When Was the Last Time You Were Truly Satisfied

It seems like every other week this past year I have reviewed the latest R&B album and decried how the songs have become overrun by hip-hop inspired beats and how the genre has transformed from great “baby making” music to “find a random drunk chick on Spring Break and do things that would embarrass your momma” music. When I talk about the good ol’ “baby making” era I usually bring up one of the last of its kind, Brian McKnight. Some may be surprised to know that McKnight has made three albums since Back at One including last year’s stellar Gemini. And now he’s back with his latest album, Ten.

Like previous album McKnight does most of the writing and producing on the album but did turn over four tracks to the production team Tim & Bob, the guys behind the Thong Song (no pun intended, okay maybe it was intended) to mixed results. On the opener Used to Be My Girl, the duo brings some soft Indian vibe over the silky track. But Unhappy without You just falls flat mostly because the amount the title is repeated throughout the song, yet not as annoying as the every other second repeat of the title’s name in What’s My Name. Bryan Michael Cox, fresh of his Grammy nomination for Be without You by Mary J. Blige, also contributes the decent track Comfortable.

But McKnight is best when he does it himself aside from the What’s My Name misstep. Find Myself in You is the definition of a “baby making” song straight from the Marvin Gaye era. McKnight even broadens his perspective on the album writing a country song Red, White, and Blue and even brings in Rascal Flatts to help him out on the heartbreaking song seen through the eyes of a military man. Before you scratch your head, there was a time where this wasn’t so uncommon and you could see Kenny Rogers on the R&B charts with Lionel Ritchie penned songs and Ray Charles even recorded a country album. But I don't think that it will come back in style anytime soon so don't hold your breath from a Ciara/Gretchen Wilson collaboration.

Song to Download - Find Myself in You

Ten gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.