My conversation with a friend about Robin Thicke:

Sarah: All this time I thought Robin Thicke was black. He’s White. lol omg I like his complicated song

ME: LOL… He don’t sound black
Sarah: LOL He sounded black me. That’s totally not what I was expecting. He’s not even attractive… lol
Me: What makes him sound black?
Sarah: I don’t know. Cause white guys don’t usually sing in tones like him know what I mean?
ME: Yeah, I feel u.

Believing that Robin Thicke is black prior to seeing him nor realizing that his father is Alan Thicke (from Growing Pains) is understandable. But outside of a few singles, I didn’t care too much for his CD “The Evolution of Robin Thicke.” I’ll break it down track for track.

1. Got To Be Down (featuring Faith Evans) - Faith sings on this track and she does her thing, that is to be expected. Now this track is reminiscent of a Marvin Gaye in the 80’s feel. Wait, I think they sampled him. Either way, when you come out the gate on your first album I would think you would want to be as original as possible. Could this be why my friend thought that this dude was black? The track sounds great. If didn’t know who he was then it wouldn’t be so bad.
2. Complicated - “ He wants to change. He wants to stop repeating himself. This is the track my friend likes. I’m not sure where he sounds black on here. But I’m tired of this whispering pitch voice of his. Yes, women are complicated and most women think men are stupid. So get over yourself and stop complaining. Tell you one thing about this song though: it’s about change. Wait, this song is starting to grow on me. But I still have beef with change. If someone wants to change they will, complications or not. OK. This chorus is making me want to throw up. I like the flow of the track outside or Robin’s voice. SKIP.
3. Would That Make U Love - “If I wasn’t who I was, if I wasn’t me,” as the lyrics start. He’s asking this woman if she would be his baby. Like most people who get into relationships its who we are that seems to be the problem. And that is the premise of this song. Now the beat is hot, it’s simple, it’s clean. But he annoys me. SKIP
4. Lost Without U (Busta Rhymes) - We all know this song. This was the latest single off of his album. It has played on the radio so much. People love it so much it was able to get a couple of remixes, cause every single can get a second life that way. This dude is lost without this woman, someone please help him. SKIP
5. Ask Myself - I’m not sure who is doing the production work but most of these songs are starting to sound alike. He’s asking himself what he’s going to do. OK, so he has changed his tone a bit. Now he sounds like a grown ass man. This is how he should keep it. But you can see him pouting or at least hear pouting. OK,I like the bridge on this track. It’s growing on me. Something beautiful and wonderful is happening with him, must be love. OK. Now he is annoying me again. SKIP.
6. All Night Long (featuring Lil’ Wayne) - Lil’ Wayne opens up the track with his muskrat voice. Sounds like a Neptune track (I haven’t looked at the credits). I like the beat. I like the sound of the track. But I can do without these two. Can someone else sing this song please? SKIP
7. Everything I Can’t Have - He wants everything. He wants it all without working for it. Maybe that is the part my friend thought was black. It’s a stereotype about black people being lazy. It’s a reach. I know it isn’t true. We aren’t lazy, not all of us. Actually, people can be lazy in general. Oh, did I mention he is trying to give a little Latin flavor on this? Yeah, he has those horns and the drums - just how the Spanish folk do it. He doesn’t do them justice at all though. His vocals aren’t strong enough and the production work or who ever decides how he sings - is weak and it lacks direction. SKIP
8. Teach U A Lesson - Robin slows it down on this one. Someone smells good. Someone feels warm just like he knew they would. He doesn’t want to let them go. But I want to drop this CD off where I picked it up. Did I buy this? I have to look at my credit card statement. More whispering. I cannot stand this track. He’s telling her that she’s been a bad girl and I want to tell him that this CD isn’t that great. Its damn near to being bad. SKIP
9. I Need Love - Don’t we all need love? But yeah, that is the name of the track. A nice guitar riff hits me along with some raspy voice action. Nice so far. Smooth, OK, maybe dude has redeemed himself. But we are nine tracks in already. Easy Listening, Sunday Song or what you would put on the Quiet Storm.
10. Wanna Love You Girl - One of the first singles from the album. I do remember this from my workout CD. It’s on there with a remix, but without the vocals. I am partial to this track. So on that, I say I cannot hate. SKIP
11. Can U Believe - Real ol’ skool feel on this one. He’s being extremely careful with his vocals on this. Very controlled. I like the flow on this one. Why do these CDs get better towards the end? I’ve actually listened to this track all the way to the end. Its cool. Can you believe? I can.
12. Shooter (featuring Lil’ Wayne) - This is different. I haven’t paid much attention to the words but it sounds nice. Only because it’s a mix of things going on. It’s real busy. It has a lot of life to it. I cannot explain it but you should listen to it for yourself.
13. Cocaine - Yes, I wrote it correctly. Like Whitney Houston, like crack and every rapper who admits it enjoys WEED, Robin Thicke loves him some COCAINE. He enjoys it so much he sings a song about it. Models, midnight, downtown, in blue jeans, on the roof, at the club, everyone is watching, COCAINE. Available at your local stores. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone talk about, let alone sing about it, but this dude has done it. COCAINE. It’s funny if not sad. But who am I?
14. 2 The Sky - Another slow jam. I like this track. I’m not sure if it reminds me of anyone but I’m happy to hear that the album gets better as we approach the end. Jealousy resides within this dude and the pain is being expressed through this song. I can actually feel this track. It’s long though, over five minutes. SKIP
15. Lonely World - Another single that is slow. And, if I failed to mention this before - dude sounds like Justin Timberlake. I don’t care for that dude very much either. But this song is nice and I can see it getting three stars just so it can play in my Top Rated Playlist on the iPod. SKIP
16. Angels - I was never into ending an album with a slow song but this is what Robin has done. I guess after doing 15 other tracks, Robin too gets tired. Oh well, he sings this song with some feeling. Not sure what that feeling is but he is feeling it. The song is eight minutes long. I hope he finds his angel by the time the song is over. Cause I cannot wait that long. SKIP (oh wait, this is the last song)!

OK. I am done. I am not overjoyed and I’m not disappointed. I’m not disappointed because I wasn’t expecting anything. What I will say is, knowing that I’ve listened to this album so late after its debut - is that they have released the proper singles off this album. He sounds too much like other people and I cannot grasp if he has any originality. But who does these days?

I wouldn’t purchase this album. What I would do is download singles.

Popularity: 18% [?]