Reviews (page 2 of 7)
Great!
Surprising, amazing, ethereal, space R&B
This is so my vibe. Reminds me of Solange, SZA and Banks. Soulful and seductive. Dreamy, smooth vocals and harmonies. Sick beats.
Loved this album! I normally am not the biggest fan of pop but this was great!
YAS
Gold from the start! Instant buy
Track one has me pulled in... how has this never hit my radar? Track four gets a little dreamy and slow, but still a nice lounge music vibe. Feels like good bourbon and conversation.
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.
The production is godlike
I don't think I recognize this artist, so I'm very much going into this blind. I'm quite enjoying this and wondering how this has remained below my radar. Though, if I'm being honest, I don't usually go out seeking this sort of stuff. I'll be adding this to my list of albums to listen to again.
Very lush R&B with solid vocals that keeps you in a beat/ ethereal soundscape throughout. LMK was the standout track, it doesn't keep the energy high from front to back but overall the album stands strong.
Solid R & B album.
7 - really good, sexy r&d/edm
Super sensual and chill to listen to. Liked it when it came out years ago and even like it a bit more now. 3.5/5 -> 4/5
74/100. Two people sit across from each other in a dark room. Neither is hiding. Neither is completely revealed. Kelela creates a sound that feels simultaneously intimate and distant. The production is full of deep bass, spacious electronics, and subtle details that give the album a distinctive character. The opening stretch is particularly impressive. Those first few tracks immediately establish the album's world and contain some of its strongest work. The songs often explore the desire to be fully understood by another person while also fearing the vulnerability that comes with that level of exposure. There is a constant push and pull between intimacy and self protection. That emotional contradiction is mirrored in the music itself. The album feels cold and warm at the same time.
Light 4
fits in that in between of FKA Twigs artful and beyonce/solange accessible. pretty solid a little too much hate on a very talented singer and decenter songwriter. some cool / darker electronic production. A little spacey. yeah idk this site may just be for too many classic rock dads
I liked it there were some great songs in it but there are a few skips
Smooth R&B. Liked it!
yuh, i love the 21st century <3, definitely gonna play this on repeat
4/7
I don't think that this album isn't really made for me. It's very electronics forward, and that's something that I just don't normally enjoy all that much. But the quality of the production on this album, paired with her voice, does best that personal bias. Any other vocal performance on this album, and I think it ends up feeling like a big miss. But the combination of production, mix of genres, and Kelela's voice makes this a pretty darn good album. I do think the album lost itself and its ideas in the last third of the album, but "Altadena" brought it home, and let the album finish on a high note. Favorite Song(s): Enough, Better, Altadena
Smooth, soulfull and really pleasant to listen through. This is a good album throughout with music that I could see myself have in my headphones at almost any time. I'm not really sure why its on this list though. I feel like I have heard other R&B albums that are just as good.
A good album and a good contemporary choice for the book. I've come across a few tracks by Kelela when listening to some of various electronic indie and dream pop artists I have on rotation. I knew I liked it but as an old married white guy the sexy cover art may have unconsciously made me slot it into the category of "interesting but not for me." Giving it a proper listen, though, it reminds me a lot of an artist I listen to regularly, Empress Of. Maybe slightly further into the R&B side of the spectrum, but honestly not by all that much. So I hear her as another powerhouse woman blending hip-hop, electronic, indie, and her own narrative however she wishes. Power to her.
Coole Songs und Stimme, werde mal in die anderen Alben hören
Chillige Background Musik
actually incredible production one of the best in the genre
I loved this.
This was much better than I was expecting! For anyone that liked the **FKA Twigs** album last year, I think you'll find some enjoyment here. Both R&B but very much leaning into electronic music, creating some really cool textures rather than traditional song structures. Both artists cite **Bjork** as an influence and you can hear it here both musically and in the use of her voice to add to the texture. All said, it's probably a fraction long but it's a minor quibble
Wow she is talented. I don't know that I would listen to this again, but I did really enjoy it.
Beautiful, really. Not my genre, I need something more upbeat, but I thoroughly enjoyed this.
