Kaleidoscope - Kelis

The 'next big thing in RnB' is a phrase that's hardly uncommon in music. However, when teenager Kelis Roberts burst onto the scene in early 2000, many thought that she was a true star in the making with a long career ahead of her. Barely 2 years later, she has been reduced to doing cameos in mobile phone adverts, pretty much forgotten by everyone. However, on 'Kaleidoscope' she manages to demonstrate the sort of star quality that seems to be lacking in the likes of the new breed of bland RnB singers like Ashanti. The whole album is produced by The Neptunes, who have since had their profile raised no end by working with the likes ...

I had only heard the songs that Kelis had released into the charts, but I had enjoyed them enough to think that the CD might be more of the same. I was wrong! The CD is better than the chart releases. The CD is released on Virgin Records, and is the debut from the 20 year old preacher's daughter. The reason it is titled KALEIDOSCOPE is that, when you look into a kaleidoscope, you see so many different colours, shapes and patterns, and that is what Kelis wants her music to be. She does not want to fit into one category. The CD starts with an intro, which seems a tad pointless, but then we are straight into one of her chart hits, GOOD STUFF. This is ...

When Kelis' debut single 'Caught Out There' hit the airwaves early last year, many people simply knew her by the refrain 'I hate you so much right now!' and it is perhaps fair to say that this was a misleading song with which to introduce this artist to the public, because at first glimpse it seems to be a novelty single. However, Kelis is far from a novelty one-hit wonder and should be taken very seriously indeed. In these times when guitar music seems so devoid of any anger or inspiration (At-the Drive-In, And You Will Know Us Bythe Trail of Dead and PJ Harvey you are excused), R and B is standing up as the most interesting music that there is. Some ...