CD Review
This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010.
These were Jose’s first impressions of the songs and were not written after multiple spins.
Artist: Keri Hilson
Album: In A Perfect World… (2009 Interscope)
Tracks: 14
Artist website: http://www.kerihilsonmusic.com
OVERVIEW
Even though, Hilson has been in the industry for a number of years, this her first outing as a solo artist.
The tragedy in modern pop music is not so much that the quality of lyrics has suffered. (Some would disagree and say that even lyric writing has suffered tremendously.) It is the quality of music that is suffering. The general lack of understanding of harmony and harmonic rhythm makes for poor “music”. I don’t understand why being ignorant about music harmony and theory is cool.
Let me define what I mean when I say “music”. Music is harmony (chords and melody) and rhythm together. The fact that anything that has a little rhythm and a little melody passes for “music” these days is a travesty. A melody needs to be supported by good harmony, just like a good harmonic progression needs a good beat to support it.
The lyrical content is passable on this album, I wish I could say so for the music. I don’t understand why modern producers and songwriters feel that they have to make “music” that is not rich in harmonic content. Are the songwriters and producers of today really so ignorant of music harmony and theory? The thing I love about R&B from the 60’s and 70’s is that it was (and still is) good music. The lyrical content was strong and the musical content was equally strong. Great harmonic progressions that supported great melodies. And yes, it was still possible to dance to that music.
The album does get better after the first three tracks. However, much of it is loops and it gets repetitive. What bothers me the most about this album is that there are so many people in the credits of each song, yet does it really take that many people to make this?
HIGHLIGHTS:
Make Love, How Does It Feel, and Where Did He Go (for being in 6/8)
PLAY BY PLAY
Track 1 – Intro
This sets up the mood for the album.
Track 2 – Turnin’ Me On [Featuring Lil Wayne]
Monotonous, one chord song. (Third single released from the album)
Track 3 – Get Your Money Up [Featuring Keyshia, Trina]
Another one chord song. “Don’t let me see your booty drop.”
Track 4 – Return The Favor [Featuring Timbaland]
Finally, a song that has more than one chord! (Second single released from the album)
Track 5 – Knock You Down [Featuring Kanye West, Ne-Yo]
Better. This is what I call music. It has a nice harmonic progression that supports the melody in the chorus. (Fourth single released from the album)
Track 6 – Slow Dance
Cool ballad.
Track 7 – Make Love
Nice chords here. The drums could be farther back in the mix.
Track 8 – Intuition
Didn’t care much for the looped “arabian flute sound”. It was annoying and made the track sound almost monotonous. This track could be classified as a drone were it not for the bass line that moves the harmony around.
Track 9 – How Does It Feel
I liked this track. It’s catchy. The root motion supports the melody very nicely. Sparse arrangements don’t equate to non musicality. This track works very well.
Track 10 – Alienated
Nice track.
Track 11 – Tell Him The Truth
The melody is really pretty. I really wish the music supporting it was better.
Track 12 – Change Me [Featuring Akon]
More from the “drone” machine.
Track 13 – Energy
Where is the harmony? (First single released from the album)
Track 14 – Where Did He Go
Really awesome use of 6/8! Awesome.