Kelis - Kelis Was Here

Hip-hop's hottest housewife may not have 'em lining up around the block they way they did for "Milkshake," but Kelis Was Here, her fourth disc, doesn't lack for suggestive mouthfuls. "Blindfold Me" trades in unapologetic but catchy raunch, and "What's That Right There," produced by will.i.am, is a cool size-up of her sex life--"You likes it raw, I likes it on top/I got something for that lollipop," she teases. There's more to Kelis than dirty lyrics and a pretty face, though, and she proves that here deftly, first single "Bossy" being the best example. While her fellow R&B divas fall all over themselves to churn out the latest addition to the my-man-done-wronged-me canon, Kelis keeps her vulnerable side--if she has one--under wraps. "Bossy" salutes her inner dominatrix, and "Handful" and "I Don't Think So" send out high-fives to sauciness--a general don't-take-no-mess spirit. What may be most distinctive about Kelis Was Here, though, is its range: dipping, bobbing, and weaving from '80s pop to funk to hip-hop to smoky ballads, Kelis shows one-trick musical ponies how it's done with characteristic, cuss-heavy swagger. --Tammy La Gorce Amazon.com

Great effort from an underappreciated artist

Gotta admit that I knew very little about Mrs. Nasir Jones aka Kelis even after her storm of a hit "Milkshake" shook the pop charts a few years ago. I always thought she was HOT, but that was about it. Well, after doing some music shopping for my significant other whom prefers rap and r&b, I came across this little gem and was pleasantly surprised. The production on most of the songs on this disk were absolutely stellar. And as I listened I fell in love with Kelis' electic style. Her voice is non-conventional as far as your typical r&b diva goes, but extremely sexy. And although not a strong singer, she swoons in a way that makes you feel her words. This is a must have for those of you who love to unwind by shaking your groove thang!!! June 25, 2008

Good change from the Neptunes sound

Finally a CD without the Neptunes. I enjoyed Kaleidoscope and Tasty, but wanted to hear what other producers would do with her. Kelis Was Here isn't her best, but definitely worth picking up, especially for fans of her style.

I think she did a great job without the Neptunes, proving that she didn't need to totally rely on them.

Fave tracks:
Goodbyes
Trilogy
Living Proof
Like You - love the sample from Mozart!
Appreciate Me - VERY soulful even though vocals aren't the greatest here

Honorable mention:
Blindfold Me - guilty pleasure :-)
February 19, 2008

3-1/2 stars -- Don't let the singles turn you off; this album ain't that bad

I really think Kelis' last album Tasty was overrated; to me, the only good songs were the singles "Milkshake" and "Trick Me". On Kelis Was Here, it's the opposite situation: this time the singles actually made me not want to pick up the album. But I listened to it anyway and discovered that it's pretty good.

The most surprising thing about this album is that the Neptunes are nowhere to be found; probably because she was dropped from Star Trak (but why would they drop her after her MOST successful abum?). Fortunately, Kelis still holds her own with other producers, like Scott Storch ("Trilogy") and Raphael Saadiq ("Living Proof"). Ray Ray also produces "Circus", where Kelis tries rapping with okay results, but it isn't as forgettable as when she does it on the hidden track "F Them B's", which is even censored on the album.

There are other good songs though, like "Have a Nice Day" and "Till the Wheels Fall Off". Kelis' singing is also a lot better than it used to be, as she also scores on slower songs like "Appreciate Me" and especially "Goodbyes". Cee-Lo also joins her for another highlight, "Lil Star".

But there are also a few more errors. Will.i.am should have never been allowed on this album because his chorus ruins the otherwise decent "Weekend"; and his other collabo, "What's That Right There", feels like it was written in five minutes. "Aww Ish" goes nowhere, and "Blindfold Me" is ridiculous (although Nas isn't on the album version). Then there's the childish "I Don't Think So", which made me say just that.

It's too bad that this album isn't selling all that well because it'll probably make people say that Kelis Was Here is aptly titled. But there are still enough bumpable tracks on here, so it wouldn't hurt to pick it up.

