Review: Kelly Rowland, Ms. Kelly

Largely viewed as a career low point for R&B diva Kelly Rowland, Ms. Kelly was Rowland's sophomore effort that failed to match the success of its predecessor. Its singles struggled on the charts despite fairly solid sales figures for the album itself. Nevertheless, Ms. Kelly serves as one of Rowland's most cohesive bodies of work and is most certainly an underrated R&B record that set Rowland on the course towards producing more personal and meaningful music as a solo artist.

The album opens on the club-favourite "Like This" featuring rapper Eve. Its popping arrangement and Rowland's assertive confidence on the track make for a fun dance record that is fondly remembered among Rowland's fans. Rowland also burns it up on the standout track "Work" with its pounding rhythm and playful lyrics. "Work" is sexy and sassy in the best way and serves as a solid dance anthem with an arrangement perfectly laid out for intricate choreography. The winding "Comeback" is another solid effort with its urban influences and Rowland's seductive vocal delivery. Similarly, "The Show" is a remarkably sensual cut that provides a preview of the sex jams that would later punctuate Rowland's music. Unfortunately, these club tracks are few and far between on Ms. Kelly. The album itself is ballad and midtempo heavy which, interestingly enough, was also a major issue with Simply Deep. Still, much of the album is co-written by Rowland so the material comes across as deeply personal. The simmering ballad "Every Thought Is You" is airy and features effortless vocals on Rowland's part. "Still In Love With My Ex" serves as the standout amongst the slower tempo songs. Its lyrics are vulnerable and honest while Rowland's vocals are pained and emotive. The song is powerful and could be favourably compared to the work done by diva supreme Mariah Carey. It truly is unfortunate that "Still In Love With My Ex" never emerged as a single. The Solange-penned "Love" is a solid midtempo track with an underlying piano melody and a hopping arrangement laid over it. Rowland pushes herself vocally on the song and is to be commended for doing so. "Better Without You" sees Rowland settling into a gorgeous breathlessness across the track's weightless composition while "This Is Love" is a beautifully-written orchestral ballad that attempts to capture love within its nearly five-minute running time. The latter song closes the album sweetly and highlights a rarely seen side of Rowland where she indulges in love and romance rather than raunchy sex and he-done-me-wrong break-up jams.

In retrospect, Kelly Rowland should be proud of the work she put out with Ms. Kelly. It features solid R&B ballads and has lyrical depth and diversity while its dance tracks are infectious. Her voice on the album is warm and layered while maintaining the slight sweetness she's known for. Yes, the album could have used more uptempo tracks but it is remarkable for its lack of filler tracks. Ms. Kelly is start-to-finish a cohesive urban album that should be celebrated and viewed as a milestone in Rowland's career as a solo artist.

Recommended Listening: "Like This," "Comeback," "Work," "Every Thought Is You," "The Show," "Still In Love With My Ex," "Love," "Better Without You," "This Is Love"

Grade: B+