To begin, let’s get one thing out of the way: this isn’t a new Love/Hate. When you accept the fact that The-Dream’s second album just ain’t as good as his (dare I say) classic debut, some amazing music awaits you.

It starts of ridiculous. The first single, ‘Rockin That Shit’, is really good the first listen, at third it’ll be on repeat. His voice wraps itself around the synthetic brass. ‘Walking on the Moon’ is even better. It’s subtly Michael Jackson, Kanye thankfully sticks to rapping and the simple, spacious hook tattoos to the brain. Unfortunately, the album never really reaches those dizzying heights again.

‘My Love’ is a poor man’s ‘We Belong Together’. Not bad, certainly not amazing. Amazing vocal performance by Mariah.

I think there’s a little bit too much R. Kelly on the album. I don’t mean ‘Kelly’s 12 Play’, which has a nice little topic, but ‘Put It Down’ and ‘Sweat It Out’. Don’t get me wrong, they’re great songs. I just don’t understand what The-Dream is trying to achieve. Prove that he is an excellent copycat? It’s not like it’s a shortage of R. Kelly songs in the world.

‘Take You Home 2 My Mama’ is simply amazin though. Not much else to say.

‘Love vs Money pt 1′ is cool with some fantastic keyboard hooks and bass drops. The second part, however, is the worse cut on the album, but thankfully the only song that is completely rubbish.

‘Fancy’ is a wierd little thing. How often do you hear french accordion on an rnb album? Even if I suspect that I like the song more in theory than in practice, it’s still nice to hear something different.

And that is why you have to love him. If there’s something contemporary rnb is lacking, it’s strong personalities. Most of the time The-Dream is so unique that his only competition is himself. This time he lost, but I’m sure he’ll put up another good fight in the future.

The-Dream ft. Kanye West - Walking On The Moon

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