Take Me Apart

The production is lauded as being cutting edge and innovative, but this is from 2017 so I don't really understand why. If this was from 2007 I might be slightly more impressed. Perfect for mid-range clothing retailers who want music to make them appear hip while blending smoothly into the background.

I’ve been to enough pitchfork music festivals (two, in 2009 and 2010, when the website was slightly less of a joke than it is today, *slightly*) to know a “Best New Album” when I hear it. Sometime during the second track, I thought to myself, “Pitchfork gave this Best New Music, didn’t they.” Since I was driving at the time, I couldn’t verify it on the spot, but once I got home, I did. Lo and behold, my suspicions were correct. This record was given Best New Album status over at Pitchfork. In fact, all of Kelela’s records have received that honor to date, which is no small feat. If only there was a way for me to monetize this useless skill of mine. Maybe I could go to bars and bet people that I can tell if a album got Pitchfork’s highest praise. They’d play me a song from a record and I’d say yes or no, like a parlor trick for aging hipsters. I think I could probably do pretty well at it, like as a side hustle, but at best, the audience for that type of bet is small. As usual, I digress. My point is, if your tastes typically align with Pitchfork’s, you’ll probably enjoy this record. It might be the Pitchforkiest record I’ve been assigned so far - sort of a retro-futuristic take on r&b with glitchy percussion and a healthy portion of synth pads. Experimental enough to not be totally mainstream, but mainstream enough not to alienate people who might usually be put off by experimental music - the Radiohead paradox.

Every track sounds exactly like the track before it. It's not bad, exactly. It's just like ... I already heard that. I don't need to hear it again, thank you.

I tried to give this album my attention and absolutely could not. The sound was pleasant and I enjoyed the lyrics when I could focus on them but, without intense consentration, I would immediately drift off and be two more very similar sounding songs into the record. It is probably great and, if I get my hands on some adderall to keep me engaged, maybe someday I will fond out.

This is obviously a fairly recent addition to the mix, as the album is only from 2017 and has very few reviews. Is it an album I need to hear before I die? Absolutely not. I could have gone my whole life never knowing about Kelela and never been the worse for it. But I'm giving it a change here. Production is solid but musically the album doesn't stand out much. It's a bit samey and overly long and would have benefited from getting rid of a few tracks. Kelela has a nice enough voice, but it's over-tuned, like a lot of vocals of recent years. The album overall feels a little throwback, like I'm listening to 1990s R&B. Strong influence of Velvet Rope era Janet is evident. I'm not really hearing the supposed futurist vibe of the music, at least not anything that many other artists haven't done before her. Maybe it just isn't my genre. Fave songs: Turn to Dust, Enough, Bluff

I really struggled with what to give this one- over two listens it was cartwheeling between two and four stars. Contemporary R&B isn't in my wheelhouse so it was difficult to work out what I was looking for, and if I was enjoying it. One thing that grabbed me straight away was the lush production. Drums are subtle, high-pass filtered, underwater. Layers of ambience (waves, a car unlocking and driving off, vocalisations) never feel overdone. Kelela's vocals shimmer and ripple, layered to stunning effect across many of the songs. On a second listen I started to appreciate all of this much more. There are many brilliant sonic touches to spend more time with, and even before paying attention to the lyrics I blushed at the sensuality of it all like the prudish white boy I am. This is a very subtle album and didn't hit immediately, but there's a lot that hooked and intrigued me, making me very likely to spend more time "taking it apart". For that reason, I'm giving the benefit of foresight with four stars.

despite the incredible production, i found the vocals to be generic and bland.

I really enjoyed this album. I'm a huge R&B fan, but not usually into electronic music. I don't really know what I was expecting but I was into it. It has the right amount of smooth R&B and the right amount of electronica for most tracks. My highlights from the album were Frontline, Waitin, Jupiter, Better, Bluff and Altadena.

Et allez, c'était évident que la communauté de ce générateur était complètement demeurée. Moi je mets 5 sur 5 et je vous vois venir les fans de post punk métal de mes couilles avec vos clébards pleins de boue et vos goûts musicaux dégueulasses. Sachez que vous êtes dans l'erreur, et plus généralement dans la saleté, dans l'insalubrité.

What a slog. So much of it sounds alike and I was bored to tears. I don't get why it's here. It doesn't seem like there's anything really remarkable here. She isn't a terrible singer and the production is good, but I was begging for it to end by track 3.

an average modern R&B album. The production is nice

Surprised me this one, a really lovely, soulful listen.

