Pros A sparse few okay songs--some interesting ideas on soul
Cons Affected, hollow, unfocused, dishonest
The Bottom Line Thicke's version of "soul" is anything but soulful. Skip Beautiful World if you stumble upon it.
Full Review
The name is Thicke. Robin Thicke.
His daddy may be Alan Thicke (you know, daddy Seaver on Growing Pains) but the younger Thicke is carving out his own musical niche. What determines whether or not you’ll enjoy his take on blue-eyed soul is dependent on whether you really like the genre and whether you can take the Californian’s indecision, haphazard arrangement, and rampant egotism.
Prior to releasing his 2002/2003 debut Beautiful World, Thicke had already tried his hand at writing for Christina Aguilera, Mya, and Brandy and producing for Usher. He obviously had something else in mind and struck out on a solo career bolstered by a media blitz. Despite the effort put into the album, the occasional decency of the music, and his famous last name Thicke’s debut didn’t sell well and earned lukewarm critical support. I’m not one to judge an artist based on what the so-called experts have to say, so I picked up Beautiful World a year or so after its official street date.
The first thing that rubs me wrong about the whole outfit is Thicke’s voice. It’s pure and boyish, but he tries much too hard to mold it into Prince or Jamiroquai. It isn’t notable, interesting, or vaguely dynamic. The second thing that smacks me across the face is that the music is sometimes hip and engaging but usually is incredibly tired and rather milquetoast. What does it say when a song that takes Beethoven’s classic Symphony No. 5 and sets it aside an upbeat disco-soul vibe is easily one of the most memorable moments? Not much, my friends, not much. I honestly wish that Thicke could have dug a little deeper emotionally and forgotten about his goal of making a soul record. He should of concentrated on making an album first. Beautiful World takes itself too seriously, is too unfocused, and is too inconsistent to qualify as respectable.
The aforementioned song (When I Get You Alone) is thankfully not the only vaguely decent thing about Beautiful World. Not great but definitely listenable are the low key title track (in the number two position here), the simple acoustic love song The Stupid Things, the groovy Motown sound of Brand New Jones and the off-kilter Beatles-esque Make a Baby. I wish I could say more good about this disc, but truth be told it is hollow, over-produced, and of all things lacks soul. Thicke sounds like a generic but modestly talented folk singer who wants nothing more than to be an R&B singer. Somehow he thinks that setting his dire songs along side to scratches, horn sections, big bass drums, and electric guitars will make the music stand out. Beautiful world does indeed stand out, but certainly not because of the excellent quality of the music—cough, cough.
I suppose there are worse things in this world than Thicke’s affected debut. I can think of at least a few off the top of my head but since he challenges me so very little across this album I really can’t say that I’m motivated to say much outside of: “Beautiful World has some okay moments and some really forgettable, affected, ugly, ridiculous moments. If this is the future of blue-eyed soul I want nothing to do with it.” From the opening notes of the tepid Oh Shooter to the closing notes of the vapid but apparently “socially aware” Cherry Blue Skies I’m completely unimpressed. If you’re interested in hearing more from Thicke may I suggest digging up a CD in the bargain bin or just simply tossing a handful of the songs I mentioned in the oh-so-brief positive portion of this review on to a mix CD. Really, honestly, Robin Thicke does nothing for me despite comparisons to the much more interesting Jamiroquai, infinitely more talented Remy Shand, and the lovely Maxwell.
Beautiful World seems like the work of a novelty artist trying too hard to be something he is not despite claims to the contrary.
Rating: 1.5/5 stars (rounded up so as to not discourage everybody)
Track Listing:
01. Oh Shooter
02. A Beautiful World
03. Suga Mama
04. Flowers in Bloom
05. When I Get You Alone
06. The Stupid Things
07. I’m a Be Alright
08. Brand New Jones
09. Vengas Conmigo
10. Flex
11. Make a Baby
12. She’s Gangsta
13. Lazy Bones
14. Cherry Blue Skies
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