Take Me Apart

How have I not heard this before?? Stunning

This was a mellow, vibey sort of thing. Very Pop.

I'm no expert on R&B, but you don't have to be an expert to tell that Kelela is very forward thinking when hearing her debut record. This record does not sound like it is rehashing the sounds of yesterday. This takes influence from the electronic scene and fuses it with R&B. This is sexy and sensual, but she always sounds so classy. I do struggle to tell certain songs apart, but that is more down to me not being as familiar with the genre than a criticism against Kelela. This is something that I would choose to put on, but it was a very easy listen.

Ne mogu da vjerujem da nisu potražili neki bolji frišak rnb album jer i ja što se slabo razumijem u žanr mogu nabrojati neke neuporedivo bolje, vrijedne ove pažnje. Ovdje se ništa nije desilo ravno 54 minute.

has ned so nice gfunde. esch ewie so trance-pop mässig. 1-2 lieder hani no asy gfunde aber all in all ned nice und wörs ned nomol lose

nothing grabbed my attention; all the sounds lowk sounded the same. favorite songs: none

Not expecting too much and find some odd depth and left me wanting to continue listening

It’s a fair example of the sound. You didn’t need to put it on this list. You likely won’t listen twice.

Wonderful album with gorgeous vocals and smooth production. This is is definitely one of my favorite discoveries so far (just over 250 albums in) and I can’t wait to dig into her other albums.

This album was solid and was clearly very well made. Everything sounds really good here and it’s definitely well produced. I’m just not a huge fan of this type of music. This reminded me of SZA but not quite as enjoyable for me.Take Me Apart and LMK were definitely highlights.

Pleasant, enjoyed a fair amount.

Synthesizers behind a voice. Unremarkable and very boring.

This had a nice little bop to it and it was a nice listen. Didn’t feel too strongly or weakly about it.

Kelela – Take Me Apart (2017) On Day 245, this album took me way too long to finish, which speaks directly to how disappointing of a listen it was. It felt like several legitimate classic records had to get nerfed just for this project to secure a spot on the list. The futuristic R&B production and dark electronic soundscapes dragged on, making the overall runtime feel like a genuine chore rather than an engaging experience. An uninspiring, dull record that completely failed to live up to the placement. A low 2/5.

This type of r n b is just not my favorite. It definitely takes me back to 2017 though sonically.

Solid.

A really really solid late 2010’s pop R&B album. I was (and still am) a fan of this genre, so it’s nice to add some tracks from this to my playlists.

great

Cantora insignificante, disco insignificante, música insignificante.

Chilllllll

I liked this I didn't think I would. She has a voice and it has a decent beat to it without overkill enjoyable

Just not for me. Pretty decent, but unnecessary production. Its not bad, just not for me.

I just don't get this overproduced nothingness music. Next.

OK. 2/5

ugh, pop, could not get pass the first song

Smooth. Music and voice are a great match and easy to listen to.

I’m familiar-ish with Kelela’s more recent work and was pleasantly surprised to see her debut on the list. I’ve been meaning to explore her early catalog anyway. As consistent across her discography as I’ve heard it, she’s got a great voice and an ear for cool, atmospheric production, particularly in the percussion. She’ll go on to make more adventurous work (the album she put out in 2026 rocks) and this didn’t quite stick to my ribs like those albums have, but this is as confident and finely crafted as you could want from a debut album.

Fine. Her voice is nice but all the tracks kind of sound the same. To be honest I’ve never heard of her and I’m sure there are much stronger and more popular examples of the genre that could have been included instead, this feels like a bit of a haphazard last minute addition trying to mix it up, too little too late. Again, the music is nice enough but just rather unremarkable. (2.5 stars)

I started this project to listen to more albums and to try new stuff. This is definitely well out of my usual listening but there’s plenty to like. The production is sharp, songs are built up from glitchy beats and banks of synths and her voice cuts through the atmospheres with precise but subtle Melodies. Occasionally becomes a bit background music in a rooftop bar but it’s an album to relax into

Artiste inconnue. Belle voix mais c’est à peu près tout. Les morceaux (et l’album) sont trop longs, ils deviennent ennuyeux. Je n’ai pas pu aller au bout. =>1/5