First of all, the video for Frontline is worth the price of admission right there. I forget about videos nowadays, but there are still good ones. This one is unique and of course accompanied with a cool song. Ok, this is the most modern album I've been given yet. I've never heard of Kelela, and I am pleasantly surprised by the whole thing. Black, solo female R&B is not usually my go-to music genre, but it's mostly because I just don't have exposure. I think Kelela is a force! Her beats are so complex, especially with headphones. She knows how beautiful she is, and she exploits it in the dreamy, fantasy sensibility she sells with her lyrics, but her music is timeless. There is a tremendous mix of instrumentation going on. On one hand, there's that mellow Mariah Carey sound that calls back to the 90s/early 2000s, but then she layers on so much more that makes it sound like new music but also classic. Pretty hard to tail. Waitin' is a song that embodies what I'm saying perfeclty. Right now, she is focused on that youth, attraction, love, breakups, identity, which is as relatable as things can get. I'm excited to see where her style goes as she grows. There's a bit of a lull in the middle of the album when you hit Enough, Jupiter, and Better. But there's some really cool sounds in those sounds too and some optimism that is nice to hear about how life has beauty everywhere. Things get back on track with LMK though. I feel cooler having listened to her.

Mostly harmless

this is shit. the singing never fit with the backing track. every track was like she put on some music in the background and then just warbled around on top with no concern for what the track was doing.

Perfect and innovative RnB. Still sounds very fresh 5 years later. A favorite of mine.

Fantastic R&B album. Love the influences of other genres on the music, fun to listen to

No. 188/1001 Frontline 4/5 Waitin 4/5 Take Me Apart 4/5 Enough 4/5 Jupiter 3/5 Better 4/5 LMK 4/5 Truth or Dare 3/5 S.O.S. 3/5 Blue Light 4/5 Onanon 4/5 Turn To Dust 4/5 Bluff 4/5 Altadena 4/5 Average: 3,79 Thoroughly enjoyable listen.

Generic. Nothing special.

They should wait at least 10 years before putting new albums on this list.

This album sounds like 100 other R&B albums. Very meh.

So “Take Me Apart” by Kelela was fairly well-done, and I appreciate the fact that she didn’t talk much about “da club”, or how she was going to be “spitting fire” with her lyrics… I also think she is a fine vocalist, and was easy to listen to… That said, if there hadn’t been the song title changes as I listened on TIDAL – I would not have known, as it really did sound like one, big, long connected song… Like I said, it was well-executed – she does have a unique voice, and I like the electronica/R&B futuristic blend to her sound HOWEVER, there was almost no diversity to be found on this album – anywhere, as all the songs sounded like clones of each other… If I had to choose 1 song that was a bit better/different from the others, I’d probably choose “Onanon”, but not much more than that… Definitely a 2, but not much more in my book…

The music was too empty.

Yes

This album is pretty damn fantastic.

I'm sure it's just a coincidence that every album by a black woman that hasn't been formally inducted into the """canon""" gets poor reviews on this site

MOTHER

I really jammed with this back when it was released, especially "LMK," which I definitely thought needed to a bigger hit than it was. Still think it's great, a very immersive album with some interesting sonic ideas.

Always a great day to get an album you know nothing about and being pleasently surprised. The production on this album is insane. No wonder it got put on the list. And the album just has bangers after bangers, though it's slightly too long but that's just a nitpick

More people should be talking about Kelela. It’s rare these days to find a debut so melodically rich and self-assured.

this is genuinely one of the best albums ive ever heard

Beautiful songwriting, vocal performance and production! This shows that there are still ways of being experimental without losing track of form, and that RnB and Electronica can provide sublime musical beauty.

Like I'm in the sexiest strip club and the stripper loves me, for real this time!!

one of my all-time favorites

Great. Did not think it would be this good. But it genuinely is very good.

Wow this is a sexy, glittering, ethereal album. The soundscapes are very open, eno inspired synth atmospheres.

