The Main Idea:
Just a year and a half after the groundbreaking Born To Do It, Craig David released his sophomore effort, Slicker Than Average. Production-wise, Slicker is more complex and more grooving, though it does lack a little bit in the lyrical department. In all honesty, this record isn't much different from Craig's debut. They have the same overall dance party vibe, similar production, and the vocal and lyrical arrangements are similar. Still, Slicker Than Your Average is a bit more radio-friendly than Born To Do It and has more of a poppy/R&B vibe. I still can't figure out which album is better, though.

Song-By-Song Breakdown:
1. SLICKER THAN YOUR AVERAGE - This track has obvious hip-hop sentiments in its throbbing bassline and well-arranged synthesizers. It's very danceable, but still has that mellow, chilled quality about it that Craig applies to all of his songs. I don't care for the lyrics (he complains about fame too damn much these days), and the vocals are very mediocre and don't suit the production, but, overall, a very upbeat, catchy song, though not one of his best - 4/5

2. WHAT'S YOUR FLAVA? - This dance song is very up-tempo with simple and sometimes nonsensical lyrics, though the production is far too busy and complicated for my tastes. This track doesn't really fit in with the rest of the record; it has a much more bubblegum sound than the other tunes. Sometimes, the way the vocals are layered and arranged can be irritating and distract you from the song, but it's still pretty good. I just don't think women should be compared to ice cream - 4/5

3. FAST CARS - Why this song wasn't put on the soundtrack for "2 Fast 2 Furious" I'll never know, but the track is good nonetheless. I don't like the car and helicopter sounds at the beginning and end of the song, and, though it's catchy, I also don't think women should be compared to cars: "I'm on a mission/First thing disarming your system/Next thing slip the key in the ignition/Just listen/To the way that you purr at me you know you prefer the speed." What the hell??? A very urban-sounding song with good production that fits the lyrics well - 4/5

4. HIDDEN AGENDA - This track kind of sounds like a blend of "7 Days" and "Booty Man" from the previous record and is one of the better songs on the disc. The percussion and guitars are great, and Craig does an excellent job at hitting those high notes and therefore delivers the lyrics very convincingly. It sounds a bit out of place on this album, though, and probably would have sounded even better on Born To Do It - 4/5

5. EENIE MEENIE - Yet another hip-hop-influenced gem that has a similar vibe as #3. Craig delivers the verses and cute little hook very quickly - "Eenie meenie minie mo/Gonna miss you that I know/Girl it's been wonderful/But I gotta let you go/Eenie meenie minie mo/Getting kind of critical/Don't wanna hurt you though/But I gotta let you go" - and I actually like the little rap part in the middle, but I don't like the techno sort of thing at the end - 3/5

6. YOU DON'T MISS YOUR WATER ('TIL THE WELL RUNS DRY) - This is the only real ballad on the record, and it's very beautiful. The lyrics are heartfelt and the piano in the background suits the track very well, though Craig's voice lacks a certain level of emotion that's needed to deliver this tune convincingly. Still, this song is stripped down and refreshing and is one of the best on the album. The production's simplicity is very classy and elegant and suits Craig's voice well - 4/5

7. RISE & FALL - This track features Sting and is a cover of sorts of his "Shape Of My Heart." It is, once again, very simple, and Sting's vocals on the chorus are very soothing: "Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over/And it seems as though the writings on the wall/Superstar you finally made it/But once your picture becomes tainted/It's what they call/The rise and fall." I was skeptical of this pairing, but it works well, as Sting's voice compliments Craig's surprisingly well. The guitar, simple production, and cleverly arranged vocals make it easily the best track on the record - 5/5

8. PERSONAL - This track just sounds like a cheap Usher cover tune, and I really can't stand this whole bump-n-grind wannabe sexual kind of thing. The production is corny and gets really out of control at the end, and I also don't care for Craig's delivery. Still, it's not the worst song in the world, as it has some clever lyrics, but it's definitely the worst track on the record. Maybe it's supposed to turn women on, but it certainly didn't turn me on, unless you mean on to the next song - 3/5