Not bad, good for the ride to work

Ehhh, this sounds like it could have been any generic late 90’s chick R&B album. Not bad, nothing spectacular either. 2.5⭐️

Pleasant surprise...I don't keep my ear to the R&B or Electro-R&B streets, so I have never heard of Kelela, but I found it interesting.

generična, preproducirana pop pizdarija. za slastičarnicu, po mogućnosti ipak hipstersku, što je u neku ruku još i lošije. a autotjun je naprosto katastrofalan. nakon slušanja imao sam osjećaj kao da me album potpuno izmorio a istovremeno je bio jako dosadan i bezvezan. ovo je za kečinu. jebiga, morao je doći album koji će narušiti niz načelno neloših ili boljih albuma

A lot of electronic music in this one that sometimes forms a cacophony that's interesting to listen to, but most of the album conforms to R&B's rigid structure, which I don't really care for. Kelela herself mostly focuses on singing prettily rather than with any emotion or edge. It's not terrible, but it's not for me.

391/1001 Kelela - Take Me Apart Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ This was a bit of a revelation to be honest. The production was great and super interesting, yet formed an accessible R'n'B that very much had its eye on the pop world. It maybe a touch too long for me.

I found it quite boring overall

Quite bland. Another one where you think why is in the list.

Another where this just wasn't my taste

Wasn't impressed. Contemporary pop R&B, which isn't my thing.

I don't know if it's a can't miss record per se, but I'd never heard of Kelela before this list. Take Me Apart is incredible and unique, sounding totally different from most modern R&B records.

Really enjoying this! Love her voice and the different genres that seem to hang out perfectly. This album deserves better than sitting in Ballard traffic on a Tuesday morning. Would love to come back to it!

I listened to this more than once and damned if I can remember a thing about it. It’s has an antimemetic quality that is nearly unrivalled. I can’t hate it, that I would remember. It just can’t stay in my memory.

4/10 Not for me

Not my usual cup of tea, it’s giving background music in a cocktail bar vibes. But production value is top notch.

It's very cool I like it

Personally just loved everything about this album. The downtempo, the uptempo, the soaring synths, the lowkey beats… like all of it. When Kelela’s good, she’s great, and this was a much deserved modern entry into the list. I’m pretty easily entranced by experimental downtempo R&B/trip, and she served what she needed to for a five. STAND-OUT SONG: “Frontline” HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Take Me Apart,” “Waitin,” “Onanon”

Pretty great production/vocals, unfortunately wasn’t in the right kind of environment to enjoy it properly (ideally, my good headphones instead of 1 earbud, no children in the other ear!)

Just kinda found this a little boring… most of the tracks sounded very similar, don’t get the hype on this one 2

3.5

I liked this one a lot, really cool vibes, great vocals and felt a little throwback. This is kind of what I wanted the Solange or SZA record to be I think?

Lacked execution, a bit boring. Production wasn’t great, sounded like an early 00s album at times. 4/10

Groovy, I like it

Seth - 3.7/5 Logan 3/5

This is a good album, but its just not for me. Good production. I just dont listen to RnB, so the more songs I listen to, the less I like it.

Not bad.

Well produced, but i didnt find this all too interesting. Might be because im not a huge RnB fan, but im just gonna rate off how i enjoyed it, so 3 stars from me.

Great, sultry R&B

Thoughts before listening: I have heard of Kelela, but I don't know her music. Feels like it'll be some sort of electro-clash, sound collage take on r&b. Definitely something that made a bunch of album of the year lists on sites I follow, but that I ignored cause I figured it wasn't for me. Review: Yeah...not really for me. Also I was wrong with the sound. This isn't really all that out there and definitely isn't "electro-clash". It kind of just sounds like r&b to me. Some songs definitely have harsher sounding bass and beats than others, but it all seems kind of standard to me. Maybe I just don't have an ear for this stuff. I'm sure its a fine album for those into this music, but for me its 2-stars.

