Evolution of Robin Thicke, The - Robin Thicke > Reviews > The discovery of Robin Thicke

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Soulful lyrics and a wonderful tone to his voice
Disadvantages:	Some of the rap was unnecessary, slowed down pace overall

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I have recently been introduced to Robin Thicke by a friend and to be honest, being an R 'n' B artist, he would not have been on the top of my list of CDs to get. Having said that, if R 'n' B isn't your first choice either ... you may do yourself an injustice if you don't at least give this a chance. I have been pleasantly surprised by how much this album grows on you. Robin Thicke is a Californian singer who has been writing lyrics for years for others like Christina Aguilera, Brandy and Jordan Knight. The artists who previously sang his songs are by no means a complete representation of his style neither. He has a voice that is gentle and high in some songs but deep and soothing in others. There is no sense that this is manufactured pop like you may get with Christina Aguilera, for example. Robin Thicke is somehwhat of a hidden gem with 'The Evolution of Robin Thicke" being his second album and until recently he has been operating just below the mass market's radar. His style could be compared to Justin Timberlake with some of Al Green thrown in as well as a touch of Jamiroquai ... but I don't really believe in such comparisons. Anyway this would only be a hint to the flavour of the album and would not provide any real sense of his style. I would always recommend that you listen to it yourself, as an unattractive artist comparison can make you miss a good thing.

This album shows Thicke's talents to their full and presents the listener with a signature style that has influences from quite various genres.

Here's the track Listing:

"Got 2 Be Down" - A duet with Faith Evans which is also a solid introduction to the album. It's not one of my favourites but does have a very funk soul flavour to it.

"Complicated" - This second track brings the pace down slightly with it's more gentle intro. Though not completely organised by distinguished verses and choruses, I still find it enjoyable to listen to. It has a great tone to it that gently lulls you into a swaying motion.

"Would That Make You Love Me" - Another good song with lyrics that are much less repetative than 'Complicated'. The pace is pretty much the same but the lyrics have a much stronger idea behind them. Dealing with the issue of being loved only if you have certain qualities, it is enjoyable to listen to more than once.

"Lost Without U" - The primary single and one that people may be more familiar with. Beautiful music track with delicate vocals. Has a wonderful sense of love to it that isn't marred by the sexual tones. Definitely a contender for the strongest track on the album.

"Ask Myself" - This song has been one to grow on me overtime. It has a really uplifting vibe and a medium paced beat. A great message for those who need some self-reflection and words to encourage and inspire.

"All Night Long" - Opens with a rap by Lil' Wayne which is a continuing motif in this song. It does suffer from it a bit, as it can be too much and it breaks up the flow of the song. I have found that this is one of those songs that I skip most on shuffle.

"Everything I Can't Have" - The fastest track on the album and I have to admit, one that I didn't get on first listen. Using ballroom dance music as it's backdrop, the lyrics at first appear misplaced. On continued listens ... I have found this to be one of my favourites. It has an incredably enjoyable chorus that is quite amusing and has you singing along with it. Just for tasters ...

"... When the brandy hits my throat,
I go da da da da
When I see the girls
The girls, they make me go da da da da ..."

Which has to be heard to be understood.

"Teach U A Lesson" - A song with more heated lyrics and metaphors than some of the others on this album. With lyrics such as 'You were late to class, You've been a bad girl, Someone's gonna have to teach u a lesson' you can immediately understand the target of this song. It can also be quite repetative in the lyrics.

"I Need Love" - A ballad that contains all the necessary R 'n' B cliches but turns them on their head by not reducing everything to a sexual innuendo. I think, more reserved would be the description here. A gentle pace but in my opinion, it's not a song that you may want to listen to again and again but it's perfect as background music.

"Wanna Love U Girl" - A song that I have come to appreciate despite the repetative chorus. It has a gentle beat that creates a great mood for the lyrics being sung.

"Can U Believe" - A very different sound and singing style added to this one. Though the mood of the song at first appears subdued, it does in fact, have a more positive outlook to it. Which I believe is a welcome aspect as there are far too many slow songs that are designed for depression and only a rare few than can pick you up.

"Shooter" - In my opinion, this is one of the lesser tracks on the album. There are some lazy soudning vocals from Robin Thicke peppered with rap from Lil' Wayne. It also has (what I can only describe as a skat) within. By the end, I was left not really knowing what the message of the song was and what was trying to be said.

"Cocaine" - Singing about celebrity and the reliance on drugs. Though at first, this song seems to be celebrating the lifestyle, there is a hint of negativity claiming that '... it's not the same without cocaine'. This seems to be more of a commentary on the lifestyle rather than a opinion on whether it's good or bad.

"2 The Sky" - A song that may be one of Thicke's more self-reflective tracks. There are no message's of love here like the majority of his album, but instead a realisation of the negative desires that hold you back. I simply love it when he leads into the words of the song's title and there is the sense that you are actually being lifted up with the music as it builds. It also has a very jazzy ending that is very pleasant to listen to.

"Lonely World" - This song, though possibly better listened to in your more melancholy moments as a pick me up, presents a positive message that a lot of people will be able to relate to. It's all about believing in yourself despite the words of others or even your own negativity. Though slow it's very uplifting. Another welcomed exception.

"Angels" - A stand out ballad if there ever was one. Extremely gentle vocals which suits the message of the song down to the ground. In my experience some ballads have been way over sung by some of the most popular artists, but this is a breath of fresh air when it comes to comparing them. The lyrics are powerful and appear heartfelt. Another difference with this song is that it doesn't feel contrived with the simple message of love being expressed here. Furthermore, there is a welcome change of pace half way through with the introduction of a soft beat. With the song being 8 mins long you would expect it to be too long and drawn out but just as you think the song has finished ... the beat comes back and we are presented with more music, reminiscent of sitting in a jazz club at the end of an evening whilst contemplating the walk home. It is far away from feeling too long because it makes the effort to create a lasting mood. Also, this is a really beautiful song to end an album with.

Most of the songs on Robin Thicke's album are quite long with the shortest being at 3 minutes 20 and the longest at just over 8 minutes. I do actually appreciate this a lot more than a song than ends in two minutes because you feel like you have been fully presented with the emotions of the song rather than feeling let down that it has finished way too early. On the flip side of this, it could be argued that you should be left wanting more ... but I believe, that this is still the case. The songs aren't so long that you get bored of them. they are in fact just right!

To sum up, this album is filled with tracks that have a considerably slowed down pace. Even the faster tracks bar one, have a rhythmic beat to them that calms you down more than they make you want to dance. This doesn't mean, however, that you won't want to sway or move to them. Whilst I do enjoy listening to this without distractions, I also think that this album is perfect background music for such things as dinner parties or the like. This is by no means a negative point! Robin Thicke has done an excellent job in working on this and it should be enjoyed by those who can take the time to concentrate. When it comes down to it, I would recommend this for anyone wanting to expand their mellow collection but who also want the more modern styling of Thicke's music. I did really enjoy listening to this album and this is even though my musical tastes are more rooted in rock. Give it a listen and make up your own mind!!

There is a deluxe version which has three extra tracks on it namely: Superman, U Centre Me and Look At Me. Judging by the tasters they have on iTunes, it may be worth paying that little bit extra or, of course, they can be purchased at a later date. Either way you won't be missing out.