9. HANDS UP IN THE AIR - This is the requisite party song that's borderline cheesy with it's bouncy hook, but it has a certain club-worthy edge to it that saves it. Once again, very reminiscent of something off the first album, though it fits in perfectly with this one as well. Craig's voice really carries the lyrics well on this tune, and I really don't think anyone but him could have done such a good job on it - 4/5

10. 2 STEPS BACK - This two-step track is another Born To Do It-comfy song with an almost illegally catchy chorus: "Every time we take one step forward/You take 2 steps back/Everytime it's right you bring left back/Girl you really oughta think about it/'Cause there's really no doubt about it/You know I'm been there for you and that's the truth." I think Craig David is really underrated as a singer because he delivers this mid-tempo dance song with a lot of power and conviction - 4/5

11. SPANISH - The title of this song describes its sound perfectly, as it's accented with some great guitar and Latin-inspired production. I really love the way this song is delivered, and the little rap part at the end adds a certain rough quality to the track. Craig has a pretty bad accent, so the parts where he sings in Spanish aren't very flattering, but he still pulls it off. I especially love the production; it's so upbeat and danceable, I can't help but groove whenever I hear this song - 5/5

12. WHAT'S CHANGED - This simple tune is about Craig not being in love with a girl and the girl asking him what happened to their relationship. The girl who sings with Craig on this song is named Katie Holmes (not the actress), but I don't really know who she is. She does have a very pretty voice, though, and it compliments Craig's very well. The production is fairly simple and allows the well-arranged vocals to really shine through. Very radio-friendly and very good - 5/5

13. WORLD FILLED WITH LOVE - This song doesn't fit in with the rest of the album; it's got real folky rock leanings rather than the usual hip-hop and R&B. The cornball lyrics don't help, either: "Cause I'm a young heart living in a world filled with love/So when teardrops fall from me like rain from above/I can brush my troubles away/Know that deep down inside/I got sunshine in my life." He doesn't deliver it very well, though it is catchy, and the instrumentals are poorly arranged - 3/5

The Big Picture:
Slicker Than Your Average has a corny title, but there's definitely nothing corny about this music. Craig David serves up his usual blend of urban hip-hop, R&B, pop, and two-step, but is that lack of change a good thing? This record could have just as easily been named Born To Do It Pt. 2 because there is little difference between the two albums. As I mentioned, most of the songs on Slicker Than Your Average wouldn't sound out of place on Craig's previous record. This would normally be annoying, but hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? Sometimes redundancy can be cool, as long as it doesn't last too long. I'm happy with this record, but I really don't wanna hear another carbon copy of Craig's first album. I think he should try something different on his next record, as this sound is getting a little boring.

Still, their are some differences between this album and the previous one. Born To Do It really concentrated on Craig's lyrical prowess and vocal ability, while most of Slicker Than Your Average is decidedly production-driven and centered around getting your booty out onto the dance floor. In the lyrics, Craig mostly complains about the downfalls of fame (which is a load of crap because anyone with that much money has no right to complain) and tackles the well-worn issues that pertain to relationships, but, other than YOU DON'T MISS YOUR WATER and RISE & FALL, there are no really remarkable or clever lyrics to be had. The vocals stay the same for the most part, though they're used in different ways on Slicker Than Your Average. As a whole, this album isn't any better than Craig's debut, but, if you're more into deep lyrical content and a mellower sound, go for Born To Do It. If you're looking for complex, danceable production, this is the Craig David record for you.

Final Notes:
Average Song Rating: 4.0
Best Song(s): "Rise & Fall"
Worst Song(s): "Personal" and "World Filled With Love"

How Would I Rate This Record's...
Vocals? 3 stars
Lyrics? 3 stars
Production? 4 stars
Timelessness? 1 star
Artistry? 2 stars

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Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out