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Flesh Tone (Album Cover)

Now for some heavy duty dance tracks!!! It’s been 4 years since her last physical studio LP, so “Flesh Tone” makes the 5th studio album by Kelis and is the singer’s first album since joining the Interscope Records family under the will.i.am music group brand (she worked with him on the track “Weekend” on “Kelis Was Here“). It was released on May 17, 2010 in worldwide and in the UK. The album is due for release on July 6, 2010 in the US and Canada.

The album sees Kelis move into electronica and dance music as compared to the previous urban sound of her last album “Kelis Was Here” (except “Trilogy“, which I think is rather electro sounding).

First Impressions

Actually, Kelis has experimented with dance/electronic oriented music before with Richard X (“Finest Dreams“), Basement Jaxx (“Scars“) and recently with Crookers (“No Security“). So it’s not really a surprise that Kelis would try to do dance. Being on will.i.am’s label allows her to venture and not being restricted to any boundaries. The new sound are crafted by producers such as DJ Ammo, Jean Baptiste, Benny Benassi, Burns, David Guetta, Boys Noize, Free School, and of course, will.i.am.

This album is more to electro-house/cosmic-pop instead of your usual fluffy dance-pop that’s on the radio nowadays. Just a note, the album is littered with segues. It means to make a transition directly from one section or theme to another. So, the whole LP is basically a non-stop affair like Madonna’s Confessions; and Kelis has a hand in writing every track!!!

Track by Track Review

• Intro
  With an intro as long as an average track length, it offers the perfect example of what the rest album is going to sound like. Bass and Synth commands the entire project. She starts singing on the 00:58 mark btw.
• 22th Century/Segue 1
  Kelis welcomes us with her interpretation of what the 22th Century is going to be like. The coo-ing adds a unique hook to the track.
• 4th of July (Fireworks)/Segue 2
  2nd single. I must say it’s an appropriate choice. The synth are quite arresting. I do like the tetris-sounding breakdown.
• Home/Segue 3
  Things are starting to get heavy here. Definitely a potential single to be. A dancefloor stomper.
• Acapella/Segue 4
  First single. Didn’t really like this track initially. But after a few spins I’ve begin to accept it. Has the tribal-electro vibe. A David Guetta-produced track. Kelis wrote this song as a tribute to her son, as heard in the lyrics.
• Scream
  Another David Guetta track and a potential single too, this track is my favourite from the album. Initially titled as Scream & Shout, part of me likes the demo version better.
• Emancipate/Segue 5
  Distinctively a Benny Benassi production, Kelis loops “Emancipate youself” throughout the chorus, which is rather annoying for me.
• Brave/Segue 6
  I prefer this Benassi production than the previous, perhaps ’cause will.i.am has a hand in co-producing it. Loving the melody!!! Another song which Kelis singing her love for her child.
• Song for the Baby
  Unlike other boring dedication tracks to their babies, this uplifting track is catchy with it’s combination of horns and the house beats presented by Free School.

Final Verdict
Spanning only at just 37 minutes from start to finish, it’s a memorable album which fully utilises Kelis’ husky voice remarkably. After being an R&B songstress for more than 10 years, she made a wise move to explore other genres, particularly dance.

Popular in Britain and Europe, Kelis never really made her mark in her home country, the US (well, besides “Milkshake“). Would this album change that fact??? Not really. But it’ll lure dance fanatics to take notice of her. Overall, it’s a good effort as the sound of the album is relevant and current but not generic.

This album scores a 3 out of 5.

Recommended Tracks
Kelis – Home
Kelis – Scream (HQ Demo Version)