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CHOCOLATE FACTORY
R. Kelly
(Jive/BMG)
We have no idea if boudoir balladeer R. Kelly is guilty of all the nasty things he's been accused of.
But even if he's innocent, we have to say this: Borrowing the title of his new album Chocolate Factory from Willy Wonka, however inadvertently, has gotta be the most self-delusionally self-destructive move since Michael Jackson decided to be interviewed holding hands with a teenage boy. Way to proclaim your innocence, R.
Granted, Kelly (as always) sings his butt off and his heart out on these 17 smooth-groovin' hip-hop and soul-pop ballads. But (again as always) his relentless seduction and lewd horndoggery are as offputting as unwanted porn-site e-mail. And his predilection for addressing women as "girl" and "baby" -- particularly in repulsive lines like, "Girl, please let me stick my key in your ignition ... Have you ever driven a stick, baby?" -- is hardly going to help his rep. Granted, it doesn't make him guilty of anything.
Except, perhaps, being criminally stupid. (More on R. Kelly)
Track Listing
1. Chocolate Factory
2. Dream Girl
3. Forever More
4. I'll Never Leave
5. You Knock Me Out
6. Step in the Name of Love [Remix]
7. Heart of a Woman
8. Showdown [Featuring Ron Isley]
9. Ignition
10. Ignition Remix
11. Forever
12. You Made Me Love You
13. Step in the Name of Love