Frontline - 4.5/5 Waitin - 3.5/5 Take Me Apart - 4/5 Enough - 3.5/5 Jupiter - 3/5 Better - 3.5/5 LMK - 4/5 Truth or Dare - 4/5 S.O.S. - 3.5/5 Blue Light - 3.5/5 Onanon - 4.5/5 Turn to Dust - 3.5/5 Bluff - 3/5 Altadena - 4/5 A great combination of contemporary R&B, electronica, and ambient music to create something unexpectedly good. Sure it sort of blends together but I think that it adds to the ambience. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Frontline, Onanon
For so many years. Based entirely on voice. People thought Kelela must have been Len Houmous’ daughter 4.0 7/14 LMK
It's a strong representation of this genre and point in time for the genre. Not fully R&B, but not fully pop. This was a time where these genres really started to blend and music came out better because of it. Being a fan of newer artists like Ravyn Lenae and others that build upon this style I can appreciate what this album does. Not getting a 5 because there aren't enough banger tracks, but it's deserving of more than a 3 since the overall quality of the album is consistent. If you're listening close enough you will find this album interesting.
Nice break from the white-man bands.
Take Me Apart es una experiencia sonora envolvente que se percibe como un ambiente angelical y catedralicio. Escucharlo se siente como un viaje al país de las maravillas, una suerte de ambiente de sueño donde los sintetizadores flotan en espacios monumentales. Kelela demuestra un dominio de su voz absoluto; su técnica es tan limpia que, aunque por momentos la complejidad de los ritmos electrónicos distrae un poco, ella siempre logra que el oyente conecte con la emoción central de la pieza. El álbum destaca por ser más real y cercano gracias a su honestidad temática. Aborda el deseo y el placer de forma directa y elegante (como en "S.O.S."), contrastando esa intimidad con letras motivadoras sobre encontrar nuestro propio lugar en el mundo ("Altadena"). Es un disco que utiliza la tecnología para desarmar los sentimientos, logrando una belleza gélida por fuera pero cálida y honesta por dentro.
Very good album. Actually hadn’t heard of her. But similar to others that I enjoy.
Enjoyed this. Modern soul mixed with electronic beats, in sweet ways that flow and work well.
Have not been a fan of solo black female artists on this list but found this album enjoyable enough that I listened a second time immediately after it finished.
Electro-R&B, alternative R&B, electronica.
Why are all of these alternative R&B albums so long?!? That being said, I'm liking this so far. I'd say I like this album, don't love it. I'd bet the same critic picked this and the Janelle Monae album. Not loving LMK and I guess that's the hit. It reminds me of one of the tracks from the Andor score. I like this album, there's a lot of it though. Turn to Dust is a highlight, great song. A good album.
Beautiful and a very unique sound. I really liked Frontline. I think I listened to it three times.
Bien
Better than the average rating on here suggests I think, some cool and interesting songs
cool!
This is the type of music I have been listening to lately, so I enjoyed it. It's definitely not a revolutionary album, but it's the type of background music enjoyable during chill work sessions (or alternatively for pole dance sessions!).
oh shit oh shit oh shit 1) this sounds great with headphones. the bass, the reverb effects, the audio manipulation is really well considered 2) pretty voice 3) yeah i think its pretty good, great to have an actual modern sounds that's not just abstract and experimental
The selection of modern inclusions is fascinating. Goo pick as far as I’m concerned. 3.5/5
Should’ve spent more time with this when it came out. Really great future rnb. Sounds like an Aaliyah album from 2030
I really enjoyed this album from an artist I had never heard of before today. I will definitely be listening to more of her work in the future.
Started off a little ho-hum but then the sound expanded and it turned into an interesting listen. Not a huge R&B fan but I can tell when an album is trying things and reaching and I applaud that.
Great modern R+B
Great production and very soulful
Maukasta RnB:tä, tosi elektronista! Siistit instrut, tosi maalaavat ja chillit. Rentoja kappaleita. Parhaat: Jupiter, Onanon, Frontline
Would give a 4.5 if possible. The idea of having the songs in order about the experiences of abuse was something I thought worked really well for what she was trying to relay. Not all the songs were my speed, but she did a great job with this album.
