Keyshia Cole Calling All Hearts Album Review

Keyshia Cole who has often been compared to Mary J Blige returned to the music scene after a brief break (where she actually went to live what she often sings about – have a relationship – get engaged and have a baby) for a fourth album entitled “Calling All Hearts” that was released on December 21st 2010.

The Oakland native who was hoping to offer her loyal fans something a little bit more special and intimate than her previous albums “A Different Me” that came out in 2007 and “Just Like You” that was released in 2005 tackled real issues such as love, faith and pain on her latest CD.

The “I Should Have Cheated” singer who also revealed that she was more matured on this record, surprised many by going for a contemporary sound by inviting Rap superstar Nicki Minaj on the first single called “I Ain’t Thru” and later regretted it – and we can understand why the non-refreshing song failed on the charts.

Miss Cole who decided that it was wiser to stick to her smooth RnB roots for the remainder of the CD collaborated with Faith Evans on the 90′s inspired “If I Fall In Love Again” where she shows how talented she is vocally.

By being fresh and sensual the singer was able to shine once more on the Tank-assisted track called “Tired Of Doing Me” that was produced by Donald “Toxic” Alford (who also produced “Trust” featuring Monica).

From there on -there is not much more to be said.
Despite having worked with some decent collaborators (Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League etc…) there are no real songs that stand out.

Throughout the CD Keyshia remains too clean, too smooth, too neat and therefore never delivers anything with real soul or depth.

The album is decent but it did little to move me or push me to say the word classic while listening to it.

1. I Ain’t Thru (feat. Nicki Minaj)
2. Long Way Down
3. Tired Of Doing Me (feat. Tank)
4. If I Fall In Love Again (feat. Faith Evans)
5. So Impossible
6. Sometimes
7. Take Me Away
8. What You Do To Me
9. Last Hangover (feat. Timbaland)
10. Thank You (feat. Dr. Yvonne Cole)
11. Better Me

Tags: Keyshia Cole

Category: Album Reviews