom escapades. Nonetheless, fans kept buying his records, and radio stations kept playing them. Unlike Michael Jackson, who retreated from public view when sex allegations buffeted him, Kelly just kept on writing, recording and producing music at a prolific rate.
Now that he’s been acquitted, the singer doesn’t do any victory dances or play any victim cards on “Untitled.” His only vindictive comment arrives almost as an afterthought as the track “Be My #2” winds down. “And to all you hatin’ [expletive]: Slap, slap, slap, slap,” he chirps.
He’s otherwise too busy getting busy. Though the lyrics work minor variations on smut, the voice is another matter entirely. It is pleading and needy, and yet manages to wink at itself. At other times, his tone verges on desperation, as if sex is more essential than oxygen. He massages simple (and sometimes simplistic) words into hooks through phrasing that is pliant, inventive, audacious, sometimes silly. He even yodels on “Echo,” and improbably it works -- as radio candy if not enduring musical art.
That ardor is framed by music that is everything his lyrics are not: subtle, ornate, at times downright refined. As a producer and arranger, he is meticulous with detail, orchestrating hand claps, finger snaps and drum machines to create just the right rhythm backdrop for an evening of “wooo and weee.” Strings, guitars and keyboards add color in carefully measured doses. The songs never develop much beyond their initial verse and chorus and rarely bother with contrasting bridge sections, but that’s the point: No jarring changes to throw off the mood. Little wonder he does so many medleys in concert; even Kelly realizes that many of his songs have limited durability outside the bedroom.
About halfway through the album, the singer expands his sound by working with a few relative newcomers. The Danish producers Soulshock and Karlin bring a Euro-disco beat to “I Love the DJ,” Atlanta rapper OJ Da Juiceman adds “Dirty South” hip-hop crunch to “Supaman High” and producer Jack Splash salts “Be My #2” with dance beats and sun-splashed horns. It’s too bad he didn’t go further with these experiments, which freshen Kelly’s increasingly predictable sound and perk up the bedroom tempos.
As he usually does, the singer tosses in a couple of songs that hint at a more introspective side, that suggest he views women as something more than just sex partners to shoo away in the morning. “Religious” sings the praises of an unjustly scorned companion, over gospel piano and organ (naturally, the woman in question “reminds me of my mother” – a recurring theme in Kelly’s work when he wants to get serious). On “Elsewhere,” the narrator positively trembles with regret over a failed relationship.
But at album’s end, Kelly snaps out of it.
“She’s more than a mistress,” he purrs on “Pregnant.” “I’m gonna put that girl in my kitchen.”
Back on the prowl, same as it ever was. Who needs album titles?
greg@gregkot.com
First off this sounds like a bias suger-coated opinion, this album has to sing about sex because it leads into Zodiac his new 12-Play coming out next year. R.Kelly is a genuis you can't deny or anyone else deny that.
Posted by: David Stone | November 27, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Personally, I think it's a really great album - albeit with some fallbacks which you mentioned. Definitely worth more than 2 stars in my honest opinion.
Posted by: Anthony Saliba | November 28, 2009 at 01:07 AM
i already go this album, but i am going to by it when it comes out in the uk!!!
it is GREAT!!! and to be honest its the best rnb album that has come out this year, he is indeed a best!!! if u disagree then u must be a hater!!!!
Posted by: ben douglas | November 28, 2009 at 05:10 AM
David:
I respectively disagree with your statements. He didn't HAVE to see about sex. It didn't have to lead into the up coming record. This could have a departure for him, a transition record. He is very talented and could have gone in a completely different direction and surprised us. Instead it's the same old brainless "SEXasaurus" routine. He devotes a few songs to whatever spirituality he appears to have and then it's back to bump n grind. It would be easier to separate the artist from the sex scandals if he could use his music to talk about something besides freaky sex. It's almost if he can't help himself and needs to brag about his exploits. Or maybe he just doesn't give a damn. It's not like he's lost his fan base.
