Review of Kelis Was Here

Kelis’s first non-Neptunes produced album is an unpredictable, somewhat inconsistent but highly satisfying effort filled with quirky musical effects. As with lead singles from her previous sets “Caught Out There” from ’99’s Kaleidoscope and “Milkshake” from ’03’s Tasty, lead single “Bossy” is a sassy slice of funk from the spunky hip hop/soul singer. But there are many other superb moments: the Raphael Saadiq-produced “Circus,” a cautionary tale about the music industry, and the instantly memorable “Till the Wheels Fall Off,” (one of several tracks produced by the ubiquitous will.i.am) are just two examples. Likewise, more intimate songs like “Living Proof” and “Goodbyes” prove that Kelis is not only here, but she’s here to stay.

9/10