Incredible, cannot believe I have never heard of this or her

Wow this one actually blew me away on first listen when I wasn't expecting that much. I had never heard of Kelela besides her feature on "A Seat at the Table" by Solange only realizing she was featured on it in the middle of listening. I don't think this album is perfect but it's the most I've felt while listening to an album in a long long time, first time I've felt this way to an album during these 1001 listens. The vocals, the production, the lyrics, the vocals, the vocals, and the VOCALS on this are all in credible and I cannot recommend enough. Favorite Tracks: Frontline, Take Me Apart, Enough, Jupiter, Better, LMK, Blue Light, Onanon, Bluff, Altadena

Loved this! I'm old, but I really liked the late 2010s sound, that kind of dark synth influenced by that OneOhTrix guy. But her voice adds another layer.

LOVE

Damn good

This is fantastic! Had not heard of the artist or heard her music. Great writing, outstanding performances...she's got it. Very, very cool sound.

This is a great album, it is modern and has a lot of interesting sounds and lyrics. The right combination of electronic music and a kinda pop style of singing

The production is godlike

Listened Before? N This was a super interesting listen. I've never heard of her before but apparently this album is well known. I see why, it's very good and a unique blend of musical styles. Really enjoyed it. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Frontline

I admit my heart sank a little when this popped up; slick modern R&B is not my thing at all. I had never heard of Kalela but knew exactly how this would sound. And I was so wrong. Take Me Apart is modern R&B but it has a huge soundscape. Atmospheric, with rumbling sub-bass and glitchy beats. Loads of EDM elements but also proggy (especially in the layered, 10CC-like vocal parts) and consistently interesting. Apparently Kalela played in metal bands at one stage and it’s not too fanciful to hear some of the things Sleep Token are doing, particularly in the breakdowns.

4 stars not bad

R&B gostosinho demais de ouvir e o GRANDE destaque aqui é "Onanon", sem dúvida alguma. Viciante demais, com um d&b perfeito. Kelala andou nessa faixa para que Pinkpanthress pudesse correr. Destaques: Onanon, Frontline e Truth or Dare

The production is gorgeous, her voice and performance is awesome, but most of the record blends into each other to me. It's still a good record mind you - but I don't rate it as highly as quite a few records on this list.

Never heard of her but love this

I apologize, I wasn't really familiar with your game

Think I gave this a shot when it came out and enjoyed it, just never went back to it again. Not because it's not a good album, it definitely is, but r'n'b is just not my jam. Still, great production and vocals, didn't mind giving it a run through at all.

This was pretty and relaxing

One of the first contemporary albums I'd not heard of. Enjoyed it but agree with others that it took intentional listening to keep the songs from blending together. But when songs stood out, they were really great.

I like this, I’m intrigued. Smooth but glitchy R&B. I doubt I’d ever get up to 5 stars but I would like to spend a little more time finding out.

Interessante, senza essere il mio genere.

Great vocalist! Soothing R&B for a slow evening. Very well done.

Considering her output in the years to follow after this album, this is a refreshingly progressive pick to be on this list. Highlights for me are “SOS” and “Onanon”.

Groovy, vibey, music to make out to

I liked her voice more as the album went on. Definitely a lot of bedroom type of music, VERY sexy. Somewhere around "Blue Light," I was really impressed with the instrumentation as well. I don't know if it's something I will keep coming back to, but the more I listened, the more I enjoyed it. Top tracks: "Jupiter," "Blue Light," "Turn To Dust"

4/5

4/5

This album seems to showcase a lot of trends in music from the late 2010s-early 2020s, and is overall an enjoyable listen. It remains to be seen if it will stand the test of time, but it's pretty good for this time. Favorite track: "LMK."

I don’t typically like music like this, but this was different and slapped so hard. DC!!

Lovely voice and I liked the chilled out vibe I'd never heard of Kelela but would be interested in hearing some more of her stuff! 4 ⭐️

Incredible, very good harmony between R&B and Electronic

Like the vibes.

The album is all about relationships and how to handle them, without being too whiny about it in her lyrics. Amazing sound and also intelligent lyrics are being used by her. It also sounds like a great influence to future albums by different artists like Chloe x Hall.

Solid alt rnb

R&B is good, and this is R&B. But as an album unto itself, it’s not noteworthy

I've been waiting to listen to this album! I see the album art lots on the review blog. It lived up to expectations! Great singer, entertaining songs without much substance I was interested in. Frontline and Waitin were my favourite songs. I would have cut a few songs from this album, ~10 minutes maybe. I liked the whole thing but I had my fill before the album was over.