This was a solid album. Good easy listen. It had early 2010’s black rock/soul vibes
You know, it's always interesting to see how I'll feel about the "modern" picks of this list. Some of them are legendary albums that have gone down as some of the best albums of the 2010s. Most of them aren't even close to being that. A lot of the 2010s picks just kind of baffle me, but I'm always intrigued when I get a 2010s album because I just want to know if the album is any good. Well, as it turns out, Kelela's 2017 album Take Me Apart is pretty good! This is my final album of 2017 for the project. Pretty neat that I got that immediately after my final album of 2015, isn't it? I don't think I could call Take Me Apart the best 2017 album on the list, but it's probably in the upper half I'll give it that. This thing is pretty cool. I think Kelela's voice is very nice. It's the exact kind of thing that I want from an album like this. The production is also very good. It's just commercial enough to have that broad appeal but also unique enough to give the album worth. It's got this sorta spacey vibe to it at times that appeals to me quite a bit. The lyrical matter is the kind of thing that you'd expect from a modern r&b album. It's sensual and emotional in a way that doesn't feel vapid or soulless. I've seen a lot of negative reviews on this specific website, and all that tells me is that y'all are boomer-brained. You guys are calling this boring slop that exemplifies the worst traits of modern music, and I think all of you are dumb for saying that, at least for this particular album. How can you hate an album with "LMK" on it? That song is fire. So, yeah, this album is pretty neat. Not the best album of 2017, but I'm not upset about this inclusion at all on account of the album being good. 4/5.
Going into this with high hopes because of how much I love LMK (hugely underrated song) but I’ve never listened to the rest of this album. I fear it veers a little too R&B for me but those are some lush soundscapes, I just wish they went a bit harder
I really like Kelela. When this album came out it was new and unique and felt like the next big thing in the neo soul boom that was happening. It didn’t really turn out that way and is a bit dated by that fact but still quite beautiful.
Wow! Frontline is incredible! Probably helps to play this album on big speakers imo. The rest of the album was also quite enjoyable but I found it didn’t hold up to the initial track. The production on this is very impressive overall.
It's a really relaxing listen.
"Take Me Apart" is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Kelela. Electro-R&B, alternative R&B and electronica are the Wiki-listed genres. The album was noted for its futuristic sound and its incorporation of various styles. A number of producers were used including Jam City, Arca, Bob Bok, Kingdom, Dubbed Dutch, Al Shux and Ariel Rechtshaid. The album had wide-spread critical acclaim cited for its innovative production, sharp songwriting and vocal delivery and, commercially, it reached #128 US Billboard 200 and #51 in the UK. A dreamy synth, swirling and echoing, open the album in "Frontline." Emotional vocals as Kelela is leaving her partner who's holding her back. Electronic beats and layered beats with an R&B vibe. Kelela takes her vocals in more soulful direction in "Take Me Apart" as she is dealing with a breakup. More echoing synths with quick beats. A song that builds and has a soft-loud-soft dynamic that I'm mostly always a fan. The first single released "LMK" starts with deep-sounding synth keys and a handclap beat. Background shimmering sounds. Layered vocals. A good example of the R&B electronica. "Blue Light" begins with a high-pitched vocal intro. Kelela singing softer. Slow echoing beats and experimental synth noises. A vocoder employed with more overlayed vocals. Here, she's throwing caution to the wind and going into a risky relationship. This album combines smooth R&B with airy, dreamy and experimental synths and electronic beats. Electro-R&B is a close description but there's more going on that makes it hard to exactly pinpoint. Comparisons have been made to Björk in the originality and I agree with that. Kelela's lyrics are mostly about struggles and hardships in relationships but also having the confidence to move on. This is a very solid album and I give it a solid recommendation.
Her voice is excellent, the beats are imaginative and full. I really dig it.
Fav tracks: enough, truth or dare, Altadena Ethereal, experimental, ahead of its time. The lyrics were peaceful and all knowing, yet not in an egotistical way. Harmonies and production were gorgeous
Not bad! First song from the modernish era and I didn’t really know it! I liked it but had to skip around
Nothing too memorable but not bad at all
I'm so glad to finally be given an album that wouldn't necessarily be viewed as part of the traditional Canon of popular music. And gosh, what an album this is. Kelela's voice is smooth and demanding throughout this album, and it pairs with the sometimes avant-garde production perfectly. While the album does go on a little bit too long for my taste, it's an incredibly enjoyable experience and an album that I probably wouldn't have heard had it not been for this list.
I'd never heasrd of Kelela before today, but I'm digging this album. Favorite song: Turn to Dust
Very excited to get this as R&B is probably my biggest genre blindspot in music as a whole. I really enjoy the more electronic backing tracks which almost makes this sound like pop album, especially on "Onanon" which might be my favorite track.
I know it's at least a 4 but will re-listen again
Pretty good! I might come back to this one.