As for being a genius....maybe a marketing genius but although there is a lot of talent there I fail to see genius in his work. Maybe if he explored other themes, stretched his wings and did something more experimental I could see the genius that you see but I don't.
Right now I see a gifted man who hasn't reached his full potential and may never because he can't focus on anything other sex.
Posted by: Amy | November 28, 2009 at 07:12 AM
i'm buying this album i dont care whether you give it 0 or 4 stars i'm down with R kelly till i die , echo is a very nice song and i'm digging it! pls stop hating!!!!!!!!
Posted by: nick | November 28, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Amy - R. Kelly is a musical genius. He has experimented with about every genre. Check out his R. album It has elements (R&B, Blues, Pop, Folk, etc.)
Posted by: R. | November 28, 2009 at 01:51 PM
Amy R Kelly is without a doubt a musical genius in my opinon because of his versatility in music. he can go from a disco
song ( i love the dj) to an outstanding ballad or work of art if i may say(elsewhere) Just like that.the way the instrumental switches up close to the end in the song elsewhere and he is able to follow it creating melodies that are out of this world with astonishing vocal changes (That is genius).he is probably the only artist that can sing ANYTHING you throw at him even yodeling and opera .last but not least he was able to take artists like the great Michael Jackson (RIP) and the great Luther Vandross (RIP) and take them to the next level ( the songs in case you don't know are "you are not alone" and "when you call on me". being able to take artists that are as talented as those two music icons and bring out the best out of them is the work of a genius to me.R kelly has spelling problems and still he can combine words and touch people's souls around the world with songs such as i believe i can fly; the storm is over; i wish; elsewhere; if i could turn back the hands of time....i know our opinions are different but i respect yours. if everyone in the world thought the same the world wouldn't be as fun.
Posted by: Dalyricalgenius | November 29, 2009 at 03:30 PM
Anyone who doesn't think that kels is a genius is very uninformed. His talent is unmatched. Kels has written and performed hit songs.Although he doesn't receive the awards and accalades that many other artist enjoy, he is definately the king of r and b. Look at the sales. The haters try to keep him down, but his fans will always prop him back up. He's real. I haven't heard the entire album, but i'm sure the review was not accurate.
Posted by: N;yrrad Eroom | November 30, 2009 at 04:35 PM
A good music,will last a life time. From my perspective, you attain greater heights if you have a good heart. After all the ups and downs that Kell's been through, he stood firm and as days go by he prooves stronger. Its not just fame but, a positive spirit. R.Kelly is the best in what he does. And what he believes in,will never fail him. He never left,he has always been around.
Posted by: Richard | December 01, 2009 at 11:41 AM
The "R" is the baddest artist on the planet .................
Posted by: kevin | December 02, 2009 at 10:39 AM
As a long time listener and superfan (I have every Kells album) I have to comment, not on the article, but on the album itself.
This is Rob's most, dare I say it, mature album to date. Perhaps not in his lyrics as much as in the production. The beats are unbelievable, be it a slow jam (Like I Do), a club banger (SupaMan High) or the surefire hits (Crazy Night, Echo). I love an ablum like TP3 and Double Up, where all you get is sex ballads and one or two club hits, but there's so much more depth to this album and I hope it doesn't go unnoticed. Rob was producer or co-producer on each and every track.
Kelly just brings it. Yes, you have the usual "sexscapes" from reality (Go Low, Text Me) - but it wouldn't be a Kells album without them. What I hope people realize is how much variety he brings to the table with a euro-beat track like "I Love The DJ" and a throwback jam like "Be My #2" (has the feel of a Jamiroquai or Sam Sparro song). He's never done songs like these before, and still puts his familiar Kells flare on each one.
I always love the "no-filter" ridiculousness that he brings to the table - but I think even Kelly took this album more seriously. You can tell simply from the album artwork - which is spectacular and better than he's done.
I've run through the album about 3 times now, and I can already say this is one of his most quality, ingenious albums to date. It often takes more than 3 run throughs for an album to grow on me like that.
Everyone who likes R&B should get this album. You'll be bobbin your head from track one.