Meh - neither liked or disliked

Volkomen vergeetachtige muziek. Het is zeer aangenaam om naar te luisteren, maar na 30 seconden vergeet je weer dat je ernaar aan het luisteren was.

boring

This isn't bad but I don't quite appreciate why it's on this list or how it is innovative to deserve a place here compared to so many other albums/artists that sound very similar. I was delighted about halfway through to hear that someone had discovered the electro snare drum button and gave it a few pushes. Innovation.

Heel vet! Hele toffe productie. Ik luister normaal nooit naar r&b maar ik vind deze futuristische productie er heel vet bij. Erg cool!

listened to this album several times and it always became background music. does that mean it’s bad? probably not. does that mean it’s good?? not really

Nice voice but quite boring album. Each song was very similar and blended together for me. Surprised this was made in 2017, it felt more dated

A very good album, but not special enough to warrant inclusion here. Solange did it better.

I put it on in the background and completely forgot about it. That’s not a compliment. 2/5

​Take Me Apart is a rare debut that feels entirely fully realized from front to back. It avoids sounding cold or overly clinical by anchoring its avant-garde production in universal truths about love, lust, and the courage it takes to walk away

No standout tracks. Boring and samey. I have no idea what this album is doing on this list. I'm giving it a 3, because it is at least not the same 70s blues-rock that this list is plagued with.

I enjoy a nice R&B album. This fits that mold pretty successfully. It’s insanely well produced. The sound design is so layered with a lot of little things, so there’s a distinct ambience to the listening experience. I found myself enjoying bits and pieces, but not the overall musical style choices. Her voice was getting pretty samey by the end and I was really hoping for some kind variety with such a long album. But it unfortunately didn’t happen.

A lot of songs sound the same to me. Not my jam.

Very refreshing to have music from sometime in the last 35 years. I don't think I loved it or would seek it out but it wasn't bad

It surprises me that this album is so late, because most of the artists with this style seemed to have disappeared since the late 1990s/early 2000s. Great voice, great beats and background vibe. There was no single stand out song, and I never got into it in a catchy kind of way except for Better.

Some songs I really liked and others I didn't. Excellent voice. Good recording. Great bass line! If it were shorter and without some of the the experimental auto-tune songs, I would rate it higher.

I am unable to relate. But I imagine within the pop (?) genre this is probably pretty good.

A little too mellow and a little too long. Otherwise I liked this. Very cool blend of R&B and electronic music.

nota 4,5/10

Some of the songs are not as boring as I thought but almost. The rest are.

I admire the creativity but there's nothing about this that I personally enjoy.

Sounded just like every other album in her genre of music, but other artists did it way better.

I liked this way more than almost any other post-2010 album the website has spit up. That's still not that much, but it ain't nothing.

I think this is where I really feel like an old man. Nothing from 2017 has withstood the test of time to be an album I need to hear before I die. talk to me about adding it to the list when it’s at least 10-20 years old. So is this album the outlier that I really 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. It’s pleasant enough as background music… 2⭐️

I'm sure this is great for R&B fans but it's not for me.

I have never heard of this person before. Nothing really stood out or set this apart from any other R&B

A couple of times while listening my ears perked up. I think if I was more into R&B I would have liked this more.

3 - I liked it more than I thought I would.

I hadn’t heard of her. My second RnB album for the day, but on this one the electronica is a strong attraction to pay attention, it works for me. I like the lush keyboards along with lush vocal lines, the percussion and effects sides are fine too. The overall tone (of vocals and music generally) is comfortable and definitely interesting, draws me in. I am happy to Like quite a few of these tracks, and listen to them again. That said, not sure in what mood or circumstance I would choose to play through the whole album again, but if I wanted to hear some electro-RnB, this album/artist will get more of my attention :-) I'm thinking (on reflection after some time has passed) Good, 7/10.

EDM crossed with RnB. Not a particular fan of either genre but listened earlier with an open mind and ear. Very forgettable stuff altogether. Like I only listened this morning, but nothing has stood out, and I couldn't tell you anything about it, good or bad. Can't justify 3 stars as those generally have a few memorable songs. So, 2 stars it is.

