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“Something Else” is certainly that. Very few male vocalists on the 2008 scene are releasing albums without a song about or mentioning throwing dollar bills of any kind in the air, strippers, strip clubs or hustling. Even Usher, a talented male voice, has contributed and produced a few “girl, I’m rich” tracks. Robin Thicke is a glorious R & B departure from masculine rap bravado, even though the only featured artist on the entire album is rap (and bravado) superstar Lil Wayne.
Thicke’s old-school beats and sweet, groovy melodies make perfect sense, as he names Marvin Gaye as a major musical influence. Tracks like “Hard on my Love,” which sounds like a Curtis Mayfield song and “Magic” create such a mood listeners find themselves inadvertently grooving and singing along. Thicke’s voice permeates the album’s music and sound perfectly, like he is an instrument too. The album’s large emphasis on horns makes for an incredibly sexy, fun, vintage sound.
Thicke and Lil Wayne collaborate on “Tie My Hands,” which also appeared on Lil Weezy’s (note: this is an actual name he goes by) “Tha Carter III.” For a song that has so much hype because the never-been-hotter Lil Wayne brings Thicke on a visit of the post-Hurricane Katrina south, it’s fairly anti-climactic. By no means is it offending to the ear, but it simply did not meet expectations. It’s definitely a Thicke song and not a Weezy-Birdman Junior joint. Because of this, Weezy sounds a touch out of place, rapping on top of smooth R & B beats. Credit should be given to the self-proclaimed “Best Rapper Alive” from New Orleans, though it’s obvious he’s attempting to diversify with the aid of the very talented Thicke.
“Something Else” sounds good. It feels good. It is good. It’s no collection of club hits, but it may end up as a classic from this generation.
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