Anthony Rupert August 24, 2007

The Best Prince Album that Prince Didn't Record!

Wow! I have had this CD since last year but really never listened to it until tonight and I had to express my gratitude for a sister Kelis, who is truly one of the most innovative and original artists of her time. I bought the CD to loop the cut "Living Proof" for a fashion show I deejayed. It was a genuine head bobber and I got quite a few people asking who the artist was, but I put it on the shelf and never really listened to it. I am truly sorry I slept on this sister because this CD is mostly back-to-back killers. Once you get past the listenable but forgettable "Bossy" this CD smokes. Believe-it-or-not, "Bossy" was also a request at another gig I played for a bride at her wedding reception. My favorite tracks 1)"Til the Wheels Fall Off." The best of the will.i.am produced cuts that really comnes close to the best of Prince in the 80s. The other 2 will.i.am songs are warmed over Black Eyed Peas. 2) "Living Proof." This Raphael Saadiq tune really grooves; a great runway song too. 3) "Trilogy" the Scott Storch produced finger snapping groove that channels Jam & Lewis's (not Dupri's) Janet Jackson. 4) "Lil Star" produced and featuring Cee-Lo rivals some of the best Sly and the Family Stone cuts. I also liked the autobiographical truth of "Circus." A disclaimer: I bought the edited version of the CD (or as I call it the family reunion version) so I'm not sure how raw she gets on some of the cuts. That being said, if you want a very satisfying CD which loops, soars and dives like a great roller coaster ride, do yourself a favor and give this CD a listen. Even if you slept on it the first time around like me, this kind of creativity and musicianship is timeless. Add this to your "road series" CDs. Put this in your car CD on a long trip and watch the miles fly by. August 5, 2007

Kelis Was Here - 4.5 stars

Listening to this disc makes me sad that Kelis isn't embraced more fully by the US but I guess as a fan, knowing that she is appreciated overseas for being a dynamic risk taker, has to be enough! This is another excellent offering by an artist who knows exactly who she is both as a woman and a vocalist - Kelis never veers from "her lane" yet manages to produce uniquely cohesive albums.

Releasing BOSSY as the lead single was pure genius! I loved it from the jump but it was so great watching friends who initially hated the track fall under the spell of the song last summer.

WHAT'S THAT RIGHT THERE - a catchy track using Parliment's KNEE DEEP sample while Kelis partly raps & partly sings. Listening to it though, I wonder if it would've been a big hit if either Fergie or Gwen Stafanie was the artist behind the song....

TILL THE WHEELS FALL OFF - another fave, reminds me of something Prince would've produced in his heydey

LIVING PROOF - melodic track on which Kelis' smoky vocals sound great

BLINDFOLD ME - although this track has a great beat (along with a HOT video by the newlyweds) I thought it was a really risky choice as the 2nd single and killed the momentum built up by BOSSY

GOODBYES - I love the beats on this track and as I listened to it over & over, something about it reminds me of something Lenny Kravitz would sing (now wouldn't that be a great duet!?!)

APPRECIATE ME - a very dramatic anthemic song that builds and again features Kelis' trademark throaty vocals

HAVE A NICE DAY - this track turns into a really fun listen once you get to the "carnivale" breakdown

TRILOGY, WEEKEND & CIRCUS - all feature great catchy beats but the strong lyrics of CIRCUS presenting a commentary about today's music industry make it another fave

My favorite track 2nd to BOSSY is the gorgeous LIL STAR - why oh why wasn't this released as the 2nd single??? I think it would've been a hit and it definitely would've piqued the interest of those who only think of Kelis in passing (it's truly a hidden gem much like MILLIONAIRE was on her TASTY album).

I'm so glad that in the face of what the music industry has become, Kelis continues to "go left" and do her own thing while still putting out excellent music. I was surprised that the Neptunes didn't work on even one track but this did not lead to a drop off in the quality of the music. Fans won't be disappointed and neither will those who are just discovering Kelis - this ecclectic collection will keep music lovers smiling for days. June 22, 2007

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