Spacey, subdued alternative R&B that has some interesting production choices and some songs that don't do much of anything. In its best moments, the bass is heavy and the percussion is complex, but not overly so. It's light on big hooks, but there are still moments that are subtly catchy. The title track and "LMK" stand out as tracks that really get into your head without doing anything all that over-the-top. Unfortunately, I do find that the album is a bit too long to be so light on memorable moments, with some tracks that lack the bass or drums and feel a bit emptier. Kelela herself is also sometimes not much of a factor; in the catchier hooks her voice is great but often things are just too laid-back. I do dig the production overall, but not as much as on some other albums from this era and sound.

Definitely more interesting than most R&B, but it's never going to be my favorite genre. Too often feels like production over songwriting though.

high 3 good sound, lack of standout songs

Majestic, hadn’t heard of her before

Sé que esto va a sonar a machismo o micromachismo, pero no entiendo la necesidad de todas estas cantantes en salir desnudas en la portada de su disco. Algunas canciones tienen muy buen sonido, pero no van más allá en mi apreciación. No podría decir que es un mal disco, pero esta vez se va a 2 estrellas de esas 2,5 que deberáin ser.

Yeah this is pretty good. Great production, good vocals. Subpar bland writing.

Really creative production, great vocals, and mediocre writing. Feels like a mashup of SZA and Aphex Twin. I'd definitely throw this on as a casual background listen, but it doesn't blow my socks off.

This didn't grab me at any point. The cool R&B vibe rarely works for me. There weren't any satisfying beats, and while there is singing, there aren't any memorable melodies. Just not my vibe.

HEEELLLLLLL YEAAAAA Ok whoever put this on here is my friend. This is one of those records that defined the last decade for me. One of the ones that ppl in the future will truly remember and respect. Plus I was I my late mid 20s it was the late mid 20teens. In the Atlanta queer art community- noone was more a paragon of cool than Kelela. That time and place was defined by Kelela, FKA Twigs, Frank Ocean, Tinashe and Solange. I was a huge fan of her mixtape when it came out. Already a believer but this album just catapulted me into devotee. Everyone loved her music but the group think was all so hyped on the Knowles sisters that Kelela was kinda treated like a side chick. More for the nerds. Since her newest record New Avatar came out I feel like I've truly gotten to see her be admired on the big stage of public opinion and it really feels so good. She deserves it.

This was really nice actually. I got into the rhythm of a good few songs. Not my taste ultimately but I appreciated what it was doing

0.00

WARP, quand j'ai vu la mention de ce label mythique sur la pochette du premier album de Kelela, mon attention s’est tout de suite décuplée. Moi qui m'attendais à un énième disque de R&B sirupeux, classique, voire trop classique, l'espoir d'une dérive IDM à la Aphex Twin m'a fait hausser un sourcil. Malheureusement, la déception est à la hauteur de l'attente : au final, on est bien sur un album de R&B très, voire trop, classique par moments. Certes, il y a cette patte electro qui fait la différence sur certains morceaux, un petit côté synthétique et glacial qui fait parfois penser à Björk, mais la comparaison s'arrête là. Il faut dire qu'en s'affichant sous la bannière de Warp, Kelela s'imposait un cahier des charges colossal. On parle quand même de la maison de disques qui a sorti les plus grands traumatismes électroniques de ma jeunesse, le genre de structures prêtes à dynamiter la pop pour le simple plaisir de voir les débris flotter dans l'espace. En s'entourant de producteurs issus de cette galaxie comme Arca ou Jam City, elle promettait un R&B mutant, déconstruit, une véritable collision frontale entre la soul futuriste et l'abstraction numérique. Le problème c'est que l'album souffre d'un cruel syndrome de double personnalité. D'un côté, il y a ces textures synthétiques glaciales, ces beats fragmentés qui tentent de bousculer la structure traditionnelle du morceau. De l'autre, on se retrouve face à des mélodies vocales d'une étonnante banalité, calquées sur les standards les plus éculés du genre des années quatre-vingt-dix. La comparaison avec Björk, inévitable dès lors que l'on tente de marier l'organique de la voix aux convulsions des machines, tourne rapidement au vinaigre. Là où l'Islandaise utilisait l'électronique comme un scalpel pour ouvrir son âme et nous la jeter au visage, Kelela s'en sert trop souvent comme d'un simple vernis esthétique, un emballage branché pour masquer un manque flagrant d'inspiration mélodique. Au final, on traverse le disque sans jamais être vraiment bousculé, les morceaux s'enchaînent dans une sorte de torpeur mid-tempo thérapeutique qui finit par anesthésier les tympans les plus aiguisés. Alors oui, les amateurs de R&B contemporain y trouveront sans doute leur compte, louant la modernité des arrangements et la sensualité de l'ensemble. Mais pour moi, Take Me Apart rate sa cible par excès de prudence, préférant le confort d'un genre balisé aux risques de l'inconnu. Une œuvre tiède qui, à force de vouloir plaire à tout le monde, finit par ne remuer personne. Ma note est forcément mitigée. Je ne peux pas décemment lui mettre un 1 sur 5, parce que ce n'est pas une bouse infâme et que le travail de production est propre, mais je ne peux pas non plus lui accorder la moyenne car mon ADN musical n'est tout simplement pas prêt à avaler ce genre de compromis tiède. Au final, ce sera un 2 sur 5 pour l'effort d'avoir poussé la porte du label Warp jusqu'au bureau de la direction, même si le résultat final manque cruellement d'audace et de couilles.

