R. Kelly: Happy People/U Saved Me

By REBECCA BARRY

(Herald rating: * *)

It's not easy to separate an artist's public persona from their musical vision, particularly when their reputation precedes them, and they get as personal as R. Kelly does on this double disc.

Although Happy People is essentially a tribute to Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, U Saved Me is a collection of religious songs that sounds as though he's spent a fair amount of time in confession.

Yet for an artist still embroiled in child pornography charges, he's not doing himself any favours by singing, "I want you to look at all the happy people in the room and I want you to touch 'em" or "I can't wait 'til your clothes hit the floor". Come on down to the Chocolate Factory? Er, no thanks.

Get past the dodgy connotations and there are still problems. Happy People is chock full of smooth, 70s-style R&B and mildly funky soul-pop, yet the mood is naively sunny and bland. What it craves are more solid hooks such as those found on the Stevie rip-off Weatherman or the ridiculously camp title track. But as each track bleeds into the next, Kelly's musings on sunshine and blue skies sound about as inspired as the vocalist on a disco house track.

U Saved Me offers a more convincing insight, whether it's into his drink-driving or finding liberation in Jesus and marriage. You have to admire his honesty and faith but it's the way his ideas spill aimlessly that irritates. 3-Way Phone Call might sound naughty but, rest assured, it won't raise much more than a laugh: "Hey sis, how ya doin? Fine. What's goin on wit you? Oooohhhh, nothin' muuuuch". Forget rhyme or structure, Kelly has perfected the art of sing-songy speech over equally forgettable R&B. You can't help but feel this is Kelly's indulgent little musical diary, a preachy "I am a changed man" method of lyricism that makes it difficult to relate to.


Label: Jive