Slicker Than Your Average

by

Craig David

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I am glad that this young talented British came back with a new album. This album is alittle different from the last album (Born To Do It). Craig David has shed the romantic tune to opt for a more R&B uptempo sound. This time he sings about his life in stardom and getting the British music into the masses. My personal fav songs:

Song no.2) What's Your Flava

The first hit single "What's Your Flava" is a sure hit, very catchy and I cant stop listening to it.

Song no.6) You Don't Miss Your Water

A slow balland that will charm you.

Song no.7) Rise & Fall

My next most frequent play on my stereo. This will definately be the second hit singles of the album. A clever collabration with Sting singing the chorus. The chorus has a clip of Sting's song. Weird combination but hey they sound great together! And this song truely tells u about the hardship, rise and fall of star.

Song no.9) Hands Up In The Air

Great rhythm, a perk me up song!

Song no.12) What's Changed

It's growing on me gradually.

Though I am not a fan of the opening song "Slicker Than Your Average", dont fancy the rhythm but great lyrics. Overall, this album is a good buy!

Giving the STARS:

*- Even if you're the most loyal fan, you don't deserve this album

**-If you've got money to burn, buy this CD or else,...just copy the songs

**-Need something to add in your CD collection?

**-Fans from this artist's genre would enjoy this

**- Contemporary CLASSIC.

The Naughty Lad from England carries his succeeding record with innovative R&B grooves. Craig has already gained a horde of fans, especially female fans who couldn't get enough of his urban music and his hot physical features (including yours truly, hehe). However, this songwriter and former DJ is more than just about physical attributes (okay I'll stop it).

Is Craig David suffering from the sophomore album jinx? Well, both yes and no. Personally, I found "Slicker Than Your Average" very diverse- with this young, endowed vocalist and songwriter merging different aspects of the urban genre- mixing R&B, hip-hop, club, and a bit of Britpop. In a way, this second album was "Americanised"- where one listener can detect American R&B influences. Perhaps, the only thing that sojourns Craig David in breaking Uncle Sam's music scene with his first album is the past critics. "Born To Do It" in my sincere opinion is a debut phenomenon. With songs like "Fill Me In", "Rendezvous", "Walking Away" and "Rewind", it is certainly hard to believe that a 20-year old newbie would be able to release such album in the US.

With his second album, "Slicker Than Your Average" released, does it maintain the `Craig David formula' (dance, hip-hop, r&b)? Or does he experiment with his second album to reach out and receive a wider audience? Is it `slicker' than being born to do it? Read on to find out what do I think of the Southampton's Golden Lad's redux.

You've probably heard of "What's Your Flava?", his first single off the album which is full of synthesizers, bizarre space-like sound effects and mischievous lyrics. I'm a follower of Craig David but I'm a tad disappointed with this song. Comparing it with his first single from Born To Do It, "What's Your Flava?" was not as dominant as "Fill Me In" (which consists of slick lyrics, good beats and catchy guitar effects). I was expecting that his first single would be also focused on beats and lyrics but...

Second single "Hidden Agenda" showcases his falsetto voice. My friends joke that Craig was influenced by the puppet scene in The Sound of Music (where Craig goes "aAAaaAAAAaaa" "EeeEEEeeEeeee"). Nevertheless, this is a refreshing and ear-candy track. The title song "Slicker Than Average" is a very personal song for Craig. In which, he says that critcs must leave him alone and do his own thing while "Hands Up In the Air", "Spanish", "Fast Cars" are a combination of American R&B and UK vibe. Speaking of UK vibe, a Britpoppish track is "World Filled With Love", which displays Craig's positive outlook in life. One surprising track would be "Rise and Fall" with Sting. The sounds almost feel like journeying into Mexican fields with stirring lyrics. I certainly love this collaboration. Joining the mainstream sensual R&B tunes is "Personal". The eighth track is much better than the slow jam "Follow Me" (from BTDI) but not as outstanding as "Rendezvous". A superior song would be "2 Steps Back", where we can listen to Artful Dodger's impact of English Garage. Smooth. Dance-y. Good output but I prefer "Rewind".

You may notice that I have been comparing these songs with his past singles because I was really, REALLY expecting that Craig would create or improve the same music formula in his new harvest. Musical production failed to control "Slicker Than Your Average". Craig David is one of the few male singers who have the skills and potential but the pressure of taking the US might have forced him to experiment stuff and see what is best for the audience. The result? A mixed identity. Trust me, if Craig would polish everything in his third CD, you would realize how "average" this CD is.

If you are starting a Craig David collection, start off with "Born To Do It".