Product Description

Who would have ever guessed that the son of the writers of theme songs for TV's FACTS OF LIFE and DIFFERENT STROKES would grow up to become one of the most exciting R&B artists ofthe early 21st century? Well that's exactly the case with Robin Thicke (son of TV personalities/composers Alan Thicke and Gloria Loring). Thicke's debut album A BEAUTIFUL WORLD puts Justin Timberlake to shame in the caucasian-Michael Jackson sweepstakes, even as it leaves behind cliched pop trappings for a quirky, innovative sound that owes more to Maxwell or D'Angelo (not to mention Stevie Wonder) than to any cookie-cutter R. Kelly wannabe.
Thicke's velvety voice moves sinuously through the songs without ever overstating its case, and the production (by Thicke and his drummer Pro J) is subtle, complex, and endlessly surprising. Somehow he manages the difficult feat of taking all the elements of contemporary mainstream R&B, reshuffling them and coming out with something entirely his own. A BEAUTIFUL WORLD is a serious contender for best R&B album of 2003.

Track Listing

1. Oh Shooter
2. Suga Mama
3. Flowers In Bloom
4. When I Get You Alone
5. Stupid Things
6. I'm A Be Alright
7. Brand New Jones
8. Vengas Con Migo
9. Flex
10. Make A Baby
11. Lazy Bones
12. Cherry Blue Skies

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28390 in Music
• Released on: 2003-04-08
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

Customer Reviews

good voice, ok songs, crap lyrics
I bought this a couple of years ago because I loved the single 'when I get you alone'. Have to say I was somewhat disappointed. He has a great voice and the production is really good.

However, most of the songs are average musically and several of them have cringingly bad lyrics - the sort of thing a 12yr old might write. Hopefully his songwriting will improve with age.

An amazing artist
Thicke is truly an amazing artist, he writes his own songs and sings them beautifully! I don't think i have heard anything so different! i hope he brings out another album

a brand new jones
It would be unfair to compare Thicke to any other artist: he truly steps into his own on this LP and it is only right that the whole world understands this epitome of blue-eyed soul. If you like this, buy 'Purple Rain' by Prince and the Revolution, 'Frank' by Amy Winehouse and/or 'Hotter then July' by Stevie Wonder.

Mentored by the legendary Andre Harrell, Thicke shows how competent and how varied he can be. The opening track, "Oh Shooter" is a classy start with echoes of D'Angelo but works it's way into a big finale that would put Tower of Power to shame! The title track is a real tear jerker and you hear how Thicke wonders why the world is so screwed up but takes pleasure in knowing that there will always be 'all the joy, all the babies, all the trees in spring, all the joy it brings, all the top 10 centrefolds" (!)

"Suga Mama" is, to put it lightly...superb. You can clearly hear his influences with the soulful squeals of Prince and the yeah yeah yeahs of Rahsaan Patterson. The first single, "When I Get You Alone" understated Thicke's abilities, despite its appropriate sampling and power driven vocals. To truly understand what I really mean, buy this album. It has been so long that soul has heard something fresh, something original that doesn't just include the words 'baby, forever, together, you and me' etc.

Listen to this with hot chocolate in a big chair, while lying down on your lover's chest or while walking down the street after a lucky night. Fin.