• June 04, 2007
• Vol. 67
• No. 22

Music

By Chuck Arnold, JESSICA HERNDON, CHRISTINA TAPPER

R. Kelly
Double Up | [2.5 stars]
R&B

Having been the go-to guest vocalist for many a rapper in his prolific career, R. Kelly pairs up with a slew of emcees on his latest. Snoop Dogg, Nelly, T.I. and Ludacris are just some of the hip-hoppers who pay their respects to the self-proclaimed "king of R&B." Meanwhile, Usher crashes the party on "Same Girl," a soul-man showdown that fails to live up to its star power. With or without company, Kelly seems to be coasting on his rep for much of the overlong Double Up. Whether he's trying to re-create the over-the-top melodrama of "Trapped in the Closet" or straining to come up with more sexual metaphors for his patented bump-and-grinders, he seems to be running low on fresh ideas. At least on the uplifting "Rise Up," a charity single written in response to the Virginia Tech shootings, Kelly sounds genuinely inspired.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Rise Up"

Feist
The Reminder| [3.5 stars]
CRITIC'S CHOICE
ALT-POP

"I feel it all," sings Feist on the summery pop delight also titled "I Feel It All." Indeed, this Canadian singer-songwriter has a little bit of everything on her third solo album. There's lilting bossa nova ("So Sorry"), sultry jazz-pop ("My Moon My Man"), atmospheric folk ("The Park"), even some old-time gospel ("Sealion"). And Feist handles it all with a deft touch that seamlessly connects the dots. Reminding you at times of Joni Mitchell, Feist possesses a haunting voice that makes these songs linger in your head long after they are over.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "I Feel It All"

Jason Aldean
Relentless | [2.5 stars]

COUNTRY

It's a bold move when any young buck invites comparisons to the Man in Black. Which is exactly what Jason Aldean does on "Johnny Cash," the first single and opening track of this follow-up to 2005's gold self-titled debut. But singing about "blasting out the Johnny Cash," Aldean kicks up enough dust that it works. While it's doubtful that anyone will be blasting Relentless years from now, it has its modest charms, from the wistful "Laughed Until We Cried" to the regretful "My Memory Ain't What It Used to Be." And "Grown Woman" is an affecting she-done-me-wrong song. Still, Aldean isn't a special enough singer to elevate the more mediocre material, coming off more like the poor man's Tim McGraw.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "My Memory Ain't What It Used to Be"

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More From This Article

Video of the Week Rihanna, "umbrella"

• The R&B-pop singer is dripping with sex appeal in the hot clip for her new single featuring Jay-Z. Prancing and dancing, she does more for umbrellas than Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain.

Quick Cuts

LINKIN PARK Minutes to Midnight These dudes get all touchy-feely on their third studio album, largely abandoning the rap-rock of yore for a more melodic, melancholic sound. But we still have a soft spot for old-school LP. [2½ stars]

PARIS BENNETT Princess P Perhaps because her grandmother is gospel-R&B singer Ann Nesby, this 2006 American Idol finalist is already dubbing herself music royalty. But her hip-hop soul debut doesn't yield any real jewels for a tiara just yet. [2 stars]

ERASURE Light at the End of the World After all these years, this British synth-pop duo still can't break those chains of love. And when it makes for pulsating cuts like "Sucker for Love" and first single "I Could Fall in Love with You," why should they? [3 stars]

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT Release the Stars Wainwright once again aims for the stars on his new disc. And though the singer-songwriter doesn't always get there, when he does—as on the heartbreakingly beautiful ballad "Not Ready to Love"—it's something special. [3 stars]

Catching Up with ... Flea

• The Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist, 44, has been giving back to kids with the Silverlake Conservatory of Music he cofounded in Los Angeles.

ON STARTING THE SCHOOL IN 2001 I started this place because the public school system dropped the ball on music programs. We can spend billions of dollars on the war in Iraq and we can't give a kid a clarinet in seventh grade. It's crazy.

ON HIS DAUGHTER PLAYING DRUMS She was in an all-girl band for a while and then just stopped. They are teenagers and [probably] got in an argument over who was wearing what dress or something.

ON THE CHILI PEPPERS' LONGEVITY We've been going for nearly 25 years and we just love music. It's so mysterious and exciting and never-ending. As long as we have the collective curiosity to continue to find new ways of playing music, we'll keep doing it.

My Party Playlist

T-PAIN

• The 22-year-old singer recently hit No. 1 on the pop and R&B charts with "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')," off his new CD Epiphany.

JOE BUDDEN, "PUMP IT UP" When this song comes on, I just start dancing. It's only natural.

OUTKAST, "B.O.B." It's a crunk song that can change the whole mood of the club. It's the beats, the lyrics. The energy is fantastic.

LUDACRIS, "THE POTION" Being that I'm also a producer, a lot of beats catch me. This has a Timbaland beat, so it's great.

BUSTA RHYMES, "BREAK YA NECK" This is just one of those head-bobbers. I have no choice but to move my head.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, "LIKE I LOVE YOU" I love dancing to it. It has a great groove.

ERYKAH BADU with COMMON, "LOVE OF MY LIFE (AN ODE TO HIP HOP)" This is a chill song. If a party is getting too wild, you can [play it] and everybody will chill out.