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July 12, 2007

Music Review

Can’t Miss Kelly

Former Destiny’s Child member returns with confidence, emotion and fun

Story by: Anthony Williams

The Shorthorn editor in chief

— Courtesy art

Miss Kelly is ready to party.

Kelly Rowland returns to the solo scene with her sophomore album, Ms. Kelly, and is in great form with more traditional R&B than on her 2002 debut album, Simply Deep.

The former member of Houston’s Destiny’s Child ventured into the alternative scene on her first solo effort, which was more successful internationally. Rowland worked on her new album — originally My Story — for some time but scrapped an earlier version scheduled for release in 2006.

Rowland told MTV last year, “The record was too full of mid-tempos and ballads,” mostly about love and her most recent relationships. While the record does have more of a party feel, she kept a number of the first songs, including “Still In Love With My Ex,” which appears to be directed at her former fiance, Dallas Cowboy Roy Williams. It was leaked on the Internet some time ago, but Rowland stuck with it, freshening it up with a slower instrumental and removing rapper Young Texxus’ verses.

The fifth track, “Flashback,” has similar sentiments to “Ex,” with Rowland singing “Thought I had you out of my mind, Baby, I keep trying, I keep trying and it won’t stop.” Whatever had the singer confused gave her nice emotions to work with creatively for her ballads. Fortunately, she recovered from that funk and added lighter, bass-thumping songs.

The Polow Da Don track “Like This,” featuring rapper Eve, sets the tone for the record, with Rowland telling her girls to leave the drama and embrace being single. Likewise, in the fast-paced “Work,” she tells a man to just do her right — “skip the pretty gifts, no need for complications, you just be sure I reach my destination.”

Rowland wrote or co-wrote all but three of the 12 tracks. Besides “Ex,” her best work seems to be on “Better Without You” and “Every Thought Is You,” where her silky vocals and verses pair perfectly with the tempo.

The singer paints a great picture of a bachelorette’s life. Ms. Kelly has the vibe of a Destiny’s Child album, but only in a good way. There’s a variety of beats and emotions for the listener’s different moods, but the songs can all be listened to in succession. As simple as that may sound, many artists today aim for a singular theme. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t.

While many may continue to wish for more from Destiny’s Child, a more confident Rowland has found her own groove and just might be better off staying solo.