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