Dope
This album benefits from patience, focus, and volume. When I initially played it, it was quieter and in the background, and was a little boring. But then I went for a walk with it and played it loud and didn’t distract myself. It was a much better experience, and really let the mood and lush production of this album sink in. I probably wouldn’t call this a must-listen, if I’m being honest, but it definitely gives back what you’re willing to put into it.
Glad to finish this project in an artist I'd heard of and had been meaning to listen to more of. At 53 minutes, there's definitely cause to drop a couple of the weaker tracks and leave a stronger impression, which seems to be the core of the album - less is more.
does this belong on the list? no, but its a good album and better than most of the other late additions to the list
Didn‘t expect anything from this „R&B-Record“, not knowing about Kelela. But this Album isn‘t a plain R&B mainstream album, it‘s superb. Athmosperic, electronic and unconventionell Beats plus Kelelas great voice makes this Album great. Fav: Onanon
didn't know what to expect from this one and was pleasantly surprised. the production is pretty cool and has an appealing lo-fi electronic style at points. kelela's voice is very nice. for me, my one complaint is that the album felt like it was a little bit front loaded, as it felt a little weaker and less interesting towards the end. but other than that, i love a nice surprise.
normally not a fan of longer songs but these keep me interested throughout the whole song. definitely not what i usually listen to but added about 75% of these songs to other playlists and will add them to my rotation.
originally i was going to let this be a solid 2 from me. after sleeping on it and coming back to it today, i honestly see the vision way more now, and i actually think this ones pretty solid. some of the production is seriously beautiful. if the tracklist was cut by a few songs, this could easily have been a 5. standout tracks: take me apart, enough, onanon, turn to dust
R&B is really not my jam a lot of the time; I tend to dislike the ways the harmony flows. Extremely jazzed to have enjoyed this album as much as I did, and hoping it's a gateway to other R&B classics. Really silky production and very interesting instrumental choices.
referência - pop moderno - pads / texturas / synth reso basses 3-4 estrelas porque escutei rápido, dá pra prestar mais atenção
MOTHER
I had never heard of this artist before but this sort of avant-garde R&B is really interesting and compelling. There are some really great songs on here too.
Big fan!
should out kelela shout out Arca this album rocks
A surprisingly solid album, given this list's track record with entries in this genre and time period.
Such an underrated album! When experimental music is done right, easily some of the best production I’ve heard on an album. Sometimes I can’t believe how seamless this album is for a DEBUT. Kelela did her big one! Favorites: Frontline, Better, and Blue Light - Also HM to Bluff, I wish this song was longer!
For me this album sits around a low 4. Although it has interesting electronic-inspired beats and quality vocals + production, I for some reason am not finding myself moved by it. If anything I am finding myself somewhat bored. Which is weird, because a lot of what is here sounds similar to other artists that I love (e.g., FKA Twigs, elements of Sampha and SBTRKT, Jessy Lanza [to an extent]). I think ultimately my relative indifference is tied to the lack of tempo variation and/or surprises throughout this album. Don't get me wrong, there are moments of individual beauty. Jupiter is a very pretty instrumental and I love the interaction with the rain sampling. Waitin is a triumphant sounding jam with great vocal layering. LMK has a dark electronica instrumental that sounds a bit like Shlohmo or something in that realm. And Blue Light is just fantastic But otherwise, the album is beautiful but not exactly my mood today.
Insane music production, beautifully cohesive and full of range
I really liked this - it was very chill and vibe-ey - like the kind of thing I want to listen to while I'm journaling or writing.
Really a fine sounding album. I loved her album Raven that came out a few years after this one. Can it be argued an album less than 10 years old from an artist most people haven’t heard of shouldn’t be on this list? I suppose… but I think it’s cool this list and project includes some projects like this, especially in genres that typically aren’t my go-to like this one.
chilled out and quiet modern R&B music. the production value is very hip and artistic, blending modern beats with lo-fi sweeps and synthesizers that wouldn't be out of place in a ambient trance album. i was pleasantly surprised by this entry, when it's artists you've never heard of before, it could be a bit impressive or it could be one of those albums that's pure audio sludge. this is most definitely the former category. again, it's very lo-fi, many synths feel almost primitive and imperfect, plus with the impressionistic way of singing and mixing... it's super duper spacey, almost hollow. it feels like music that would blend in easy in public spaces, like if you were playing it from a speaker on the ceiling. despite these small opinions i have, this album is a real hidden gem i think. if you're the kind of guy that likes your r&b music, but also indie pop/electronica stuff. it has that specific sound, done in a way that's actually remarkable.
idl why but i liked it
Hadn’t heard of her. Am now a big fan!
