Kelis in 2013

I mean the idea of "good" and "bad" is harsh to talk about bc so many technically gifted singers will oversing to the point that the human element is destroyed (Jill Scott, Florence-- my humble and very personal opinion obv) but Kelis' lack of vocal agility is enormous! sometimes flabbergasting! as I mentioned above, see "Marathon", the vocal ad-libs at the end are dead clumsy but somehow it really works. There's a struggle there and I feel like, on her side, on her team, see also Alicia Keys' flat-ass singing on pretty much everything ("go team no-Autotune!" says I).

But I dunno I really hated that EDM record-- felt somewhat optimistic bc in its liner notes Kelis herself was all "I was pregnant and had next-to-nothing to do with this record, I just showed up"-- and was super optimistic for "Food" but I dunno, I don't generally like getting in-depth about stuff I'm not feeling, I'll post more about Kelis if and when this record wins me over

I wouldn't say she was a bad singer either but there are moments on here where I'm like "damn, someone give her a strepsil"

"Jerk Ribs" is excellent, but I haven't felt compelled to return to the rest of it, and my overall impression is that it's pretty dull. Par for the course for Ninja Tune, I suppose.

Yeah I loved Jerk Ribs too but nothing else is really sticking for me. This might be my least favourite album of hers at this point.

i feel like she makes her vocal inagility work for her on food by a) coming across like a world-weary but also relaxed husk, like she's singing along while cooking? (none of the food-related titles have a thing to do with the songs, so i don't know whether my strong association of the album with some idealised kitchen is actually in the music or whether her food-related marketing has worked well.) and b) because none of the songs are that dependent on her vocal skills to carry them - the arrangements are so detailed, at every point there's a bassline or a backing vocal ooh/aah that delights. and c) because the songs/hooks are there - moments like the "how could i forget you" swell on "runner" or "you can't escape the grips of desire" on "change" or the "biscuits'n'gravy" gradual explosion would work with just about any arrangement or style

increasingly i find it hard to assess kelis albums vis-à-vis each other - the only one i find dissatisfying in any way is kelis was here, and even though that's basically a mess it still has several brilliant tracks, and in any case it was only a mess because of the label issues she had at the time

anyway this seems also to be spawning lots of remixes. the mt kimbie one of "jerk ribs" is a disgrace but breach on "rumble" is a banger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVXuvTAuUzE

idk, i listened to this today and it's not diminished at all in my estimation, even though i think i'm pretty predisposed toward finding it dull! possibly unreasonably enchanted by horn sections. but i think her vocal melodies are incredible throughout too. the chorus on "runnin'" pulls the whole song up with it

I keep on going back to the Labi Siffre cover.

"runner", "biscuits n gravy", "change", "floyd", "hooch" are my standouts apart from "jerk ribs" (obviously). i rep hard for this album eff everyone who thinks it's boring

I love this. Friday Fish Fry still my fav track

10 tracks in and the only one I could do without so far is "Bless the Telephone."

Kelis one of the best singles artists of our generation imo

Saw her last night and it really cemented the fact that Food is really her strongest set of songs ever. I'm just not feeling the Sitek production on the LP. LOVE him on the TVOTR and the ScarJo but I think his reserved, cool, claustrophobic sound really sucks all the funk and life from these songs. I would have rather had, like, a Daptone style production or even Adrian Younge.

But reading this thread it's like, what the fuck do i know

i'm not that familiar with sitek but i don't hear anything untoward or unusual about the production, the arrangements are incredible though.

she has picked her singles very judiciously over her career for sure, unlike many. pox kelis deep cuts tho:

mafia
suspended
daddy
flash back
stick up
marathon
fuck them bitches
brave
runner
biscuits 'n' gravy

oh wait "brave" was apparently a single, replace with "little suzie"

1.5 songs in and I feel like I'm listening to a lost Des'ree album

Whenever I have a parade that needs raining on I know that ILX won't disappoint.

Unlike everyone else on ILX, I never hated Des'ree

"Cobbler" -> "Bless the Telephone" -> "Friday Fish Fry" is a great sequence of songs

Ha, sorry. To both you and Des'ree.

Why is Floyd so perfect. Such an amazing album.

on spotify now

So this is really great.

is this album getting some love by blogging circles/music critics? i have been addicted to this record for 3 days.
Walking down the streets to Friday Fish Fry is one of the best feelings I had this summer.

She played New York about a month ago - did anyone go? I thought about it but then didn't.

I was just about to revive this thread. After giving the album a listen when it leaked and not really getting into it I've just gone back to it and found myself getting addicted to certain songs on here. Played it five times in the last day.

The songs on this album are approximately 10000000000000x more enjoyable when heard live. Saw her show last night and she was a complete delight - I came out grinning from ear to ear.

I mean first of all this album still rules

second of all did you know Mount Kimbie did a remix of "Jerk Ribs"??? Holy shit!!! There's some echo on the vocal that really evokes some 80's pop R&B vibes imo!! V fresh and great!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUAY9X8CWjY

I'm surprised "Forever Be" wasn't released as a single

also "Floyd" still sounds like Spiritualized to my ears.

this album is still so underrated

^ Agreed. "Floyd" is such a beautiful jam.

it always sounds beautiful in the summer gloaming

kelis in 2021!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EJLxF0mElM

I haven't felt compelled to return to the rest of it, and my overall impression is that it's pretty dull.

Also wow I was SO wrong about Food back when it was first released. It's probably my favourite Kelis album now, or at the very least my most-played.