Hilson touted over Geithner

[koganbot]

While everyone's talking about the Keri Hilson album having leaked, it's worth noting that the administration's plan for fixing the financial system has also leaked. Early responses are less favorable to Geithner than to Hilson. I didn't understand the plan as reported by the NY Times, hence I don't have an informed opinion. Paul Krugman's reaction is despair (and more detailed despair). Yves Smith calls the plan an abortion and she also uses the words "crappy" (in regard to what will be bought under the terms of the plan) and "idiots" (the administration's perception or misperception of who constitutes the public). And this guy, who may not actually be an economist, puts concerns to music.

(The Hilson, by the way, is yet another interesting album (see Vanessa Hudgens', Ryan Leslie's, and The-Dream's) by someone with no presence or charisma as a singer. So far the bits of beauty and the mere gestures towards passion seem sufficient, somehow, or fairly likable half the time, anyway. Better than I'd expected, though my expectations were lower than some people's. See my reappraisal of "Turnin' Me On" here.)

EDIT: DeLong, on the other hand, seems fairly happy with it, unless I'm misreading his tone, which I may well be. Not that I understand his analysis either, obviously, but my guess is that some of you will, since he's laying things out pretty simply.

Comments

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Agree on the Hilson - I get absolutely no sense of who she is, which makes sense given that she's primarily a songwriter, not a performer. R-Les is an apt comparison - V-Hudge less so, b/c her anonymity comes from a different place - and I'd disagree that The-Dream lacks presence. On the ILM R&B thread I said Keri is the new Kandi Burruss which I would stand by (though Kandi's writing track record beats Keri's handily so far).

Anyway, Keri's facelessness actually benefits her material in single-sized doses - it makes 'Turnin' Me On' and 'Return The Favor' sound like better radio/club jams, tracks which ask nothing of you. But she even sounds anonymous when she does a "controversial" rap on the 'Turnin' Me On' remix, on which she supposedly calls out a load of R&B chicks from the songwriter's perspective, à la Ne-Yo's 'A Milli' freestyle. Except she doesn't really call anyone out specifically enough for it to mean anything, and while her rap has enough attitude to be great ("MISS KERI BAYYYYBEHHHH!") it's generic R&B swagger rather than Keri-specific swagger.

[koganbot]

I remember poking around used CD stores for months back in the early '00 and '01 looking for the Kandi album. Never did find it. What's she doing these days? (Seems to be in PeachCandy, assuming that it's the same "Kandi." And here's her own MySpace. Says she's been working with Karina, David Banner, Tyra B, Fantasia, Ciara, Rich Girl, LeToya, Melissa Jimenez, Tiffany Evans; also is on "the hit Bravo show 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta.'")

There's a lot going on in The-Dream album, and I get a strong presence from the music, but the personality I'm getting is of the Mind Behind The Music (who just happens to be the singer).

[koganbot]

Oops. Botched the Kandi link. Here it is:

http://www.myspace.com/kandionline

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

I have to disagree! I've found the album to be a surprisingly coherent story of Keri's neuroses regarding relationships - she might be a beautiful, intelligent, creative adult with the world at her fingertips, but dammit she can't deal with blokes argh argh. Even when she's flirting with dudes she's not quite sure what she wants (is Lil Wayne* turning her on or off? WHO KNOWS) - compare it to Set Your Money Up where she and the girls know exactly what they want and how to get it, namely expensive booze. SYMU is the only track where Keri seems to be in her comfort zone (except, er, the intro).

So then, current faves on the album: Turning Me On & Set Your Money Up (armoured truck!); others I'll skip straight to: Return The Favour, Intuition, Alienated, Energy. The only one I really can't deal with is 'Make Love', as I said here it's too voyeurish and grimace-inducing for me to listen to properly.

*I'm not a Lil Wayne expert by any means so can someone tell me if he's made the 'Wayne's World' gag countless times before already? Because I totally lolled :)

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I remember him casually referencing Wayne's World in 'Get High, Rule Tha World' and he's probably done it lots more times that I can't remember, but I think this is the first time he's set it up so well, but the "you're just an earthling" line. His guest spot here is really good, I also love the "hope your piranha bite" line - he is up to taking on the vagina dentata which is such a staple of scary ho-rap!

I pretty much agree with you on the songwriting and the best tracks, I just don't get much from Keri's voice. Also Kanye very nearly ruins the otherwise excellent 'Knock You Down' w/that awful OMG/woe is me moment. AARGH.

btw I think you will like this Timberlee video!