R&B fans have cause for celebration with the release of irresistible Robin Thicke's fourth album Something Else.
Thicke's soulful voice and sultry serenades make track after track fly by. His retelling of past relationships and smooth, yet unimposing expression of his political views and overall outlook on life offers plenty of food for thought throughout.
The singer, currently on tour with Mary J. Blige, describes the best and worst that love has to offer. From the album's opening track, "You're My Baby," to the summer hit "Magic," Thicke chronicles the impossibilities that are made possible when one is in the right relationship.
Other standouts include "Sidestep," "Loverman" and the album's title track "Something Else," all affirming the happiness of those who have found love and offering hope for those still searching.
Despite these love-fueled tracks, Thicke does not shy away from other hot topics like politics. An endorser of presidential candidate Barack Obama, Thicke chronicles his vision of a utopian society in "Dreamworld."
"I would be you/ you would be me/we would be one/we would be fine," sings Thicke.
The fantastic closing track "Tie My Hands," featuring Lil' Wayne, offers an appeal to the tumultuous world letting it know that it is pristine.
"We are at war with the universe/ the sky is falling/ and the only thing that can save us now/ is sensitivity and compassion," sings Thicke.
While much of the material can come across as dull and repetitious, especially to those jaded with the love bug, Thicke's one-of-a-kind pipes make virtually every aspect of the album a great delight.
His material pays homage to the classic R&B that his predecessors helped create, while simultaneously merging with the contemporary hip-hop scene and giving more than a few chart-topping soul singers a run for their money.
To any fan of R&B, Thicke's impressive vocal quality makes this a hugely pleasurable listening experience.