Didn't do anything for me.

3/5

Tasteful and unique r&b. I hadn't heard of Kelela - I like it.

One of the most modern albums on this list, it struck me how much this genre is a response to the ubiquity and portability of headphones and Spotify. This is about creating a soundtrack for the performativity cool. It's not really directly about the songs, it's about the 'vibes', the 'aesthetic', it's about 'giving' a certain mood. Us old fogies don't really get it, but the scene kids know. Whether you're standing silently in a club wearing sunglasses indoors and licking your lips at girls, or driving late at night past neon signs and an empty city, this album will give you enough to feel like you're inside the moody and esoteric Instagram post you're going to make about the night. He knows who he is. We don't play like that.

I was so excited when the first song, "Frontline", started because it is awesome and I prepared myself for something majestic and worthy of my 5 stars. Unfortunately, there's a lot of filler here to follow, and some of the songs sound the same and I can't tell the difference between them, which annoys me, but is not a deal breaker. I could see putting this on as background music which I'm starting to realize I feel about quite a bit of modern electronic infused stuff, but I am old school and I like my RnB to be well defined. I struggled with a rating here because I like her voice and I like RnB, but perhaps it's a bit too long and samey.

Interesting.

I pressed play and 45 minutes went by. I could not tell you about a single thing that I heard in that time. Possibly the least essential album on this entire list.

a little SZA, a little Ariana, a little H&M and honestly some bits at the begining of some songs that could be horror tracka for the backrooms

Didn't hurt nor pleased me in any way. Found it even a tad too boring.

Hasn't heard of the artist before but enjoyed this one. Reminded me of FKA Twiggs and Banks

I like me some electronica and Kelela's got a beautiful voice. I think the only track that didn't sit well with me was Blue Light, because the autotune on the vocals was so overbearing. She clearly doesn't need it based on how good all the other tracks sound. Frontline, Waiting, Take Me Apart and Turn To Dust are all great vibes. I don't get why there's so many 1's in the reviews for this.

This was pretty cool. I like the ethereal dream pop electronic sounds mixed in with R&B. I had never really listened to Kelela, but I think I understand why this record is loved.

Not exactly my thing, but this was actually a pretty good album.

nice voice but overall it was pretty boring

Perfectly normal contemporary R&B, there's not much else to it.

Okay - not really my type of music I find it a little inconsistent. Altadena was nice.

niet interessanten pop. Zou niet op een lijst als dit moeten staan

I really liked the vibe on this.

GOOD ASS ALBUM!!! I COULD NOT RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH!!