Happy People Baby
Posted by: Mike | December 02, 2009 at 04:03 PM
Wow. I can't believe they let YOU review an R. Kelly album. You totally missed the point man. This is R. Kelly returning to his roots while attempting to stay some what contemporary. Have you ever listened to 12 Play, TP2 or Double Up ?
This is a great R & B album. Tribune needs someone who actually likes this kind of music and knows the background behind it to review it. Wow. This review was horrible and biased.
Let me do it next time.
Posted by: Christ | December 03, 2009 at 04:12 PM
Wow. I can't believe they let YOU review an R. Kelly album. You totally missed the point man. This is R. Kelly returning to his roots while attempting to stay some what contemporary. Have you ever listened to 12 Play, TP2 or Double Up ?
This is a great R & B album. Tribune needs someone who actually likes this kind of music and knows the background behind it to review it. Wow. This review was horrible and biased.
Let me do it next time.
Posted by: Christopher | December 03, 2009 at 04:13 PM
This album is a classic I think you proabably were listening to Taylor swift and forgot to actually listen to this album this is his best album since Choclate Factory and tp2.com your nuts homie this is a classic album
Posted by: june | December 05, 2009 at 12:59 AM
The album is great musically and lyrically. The style Kells have is that you can almost write a song about anything but you got to have a medley and the right tone to sing it. R Kelly is diverse in his music the man write a hell of alot of song and give then to other artist which almost most of the time become hit for that artist.
Posted by: Joe Baker | December 05, 2009 at 07:01 PM
You either love Kells or you hate him. Sadly, people bring Kell’s personal life into his work which we all know that all musical genius have/has major personal issues. i.e. Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Elvis Presley, Jim Morrison and I the list goes on and on. Kells is the only artiest that can sing rocking socks and house shoes and have a certain segment of his fan base understand. With that said. If you don’t get Kells. You won’t get his music. I for one love his music and he is a hell of an entertainer
Posted by: Shelley | December 07, 2009 at 01:20 PM
Hey y'all, check out my review of Kells' "Untitled"...http://wp.me/pI6aR-4d
Posted by: Truf.. | December 13, 2009 at 09:37 AM
Can't get enough of this "Untitled" album, R. Kelly is the man!
Posted by: Matt Axe | December 14, 2009 at 03:19 PM
I got myself the cd and i have to say I've fallen inlove with R&B allover again. I couldn't find any track to skip from track 1-16 I listened and it takes me back to the days of tempo slow, religious love, seems like u ready and all those tracks that makes you wanna make babies or just dance all night long. I have to say the man is a genius and I'm inlove with R&B allover again. Thank you kells for the beautiful melodies you keep reigning on us!!
Posted by: Patrick | December 15, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Terrible Review by the writer, his album is 4 out of 4 easy, every song on "Untitled" is different and still hot. GO GET IT
Posted by: Matt Axe | December 16, 2009 at 05:15 PM
Absolutely LOVE him. he's one of a kind wish such talent! <3 Im not a regular RnB fan but theres something about his music that i really love
Posted by: Jessie | December 16, 2009 at 06:15 PM
I have to say, the author of this article seems to have made up his mind about R. Kelly well before he wrote this review, and therefore the review suffers due to this obvious bias. I've never been a fan of Kelly's music, then I heard this new album, and it's brillaint. Sure, the lyrics are a bit nuts at some points, but in a way, that's what makes this guy brilliant, he's bares it all. Oh, and his voice is unf$%^withable.
Posted by: Jerry Pecks | February 25, 2010 at 11:58 AM
I just have to say that this album is def a banger...from start to finish. You people don't know the real meaning of r&b. This guy right here is the best to ever do it hands down...sorry trey you are going to need a little bit more clout to be on this mans level....
Posted by: mike powell | April 14, 2010 at 08:46 PM
R Kelly use to great. He was an excellent artist that captivated the public for years. But now...I hate to say it..he is washed up. Trey Songz has now claimed the stage. R Kelly is my favorite artist, and I hope he gets it back together.
Posted by: Alika | November 11, 2010 at 07:03 PM