BASS. SO MUCH BASS. AND I LOVE IT! Contrasted with her ethereal vocals, it’s so pleasing. Her voice is so clean and the tone is angelic. Love the atmospheric intros. The writing is solid. “Will your love ruin my heart?” is one of the best lines I’ve heard. Production is heavy-handed at times; less can be more. Almost feels like trip-hop R&B. Exactly what I wanted to discover by doing this project.
Had never heard of this one. Surprisingly good. Very sensual R&B married with electronic music. The Janet Jackson meets Bjork description holds up.
Latter part of the album was better than the first. It went from pretty basic r&b to actually good. Wish it held that quality throughout.
The production on this is fantastic.
Beautiful album. Frontline, LMK, and Truth or Dare are *chefs kiss*. This will absolutely be on a regular rotation of listening.
Very nice and smooth album. Had never heard of this artist. Album got saved
soulful. liked it
Really into this--sounds great and she has a fantastic voice. Interesting getting this next to Sade. I think I'm at a 3.5 but bumping.
I guess I'm deaf because I actually thought this was kinda pretty. Maybe you're the deaf ones.
This was good. I was digging to groove.
This was pretty awesome
First intro, solid
hello it's will welcome to my first review first off tell me ariana grande wasn't obsessed with this album, she listened to the first couple songs and immediately made it her whole Thing lmao this album is so gorgeous. infectious melodies, beautiful harmonies, immersive soundscapes, it's like taking a bubble bath with dim candles and rose petals very comfortable listen overall while still being engaging and interesting. her voice is super compelling and it floats on top of the instruments so seamlessly. production is stunning too favorite tracks: frontline, enough, LMK, onanon
first tracks are great but the longer it goes more repetitive it sounds, like I have just jeard the same song again and again
Gefällt mir
Quite liked this. Surprising vibe enjoyed listening to it loud.
Solid album, I don’t quite know how to define it, but the whole album felt well performed. The vocals are melodic, and the backing beats are emotive
love it. Onanon is a highlight. Maybe a little bloated but overall an enjoyable listen
This shits actually incredible, wish I had heard it years ago. 9/10
Great voice
Frontline - Very cool vibes. Waitin - Beat doesn't really match the vocals right. Take Me Apart - I like the vocals on this, the lowkey vibe is perfect for her. Enough - Reverb fits well. Jupiter - Rain sound affects is nice, mellow song. Better - Emotional, Smooth vocals and beat. LMK - I'm not a fan of the lower bass-like sound. Truth Or Dare - I like the feel of this one, Autotune is distinctive here. S.O.S. - The added percussion distracts from the song. Blue Light - Attention grabbing intro, impressive range. Onanon - Again the extra stuff distracts me. Turn To Dust - The echoing is cool. Bluff - Repetitive lyrics, Weird scratching sounds. Altadena - They all sound like Ariana Grande songs.
Not bad, decent slumperness.
This is a mood-setting album. Perfect for driving in the rain (as I did).
Wow, this is good.
High 3/low 4, solid vibes
Very nice voice, I had a lot of fun listening to this, she seems very cool
people think rym has a problem with women… wait until they start using this website… beautiful album with incredible vocal performances and awesome production … at least admit the arca produced songs are good i mean yeesh
Very good "slow burn" soul/R&B.
Fun to just hear a r&b album with modern production. Reminds me a lot of SZA’s CRTL which came out the same year but with some more electronic music integrated into it. Beautiful voice too. Would do a 4.5 if possible.
Relaxing music
Velvet Software Glitches This album isn’t just an experience—it’s a modulated dissection of desire, vulnerability, and letting go. It’s like: • Sade got uploaded to the cloud • And then got ghosted by a cyborg • And then wrote 12 flawless songs about it Take Me Apart is heartbreak on a hard drive. • It’s sleek, experimental, sensual, and a little haunted. • It’s what your ex’s texts would sound like if they had taste and reverb. Listen to this while walking alone at night, headphones in, city lights flickering, and a tiny part of you hoping someone stops you to ask, “Are you okay?” (Spoiler: You’re not. But you sound amazing.)