I don't like R&B but this wasn't terrible. Way better than SZA. 2.7/5

# An In-Depth Review of Kelela's *Take Me Apart* Released in October 2017 on Warp Records, *Take Me Apart* arrived as Kelela's long-awaited debut studio album, following her acclaimed 2013 mixtape *Cut 4 Me* and 2015's *Hallucinogen* EP. The album was met with widespread critical praise, earning an 8.6 "Best New Music" designation from Pitchfork and landing at #9 on The Guardian's year-end list . But beyond the accolades lies a meticulously crafted work that rewards deep listening—an album that refuses easy categorization while remaining emotionally grounded. ## Lyrical Themes: The Architecture of a Breakup Kelela frames *Take Me Apart* as a chronological study of a breakup, tracing a narrative arc from separation through reconciliation to final renunciation . This isn't merely a collection of heartbreak songs, but a deliberate exploration of the messy, often contradictory mechanics of dissolving a relationship. The title track establishes the album's central tension: the negotiation between vulnerability and autonomy. "Don't say you're in love, baby, until you learn to take me apart," she coos over silky production, demanding that a partner explore her fully before making emotional declarations . Kelela described this dynamic as "topping from the bottom"—a way of maintaining control even while surrendering . The river metaphor woven throughout the song suggests emotional depths that both invite and threaten to overwhelm . Throughout the album, Kelela refuses to settle for simple narratives. On "Frontline," which premiered during an episode of HBO's *Insecure*, she delivers a decisive breakup anthem with cinematic detail—a joint crackling, keys jingling, a car engine revving—creating an immersive world that feels lived-in rather than constructed . "LMK" captures the uncertainty of casual dating with a hook that's both assertive and pleading: "All you gotta do is let me know" . The vulnerability here is key—Kelela shows she's not interested in the cool, detached pose often associated with alternative R&B . The album's later tracks move toward acceptance. "Altadena," the closer, finds Kelela in a place of resignation and peace: "Nothing to be said or done / It's not just me, it's everyone" . A reviewer for *Consequence of Sound* noted that by the album's conclusion, it's not a suitor but Kelela herself who is "unapologetically in love with herself" . ## Music and Production: Futurism Rooted in Tradition The production roster reads like a wish list of 2017's most innovative electronic producers: Arca, Jam City, Al Shux, Kwes, Bok Bok, and co-executive producer Ariel Rechtshaid . Yet despite the avant-garde credentials, Kelela's vision remains firmly rooted in R&B tradition. She cited Janet Jackson as a primary influence—specifically the intersection of "really rich musicality, rich harmony, soulful melody" with production that carries "a lot of weight in terms of the sound" . This retrofuturist approach defines the album's sound. "Frontline" blends a polyphonic, immediately catchy chorus with dark, glossy production that draws from UK bass, trap, and art-pop in equal measure . "Waitin" nods to the freestyle movement of the 1980s while deploying modern instrumentation, a song that "could have been released in the early 1990s and fit right in, and somehow was released this year and sounds groundbreaking" . Kelela's voice remains the focal point throughout, cutting through dense soundscapes with remarkable clarity . On "Enough," produced by Arca, tribal percussion and ghostly sonics provide a backdrop for Kelela's layered vocal harmonies, which build into a manufactured, synth-laden backdrop that her searing natural voice glides over . The track depicts the stalemate of a relationship unable to withstand further infidelity, with Kelela's voice conveying palpable pain . The album's most minimal tracks arguably land the hardest. "Bluff," just over a minute long, features Kelela's breezy vibrato over a slow piano melody, delivering a tender moment that reverberates with intimacy . "Turn to Dust" features restrained strings that create "a sense of devastating suffocation," as Arca's crystalline composition focuses on emotional distance that language cannot bridge . ## Influence and Place in R&B Tradition Kelela has spoken thoughtfully about how her work fits within R&B's lineage, pushing back against the "innovative" label when applied to Black artists. In an interview with *The Harvard Crimson*, she noted: "The subtext there is that I think that there's some music that people think of as inherently innovative, inherently futuristic, inherently advanced, and inherently complex and layered. And usually that's attributed to white people's work. When it comes to black people's work, [the work] is still valued, but it's seen as intuitive, just sort of coming straight out of the person—more rudimentary and less complex, less intentional" . This awareness informs the album's deliberate engagement with tradition. Kelela's musical background—raised by Ethiopian parents who exposed her to world music, jazz, and show tunes, while she became enamored with R&B through Janet Jackson and Kelly Rowland—created an artist capable of stretching the genre while honoring its roots . The album's Ge'ez script on the cover art nods to her Ethiopian heritage, a subtle but meaningful detail . Critics noted the album's connection to artists like Solange, FKA Twigs, and Jessy Lanza, while also tracing its lineage to the new jack swing era and the innovations of artists like Aaliyah . *Take Me Apart* functions as a bridge between R&B's past and its future, refusing to abandon emotional immediacy in pursuit of experimentation . ## Pros and Cons ### Pros **Sonic Cohesion and Detail:** The album rewards repeated listening, with new layers revealing themselves on the third or 37th listen . The production is meticulously crafted, creating a consistent world that never feels repetitive. **Vocal Performance:** Kelela's voice has never been clearer or more emotionally expressive. She's mastered both its lower reaches and breathy, Janet-invoking croons, and uses layered harmonies to create stunning vocal architecture . **Lyrical Honesty:** The album refuses easy narratives, embracing contradiction and vulnerability. Kelela's willingness to show weakness—as on "LMK" where assertiveness becomes pleading—gives the record emotional weight . **Narrative Arc:** The chronological structure from breakup to acceptance gives the album a satisfying emotional journey, making it more than a collection of songs . **Producer Collaboration:** The roster of producers—Arca, Jam City, Bok Bok, and others—brings out the best in Kelela's vision, creating a sound that's forward-thinking without losing touch with tradition . ### Cons **Occasional Over-Control:** Some critics noted that the album sometimes feels *too* controlled, with a more raw or less "perfect" mix potentially allowing the emotional core to hit harder . **Pacing Issues:** While the album's consistency is admirable, some listeners found it "subdued" and lacking in variety, with a "lack of adventure" and few big, memorable moments . The second half, while strong, has been noted as less immediately engaging than the first . **Interludes:** Tracks like "Jupiter" and "S.O.S." function more as interludes than fully developed songs, breaking momentum for some listeners . **Accessibility:** The experimental production and sparse arrangements may not appeal to listeners seeking more traditional R&B structures . ## Conclusion *Take Me Apart* is a masterclass in modern R&B architecture—an album that earns its "alternative" designation not through novelty alone but through a genuine expansion of the genre's emotional and sonic vocabulary. Kelela spent four years crafting this record, and the result feels lived-in, deliberate, and deeply human . She achieves what the title suggests: allowing herself to be taken apart, examined, and ultimately reassembled on her own terms. The album's legacy lies in its demonstration that "future" production need not sacrifice emotional immediacy, and that innovation within Black musical traditions deserves recognition as the intentional, complex artistry it is.

