Kevin Michael: Kevin Michael
Friday, 26 Oct 2007 15:24
Kevin Michael release his debut album
Warner, out October 29th.
In a nutshell…
Talented newcomer plays it safe
What's it all about?
Kevin Michael showcases an r 'n' b album with an infusion of cross genre sound. Relatively easy to listen to, there are tracks to suit all tastes as producers have presented music that will appeal to those who like reggae, jazz, funk and hip-hop. Predominately focusing on matters of the heart, Kevin Michael also touches on the theme of race.
Who's it by
22-year-old Kevin Michael - known for his signature afro, which he's vowed to keep for some time to come - presents a fresh new sound of cross genre music. His sound has been compared to John Legend, with one publication claiming that he is a threat to Justin Timberlake and could quite possibly knock the king of pop off the block. Raised in the ghetto of Philadelphia, the talented artist faced the issues of race identity and now considers himself to be neither black nor white.
In this album, Kevin Michael collaborates with Wyclef in his upbeat reggae-flavoured single It Don't Make Any Difference to Me. Other featuring artists include Q-Tip, Lupe Fiasco and Akil Dasan.
As an example…
"It don't make any difference to me/What the world thinks about us baby/'Cos in my heart I will always believe/That we were meant for each other/Love ain't got any colour"- It Don't Make Any Difference to Me
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Slim, despite Kevin Michael having a beautiful voice.
What the others say
"The reggae-tinged, Wyclef-assisted It Don’t Make Any Difference to Me - about the difficulty of growing up biracial - is by far the most interesting thing here." - Rolling Stone
So is it any good?
With 15 tracks, this album offers good value to potential new fans as Kevin Michael enters the music industry with his soulful sound. At times it can be a little monotonous, with a few of the tracks sounding quite similar. But this new kid from the block definitely presents himself through a positive light, showing off a relatively unique style in both vocals and appearance.
A good album to have playing in the background, with only a few of the tracks deserving to be played at real volume, it is unlikely to become platinum-selling. Kevin Michael does reveal that he has talent nonetheless. His strong voice is technically adept, but let down by the repetitiveness of much of the album.
The better songs have personal meaning behind them and are not marketing tools attempting to draw in stereotypes. The track We All Want the Same Things is a great example of his potential and with more tracks like this, Kevin Michael could perhaps be the next Justin Timberlake.
6.5/10
Alicia Francis
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