Le pongo buena nota únicamente porque al fin se acuerdan de algo que no sea rock y blanco. El álbum es muy coherente y top producción, pero siento que se volvió muy monotematico a mitad de camino. Blue light el más destacado. Nota: 3.7 pero pongo 4
Just a solid listen from front to back, it's smooth as hell and has consistently great production. Nothing groundbreaking or completely revolutionary, but there really is nothing here to dislike.
This is some cool girl vibe music.
Smooth contemporary soul
I wasn't looking forward to this as I'm not a fan of R&B but I actually enjoyed it. The vocals and lyrical content didn't really stand out for me (although she certainly sing), it was more that the music was a kind of more abstract R&B, with a much greater sonic palette than you hear in more commercial music. Then after listening I saw it was released on Warp which is my favourite label, which makes sense. A pleasant surprise.
Very cool album, original samples and beautiful vocals.
The latter half of the 2010s is one of my least favorite eras of popular music ever, and based on other reviews of this album I was ready to absolutely hate it, but nope, I’m pleasantly surprised, do I think it’s groundbreaking? Probably not, but it’s certainly very good and I appreciate what it’s doing.
MUITO bom pqp
bom album de r&b com ótima produção. poderia ser facilmente um album recente. btw adoro a produção da arca. é nítido as músicas que tem o dedo dela!!
I was surprised to see I had 3 of her albums including this one saved in Spotify. I must have listen to this a some point. The production sound like things I listened to at the time. Hyperdub-adjacent. Some of this tilts past my tastes and feels overproduced. Blue Light is not my thing. I really like Waiting and S.O.S. Turn to Dust and Bluff might be my two favs. The ending feels more organic like a modern Sade.
4.5/5. So many of the participants in this project just hate modern pop music for no good reason. This is a vibe and the production is so clean and refreshing. God forbid an album doesn't have any guitar sounds.
easy peasy listening 4/5
Niet mijn soort muziek, wel goed
Decent
Was not expecting to like this as much as I did. Glad an album like this is on the list.
More and more enjoyable as it went on.
I loved this. An artist I’ve never heard of, a genre I’m not to keen on, yet it blew me away. The rest of the R&B community needs to catch up with Kelela.
I had heard this album sometime during the *COVID PANDEMIC* and remember liking it. Take Me Apart is such an interesting album. fantastic vocals by Kelela, but the tracks get very atmospheric, sometimes glitchy, and often have LUSH production. This is R&B by way of vapor/trap wave and video game music. The downtempo energy of the album is refreshing and makes it replay-able in most scenarios; It's that perfect balance of off-kilter and strange enough to sound fresh and interesting, but familiar enough to not be too challenging. I'll be spinning this all summer.
3.5?
Not my cup of tea however I do think this is a good album and can see why it is on this list
Good album but not for me
A really good, yet sparse, pop offering. Similar vibes to FKA Twig's LP1, which shares some of the same production team.
Całiem niezłe. Dobry basik
Pleasent surprise
> The Beatles I was unsure of this album at the start but I ended up vibing so hard with this
An artist I wasn’t familiar with, which is mad as this is my kind of thing. Real soulful pop music, some lush instrumentation, and Kelela’s honey rich vocals make this album a winner. One I’ll be returning to.
not sure if this slower r&b was my style
It’s always interesting that often, when there is an album other than 60s/80s soft rock it gets poor reviews… just an observation.
Raven clears
Enjoyed this one.
Interesting, but I couldn't pay much attention to lyrics. sound was nice for the most part.
She's got some game.
Was not expecting to like this album. I loved it.
Interesting production. Some of it was too electronic for me but still good. Enjoyed the first half more than the second half.
It was quite good
Really engaging r&b stuff. Lovely, dark, and rich. Feels like it's a pastiche of multiple decades. Nice.
pretty awesome atmospheric rnb stuff, nothing crazy, but very good
this was a good album, i’d listen again
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
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.
This grew on me as I listened. An interesting fusion of electronica and R&B.
I kind of liked the airy, laid back feel of this album. Some really nice songs, although by the end they were blurring together a bit - made me realize that longer isn’t always better. This isn’t my usual fare but the production was good and the sound sumptuous - so I’ll round this up to a 4.
If you’re new to R&B, this might be the perfect starter album. Very good blend of sounds and great performances on every track. It can get boring at times, though.
Not a standout album for me but she's very good.
