Keyshia Cole | Calling All Hearts
Keyshia Cole | Calling All Hearts
by Brent Faulkner
Keyshia Cole experienced mega success from her first two albums, The Way It Is and her most critically lauded effort Just Like You. A Different Me, her third album was successful as well, if less so than the first two, but spawned ‘minor’ hits through “Playa Cardz Right” featuring the late 2Pac and “Trust” featuring Monica. That said, it didn’t garner the success it deserved or that the Cole camp would have envisioned, despite debuting gallantly at #2 with 322,000 copies sold in the first week. Who knows if Calling All Hearts is supposed to be a ‘reaction’ to more timid sales or airplay, but some slight cues signify such (a parental advisory label, a Nicki Minaj feature, etc.) For the most part, there is not enough change here to signify that Cole is searching for a new direction as she continues to do what she does best - adult contemporary themed R&B. ‘Calling All Hearts’ is not Cole’s best album (some may even argue it is her weakest), but that said, it is still a strong, worthwhile affair.
“I Ain’t Thru” opens the album strongly, but doesn’t necessarily eclipse previous any of the previous album openers such as “I Just Want It To Be Over,” “Let It Go,” or “Make Me Over.” Cole covers the first verse and then oddly Nicki Minaj’s rap comes in the middle of the song as opposed to either the beginning or near the end. Regardless of the somewhat odd organization, “I Ain’t Thru” is solid and benefits from a simple, though catchy chorus and first-rate vocals from Keyshia. “Long Way Down” is valedictory, finding Cole at her very best and most comfortable - more adult contemporary based cuts with classic sounding production (thanks to J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League). The songwriting is exceptional and the bridge may be the highlight where Keyshia Cole ‘sings her face off.’
“Tired of Doing Me” featuring Tank keeps a good thing going adding a nice adult R&B track to the mix. Tank opens up with superb vocals, followed by Cole holding down the second verse. The chorus is catchy and well penned: “I’m tired of doing me, cause it ain’t working, no/while I was doing me, I was just searching, but it ain’t working/cause was doing you it was so much better, I was doing me couldn’t find nothing better, I’m tired of doing me, cause it ain’t working.” “If I Fall In Love Again” is second duet, featuring Faith Evans, though falls short of the glory of “Tired of Doing Me.” That said, the cut is well put together, featuring exceptional vocals by both Cole and Evans, and lifts a clever choice of sample via Isaac Hayes’s “Walk On By.” “If I Fall In Love Again” helps to keep alive ‘hip-hop soul,’ something that seems to have fallen by the wayside in recent R&B times.
“Sometimes” is solid, but not a ‘standout’ while “Take Me Away”, another Chink Santana/Irv Gotti production might be the ‘second best’ cut of the album following “Long Way Down.” The chorus is well penned and memorable: “I’m so in love with you, no lie I’m telling the truth, I’m your woman, now baby take me away/see you in everything I do, is when I’m so wrapped up in you, I’m your woman, now baby take me way...” “Take Me Away” is followed by “What You Do To Me,” a sound cut featuring beautiful use of strings, acoustic piano, and a ‘fat’ bass line.
“Last Hangover” featuring Timbaland is a tamer production by Timbaland, but turns out to be an electrifying cut. Cole’s vocal performance shines here, though Timbaland’s guest spot is somewhat forgettable. “Thank You,” featuring Yvonne Cole is beautiful, though maybe best considered a ‘sleeper’ hit from this effort. The production is lush and ‘adult contemporary’ in nature - where Cole shines the most vocally. Closing cut “Better Me” is appropriately placed at the end of the effort, though it isn’t the best cut of the album by an means. It is enjoyable, nonetheless.
Brent Faulkner
The Urban Music Scene
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