Robin Thicke: Something Else

My how time flies when you're having fun. Given that Evolution of Robin Thicke just broke last year (thanks, Oprah!) and is still in heavy rotation on my iPod, I was clueless that he was releasing a new album today. Of course, until I logged into iTunes and Mr. Thicke's beautiful face was staring at me.

One thing is apparent, Robin likes to put multiple images of himself on his album covers (see: Evolution). Vanity aside, Something Else isn't very much of anything else he's already released - perhaps just a more polished collection.

Thicke channels all the R&B greats that came before him - Marvin's sweet falsetto on "You're My Baby," crooning like Stevie Wonder on the piano driven "The Sweetest Love," and even a little Curtis Mayfield on "Hard on My Love." There's his standard formula of ballads, uptempo tracks, and of course, he knows how to play the role of chief seducer without coming off as a cheap cocktail lounge singer.

Above all, the album stand out is the John Lennon-like "Dream World." It's on this track we see a bit of depth (from a lyrical perspective) from Thicke from racism to politics, to global warming, and on. The most telling verse comes towards the end where he references his relationship with his wife, the actress Paula Patton, "there would be no black or white/the world would just treat my wife right/we could walk down on Mississippi/no one would look at us twice."

So what do ya'll think of Robin Thicke? We all know he's a talented writer/producer (see just about any recent pop star's liner notes), but we see him front and center now - does he deserve the attention?



(please ignore the chicks talking in the background)