Silky and sultry voice. Slow beats. Solid chill background music.
I liked the more I listened.
I quite enjoyed this artist that I hadn't heard of before
Hele vette unieke sound zeg
Would listen again if in the right mood
271223 12:39 4
Never heard of this artist, but surprisingly good. An urban Lilith Fair participant.
Three listens, liked it more each time. Sweet voice, cool groove, nice.
man I love how different and varied she is! great vocals and the song production is great. the genre itself is outside my usual, but it kinda reminds me a little of Krewella but more soulful
Really enjoyed her sound! Will listen to again
This was a nice R&B. I could pick up where Kelela found her inspiration in many songs. All in all, it was very enjoyable.
Now this surprised me more than I thought it would. First of all, very impressive voice. But the song arrangements were also very well thought out and instrumentally interesting! To be honest, I was expecting kind of another cookiecutter female rap performer on top of generic beats and music passages. But this was something else! 8 out of 10
cool slightly experimental r&b album will have to listen again
This certainly caught me by surprise. Having no context for who Kelala is her voice just shines bright through the whole album. Fave track: Take Me Apart. Certainly worth another listen.
Hmmmm, kinda the same ballpark as FKA Twigs, but I think Kelela suffers in that comparison. Or it might just be that I'm a lot more familiar with FKA Twigs... 🤔 Pleasant enough - I think it might benefit from a listen with good headphones to catch all the electronic stuff going on. Fave tracks - "Waitin" and "Onanon"
This one honestly surprised me. Production on it was fantastic, not really one for R&B but this came off kinda synthwave like? Cool album.
Finally some contemporary stuff! And it's an album I'm quite familiar with. Love this one and jammed it a lot when it came out. "Frontline" is still probably my favorite song by her.
Delightfully futuristic R'n'B, with great vocals. This is a few duller tracks away from a strong 5 stars.
Really surprising R&B piece. Had not heard it before, but very happy with it. I think it is missing a little something to pump it up for me though.
som legal, meio padrao e tals bem calminho
Interesting and avant-garde. Not something I would usually listen to.
Listened to a few songs. Liked it a lot. Put in favs
Had never heard of the artist and was really impressed with the album throughout.
Mjög smúþ, kósí, góð rödd.
A funky and beautiful piece of r&b. Kelela is full-voiced and sounds pitch perfect with every thumping track. Amazing production guides this one to a satisfying finish line.
While it is not my preferred genre, there was no song on the album that I disliked. 3 - 4/5, still in doubt 3/5 as I will probably not play this album again afterwards 4/5 as it succeeded in selling me a genre I'm not a fan of
sultry…sexy…smooth 😩😎kinda long doe
Remember this coming out and being an album you could slap on and listen front to back. It still has that quality. The production is subtle, then bombastic and then simple again creating this dubby space for Kelela's sweet little voice to fill. Lyrically it could be more complex, but then again this is a RNB album and not a PHD. Very solid four. Recommend her most recent album too.
best way to describe this is lush; from the electic selection of beats, production choices, and vocal performance. best tracks: frontline, lmk, take me apart
7/10. Pretty good, would've scored it a little higher but the back half started to wear on me a bit. Some of the songs felt just a bit too samey. Still, a very good, calm sounding album all in all.
Pretty good, reminded me a lot of that Solange album on this list. 7/10
I really enjoyed the electronic R&B vibe and Kelela's soulful voice. Better and Blue Light stand out for me. The music blends together a bit, but it seems like great background music that you can play over and over.
Really liked this one - can’t believe I’d not heard of her before!
This is pretty far removed from what I usually listen to, but I very much enjoyed it for background listening at work. In terms of expanding my understanding and appreciation of different styles of music, this one was definitely a success. Also, this is surely the sexiest album cover we've had so far.
People are mean about this album, but I like it well enough. Good background music for getting my work done.
Pretty cool stuff, I'm not usually TOO into R&B, but the production here is interesting enough to keep my attention, and she's got a great voice. Gonna try to come back to this and check out her other music soon. Gonna give this the ol' 3.75 rounded up because my initial feeling is that I like this more than a lot of my other 3s lol.
