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This was there,in the record store on sale the day it came out and I pretty much walked right past it. "You're My Baby", and "Ms.Harmony" are great pop-samba type midtempo ballads with Robin crooning softly but with plenty of guts as well. And it seems as if I missed out big time,at first,on this album because it's one of the most impressive of that year. Where the album really gets cooking is.on the two cuts that really do have a strong rock influence. I was a victim of misguided thinking: believing the hype was a sign of a lack of creative integrity on his part. It's easy to forget the one thing we SHOULD all be remembering:let the music do the talking. Strange as this may sound I actually heard this album after his newest release Sex Therapy: The Session and somehow that baught me to this previous album. The Philly and Chicago styles in that genre are blended together in such a great with the rhythm section and horns really causing a great commotion.
This album belongs with a selection of albums that are a good step for new R&B/funk/soul albums to take because it doesn't plunder only the past for ideas and,not only that but concepts that it does take from that also involve lyrical and musical intricacy and communicating important ideas to listeners. "Sidestep",the title song and "Magic" both just fit the bill 100% if your a lover of 70's funk/disco as I am. And besides isn't that what the core of soul music is supposed to ressonate anyhow. Through the contemporary looking glass Robin has somehow managed to pull everything that works from 60s and 70's funk and modern versions of that into his orbit,all without having to rely on hip-hop sampling and natural sounding folksy sounds. Even though I was impressed by the earlier work of his I'd heard something about the heavy promotion he was starting to receive in the years 2005-2007 was a mild turn off to me. "Hard On My Love" and the powerful "Shadow Of Doubt" really bring out the Sly Stone/Chambers Brothers side of Thicke in two powerful psychedelic soul jams that.well as I said could easily go well with rock even though the flavor is different and smoother;emphasizing the crossing of bridges and the similarities between the genres themselves."Dreamworld","Loverman" and "The Sweetest Thing" introduce that Stevie Wonder/Isly Brothers chorded-type funk ballad idea back into light in a big way.
You'll probably find this in the "rock" section of your record store the way I did but this is Robin Thicke and there is little to nothing "rock" about him,not in the largely modern sense of the world in terms of indie and alternative music. There's grooves,songs and messages here really pop out at you and will get everyone on the ride. The final track,the most modern sounding of the tunes features a rap by Lil Wayne that.actually makes a good point that while it's next to impossible to put yourself in someone elses shoes in terms of race that it never hurts to keep trying and become successful while your at it. However you cut it this is excellent music for your heart,mind and body.
I have to admit, I really like this CD. I saw him in concert years ago with John Legend and I had no clue who he was. Much to my surprise, he's actually not bad. I really enjoy this CD.
It was a poor follow-up to last album---needs to take more time if necessary to do better or I won't be a fan
I have both this CD and the preceeding one, "The Evolution Of Robin Thicke", and I really admire this guy's talent as a songwriter, instrumentalist, etc. The fact that the R&B audience completely embraces him is testimony to that factthat he knows how to bring it emotionally.---But go see him live and you'll hear aquivery voice that doesn't connect and uneven showmanship & stage presence that makes you wish you had of just stayed home and listened to his CD's. (-: At least that's how I felt. But as far as his music, his studio skills, and this and the preceeding CD,I still find him to be one of the more authentic artists of today's urban scene.
My friend joked with me that this is baby making music. I can see what she means. It's a great CD and yes there are those feel good songs. Looking forward to the next one.
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