The production is really really nice, but very often overshadows the vocals, which I'd say are decent but not amazing. I think it goes for creating a specific chill/sexy vibe over truly making content with a message. I know that is for some people but it's a negative aspect for me. 7/10

I am usually not a fan of 50+ minutes of R&B, but Take Me Apart is inventive and playful with its' clever production and use of electronical elements. Kelela obviously has a great voice and uses just enough of her potential without becoming showoff-y.

Wonderful R&B album that is innovative in It’s musical arrangements and vocals. Incredible use of backup/supporting vocals throughout the album. She has a wonderful voice and uses it stylishly.

Wow, voz y presencia en una artista desconocida para mí

First class production, and I have a feeling that this will become even better on multiple plays. Has a strong SOHN vibe. Favourite tracks: Jupiter, Better, LMK, Turn to Dust.

Fantastic album. I wouldn’t put this genre at the top of my list..generally. I have listened to Take Me Apart 6-7 times over the last several weeks. It is a great album to do office work to. Frontline grabbed me immediately. I’ll revisit for sure.

Definitely a lot of early 2000s R&B vibes, and she has a really nice voice

Wonderful album, a great discovery for me

Oddly good. Janet Jackson vibes

Great. Really enjoyable. Great vocals, great production, great songs. Low 4

I'm always happy to see albums from Warp Records on this list as they have a long history of innovative releases. Kelela's 'Take Me Apart' is no exception. The blending of electronic music and R&B works flawlessly and gives both genres so much needed variety. 'LMK' is the standout track and centerpiece of the album. For my taste, I'd have preferred the rest of the album have a bit more of a punch to it, but I appreciate it's hard to do that while maintaining an R&B grounding. Regardless, it's an interesting album and has me interested to hear more from Kelela.

Chill background music for work.

Futuristic soul, R&B, and electronic music with cool vocals, thick layered and atmospheric sounds. Very cool album that probably would take multiple listens to really catch all the details.

Another hot one from 2017 that is an excellent album but could also find 1000 (and 1..?) other revised edition additions

3.75

Awesome evolution of R&B, not for me, but massively talented

Yes to the vocals. Yes to the lush soundscapes. Yes to the pretty melodies!!

people call this cutting edge but it is only sometimes. I find it mostly just enjoyable for its vibe

Me gusta su estilo de R&B. Y estaba en lo correcto cuando comencé a escuchar este disco el 2017. LMK es una de mis favoritas.

I liked this! Like ambient music but dialed up to 11.

LMK and Frontline were standouts

objectively good and well made but really just did not grab me at all. i really liked LMK but the rest of it did not have enough of a melody for me… what a great voice though! four stars for quality even though i do not feel like i will be revisiting it

Man, her voice is good. Plus, the production is pretty good as well.

It’s a really nice 4. This album gives a really bad first impression through its first 4 or 5 tracks, but the stretch from Better to Truth or Dare presents the actual mood of the album so much better. LMK should have been the opening track, because the trap-hop beat on Frontline just gives the wrong impression for this album overall. Relistening to those first 4 tracks after finishing the album the first time gave me a really strong appreciation for this album overall. Kelela’s vocals on this entire album are fantastic, and this album is at its very best when just she flows on the electronica-infused beats. I can understand some of the complaints about this album, but when it all finally starts to click, the little details in the production become more apparent as the album goes on, and the sort of dullness that the first 4 tracks give gets washed away (at least, it did for me). It’s crazy how much this album improves by Better, seriously. There are some filler interlude tracks, some of the songs do go a bit long, but what ends up being here is some really cool R&B tracks with a clear Janet Jackson influence in the vocals, and a sort of “lo-fi Timbaland” feel to the production, and it just clicked incredibly well for me. I feel comfy with a 4, and it might even bump up to a 5 the more I listen. Glad to get this one.

This was great, never heard heard of her. LMK especially.

She has a very pleasant voice. The way she harmonizes with herself is silk smooth. Everytime I thought there was a moment where I wasn't really feeling it, the album took a turn to make it good again.

A relatively modern album. R&B/Soul from 2017 - sometimes can enjoy this kind of music so will see. Quite enjoying this so far, might be a 4.

I’m putting this squarely in the evening chill category. Its got just a little too much dance vibe to be a morning chill album. Welcome to how my brain works.

It took a bit for me to get into the groove here. It never totally embraced me, but there were some moments and overall, it was good.