Ambient electronic RnB isn't usually my cup of tea, but loved this. Perhaps because that my cortisol levels are off the chart at the moment. Whatever the reason, this record is chilled, melodic and innovative. It's super relaxing yet also engaging. The perfect delivery of it's artistic vision. Rating: 5/5 Playlist track: LMK Date listened: 07/03/23
Solid modern soul
7/10 the production was very nice I liked how they were always trying to keep things interesting not a huge fan of this genre, but it’s still very nice
Enjoyed this a lot, and although I don't particularly remember any individual tracks something caught ear every few minutes. Definitely one to come back to.
Opção formidável para escutar nas noites que pedem o clima com batidas eletrônicas e voz envolvente de R&B.
4.25
Också ett helt otreholigt album!
Brooding and sensual.
Very innovative
Really good, very modern and polished, sounds expensive and lush.
This is an exceptional r&b album. Not only is Kelela a beautiful singer will a natural delivery, but the production backs her up effortlessly with swirling soundscapes and forward-thinking electronic beats. This is yet another album with production credits from Arca, who you can also hear on the FKA twigs album LP1 and Kanye West's Yeezus. All this to say, there is a clear trend of producer Arca working with talented artists to make superb musical works. But enough about Arca, let's focus back on Kelela. It's clear that Kelela has clear artistic vision that is both modern and timeless. Blending elements of contemporary r&b with art pop and electronic dance music makes Kelela's sound unlike anything else right now. The overall album flows nicely and has a mellow, sensual sound to it overall. Even if it does meander a little too long, the end product is stunning. Easily the most enjoyable album this week.
I'm just starting my 1001 journey and up till now I have felt the bar has been set very low. For me, I wouldn't expect your standard meat and three veg to be good enough to make the list. I'm looking for something that stands out. For the most part this album deserves to be on the list, and is an album I would buy. I will certainly be checking out Kelela's other albums.
This was good never heard of kelela before
My main complaint with soul is that it's often one dimensional and needs to be fused with other styles. Kelela does that very well with a unique fusion with electronic. I still have some challenges keeping interested since the tempo especially during the versus remains homogeneous. But it's a good attempt to solve my problem so it gets +1. Cover photo doesn't do any harm either.
Fine R&B album. Not usually my thing, but I definitely didn't hate this.
Sounds kinda old and kinda new at the same time. Kelela has a great voice which sounds mercifully natural for an album recorded in the last decade. Stylistically the album doesn't fit well in any category. You can imagine these songs getting remixed into any number of electronic genres. For my tastes I think I would like to see the material contorted even further into rougher electronic versions but I understand why the choices were made to let Kelela's songs retain their origins in R&B.
Never heard of her. Glad I have now as I enjoyed this quite a bit. I didn’t even know I liked R&B.
So excited they included this album. I found it in the new section back when it came out in 2017, gave it a try, and was blown away with the first song in how good it was. Kicks off the album in a perfect way. The rest of the songs are a great blend of interesting beats both slow and thoughtful. It's been raining to day and I listened to this by the window as it rained and it was a perfect soundtrack.
What a great album! Certainly a breath of fresh air--- "LMK," "Onanon," "Blue Light" and "Frontline" are probably my favorite tracks on here.
My kind of R&B album. Really felt the groove the whole way through. I think this gal is going places!
Smooth and sexy
Mislila sam da ce mi se svidit po coveru i po tom što piše RnB. I je. I to jako. Produkcija je top notch.
I struggled with this album a bit. It sounds fine, both the music and the vocal are good and they blend well together. Listening to this album without context, I felt that it was a bit generic. Not bad at all, but it didn't sound particularly revolutionary for 2017. The Wikipedia entry shed a little more light on it, noting it's fusion of R&B and EDM, as well as other musical styles. I feel like EDM has been a part of R&B for a long time, but I don't know enough about the genre to say that definitively. In the end, I like this album, but I don't know that it's super groundbreaking. I think that the years since its release have altered my perception of it. At the same time, this album was released after FKA Twig's EP, which was much more experiemental in terms of electronic music in R&B. In the end I think it's good enough to give 4/5, but it's definitely close to 3/5 4/5
Had never heard of this artist, and this album was a pleasant surprise. A couple bad tracks, but some great work overall.
Really good album. Has a great sound.
I'm not sure entirely what to make of the ambient-inflected R&B of Take Me Apart. The vocals are especially syrupy, but even Arca's production stays in the background, low-key but lush. But Enough was gorgeous enough and the sequencing of long and short tracks engaging enough I don't really care where it sits in a more informed listener's canon. It works as a measuring stick for me.
first listen definitely unique
Braba gostar
canta muito