The Rundown: Kelis, Food
See what the singer cooked up for her sixth studio album.
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Are You Hungry? - Mmmm, that was Tasty. Her "Milkshake" already brought all the boys to the yard, now the songstress/saucy chef is cooking up some soulful flavor with her sixth studio album, Food. After dabbling in the dance lane with Flesh Tone, this time around Kelis is taking the nostalgic path for her retro-sounding, taste bud-titlating new album. With track titles such as "Jerk Ribs," "Friday Fish Fry" and "Biscuits N' Gravy," the eccentric R&B singer works with super producer David Sitek to bring you jazz-inspired, finger-licking good psychedelic music; seasoned with brass, percussion, and horns and a dash of rhythm and blues. Keep reading for a track-by-track review of Kelis’s sonic soul food sounds. — Dominique Zonyeé (@DominiqueZonyee)(Photo: Ninja Tune)
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"Breakfast" - It’s best to start off with the first meal of the day. Kelis kicks off Food with an energetic tambourine-rattling introduction featuring her and Nas's son Knight, who invites you over to his house for one of his mom's fabulous creations. On this horn-heavy track, Kelis focuses on her trinity: family, food and music, as she sings, "This is the real thing/The real thing is us/Welcome to the world… maybe we will make it to breakfast." A perfect intro to her newfound home in the kitchen/studio.(Photo: Ninja Tune)
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"Jerk Ribs" - The first single of the album is just like the title sounds: spicy, hot and sure to leave you begging for more. Kelis lets the drums and horns provide a progressive jazz vibe to lead her serenade as she she takes a walk down memory lane to her music origins in Harlem. She sings about how her jazz musician father built the foundation for her music. But besides obvious signs of his influence, Kelis allows her own vibrant nature shine through, begging you to "call on me, because it feels just like it should" and well… that’s pretty damn good!(Photo: CPA, PacificCoastNews.com)
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"Forever Be" - Maintaining the same jazz elements as "Jerk Ribs" and "Breakfast," the Grammy-nominated singer slows it down on this one, allowing you to soak in the piano, trumpets and violin in order to appreciate the live band feel. "Forever Be" is one of those melodic, happy songs, which could easily play on vinyl while you're preparing your favorite dish or relaxing after a hard week's work at your favorite live band bar.(Photo: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
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"Floyd" - This song takes you back to the singer's fourth studio album, Kelis Was Here, and is reminiscent in vocal delivery of her song, "Til the Wheels Fall Off." Kelis sings of a bored state with her personal relationships, in which she seeks to be "blown away." While the lyrics are pretty straight forward, it is the band that steals the show, bringing you into the '70s with a Sly and the Family Stone meets progressive rock feel.(Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for TwoFour54)
Photo By Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images
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"Runnin'" - It's not hard to tell that Kelis has combined her British Ninja Tune influence with her Harlem Renaissance roots on this album. "Runnin'" is one of the somber tracks that screams classic Portishead feel. The infusion of light bass and horns with the dreamy hymns and harmonies provide for a psychedelic trance that swept over British musicians more than two decades ago. A long way from the woman who brought you "Bossy," Kelis goes from pushy to reflective as she recalls running away from relationships, problems and all things you may want to turn your back on. (Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
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"Hooch" - Another ode to the past, Kelis takes on the throwback colloquial term for alcohol as the title of this track, which highlights the theme of the album: horns and nostalgia. Like an aged cognac over ice, the percussion and jazz elements put you in your "grown and sexy" state of mind, while Kelis's sultry voice of ooohs and ahhhs complement each note. "Hooch" can easily be an instrumental for the jazz enthusiast, but the combination of the instruments and her saucy serenade makes it palatable across multiple genres.(Photo: Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)
Photo By Ben Gabbe/Getty Images
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"Cobbler" - Here is when everything gets peachy. "Cobbler" is juicy, sweet and almost sinful. It starts off with a trip to Spanish Harlem, with Kelis and her girl speaking en español right before the cajóns and horns chime in to speak directly to your hips. "You make me feel like a holiday/Here in your arms is where I want to stay." But beyond the revealing chorus, the bridge, "You make me hit notes I've never seen before," is a revelation for both Kelis and her fans. (Photo: Brian To/WENN.com)
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"Bless the Telephone" - "Bless the Beatles" could have been an alternate title for this John Lennon-esque sound. But knowing that this is a Labi Siffre cover, the grassy plains and dandelions feel makes sense. Kelis and an acoustic guitar float on the "Yellow Submarine" as she sing-talks in her one-of-a-kind raspy tone. "Bless the Telephone" fits right in with the nostalgic feel of the album and proves that Kelis is more versatile than ever before.(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for SXSW)
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"Friday Fish Fry" - T.G.I.F., or in Kelis's case, "All right daddy, games are over." This cut picks up where "Cobbler" left off, except the electric guitar coupled with the horns and drums lets you know immediately that this is a party. Kelis has a good time as she transitions from songstress to poet with ease on this fun energetic track in which she begs on her knees for a tall-glass-of-water-type of man to give her what she wants and what she needs.(Photo: Samir Hussein/Getty Images)
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"Change" - This song may feature some of the most outright lyrics that describe Kelis as an artist. Taking a page from Pink Floyd's long list of classics (most likely from The Dark Side of the Moon), Kelis demonstrates her ability to transcend all genres while maintaining her personality and artistry. "Change" features an array of sounds, from Kelis's classic screams, as she sings, "You can't escape the grips of desire," to the constant purring sounds of "ahhhhh" and the hypnotic trance of the vintage British rock beat.(Photo: Steve Finn/Getty Images)
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"Rumble" - The second single on the album features the same British rock influence that is a constant thread throughout Food. This time, for a retrospective break-up song that is quieter than you would expect sonically given its title. Kelis shows restraint as she belts out those raspy high notes she has dabbled with in the past on her debut album, Kaleidoscope, pairing it with a soft chorus, in which she sings, almost at a whisper, "I'm so glad you gave back my keys." This is one mature break-up song to say the least.(Photo: Ninja Tune)
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"Biscuits N' Gravy" - Rich, thick and full of flavor, "Biscuits N’ Gravy" is a piano ballad that is as comforting as a side of biscuits and gravy with your chicken fried steak. Kelis taps into her poetic side as she attempts to evaluate her life. She sings, "I don't know where I'm going/Quite a story where I've been/My math seems all wrong/And my compass has the end." While the piano is key, the horns are unleashed by the middle of the track and Kelis picks up her octaves accordingly.(Photo: FayesVision/WENN.com)