this was NOT an album i needed to hear before i die

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.

#248 listening diary Very much not a bad record! I'm surprised at the low ratings on this honestly. "Frontline" and "Take Me Apart" were great! The production is strong overall, and it got close to pure smoothy soul goodness at it's best moment, there isn't really a bad song on this! With that said I cannot give this a 4. It's in realm of 3.5 for me!

Clocking in at 53 minutes, this album is 53 minutes too long. Why?

Spectacular

I checked the reviews immediately after I finished this album. I knew exactly what I'd find. The reviewers in this community hate black artists, female artists, and experimental artists. So there's no surprise there's so much hate when you have an artist who is all 3. I'm not even a huge Kelela fan and hadn't heard this album in full until today. But it's hard to deny this album's impact on pop & alternative R&B in 2026. You can hear so many ideas born out of movements created for this album. Most of all, Kelela's voice just doesn't quit. She has a 90s sound that is made for house but she uses it in so many different ways. Too fire. Highlights: Jupiter, Onanon

Ultimately forgettable but I thought the production was good.

Why though? R&B with electronic influences? Okay I get that…but in 2017? That’s not very innovative. Never heard of Kelela, don’t think I needed to.

3.5

pretty, complex

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.

Thought I recognised her voice, she made a song with Gorillaz on Humanz. The only problem was then I would've rather been listening to a Gorillaz album than this

One of the newer R&B darlings. It’s tolerable

Solid R & B album.

1. Frontline - 4 Good instrumentals and a great beat on it but it's still bubblegum pop at it's core. 2. Waiting - 4 Take track one, copy it, paste it here. 3. Take Me Apart - 4 Take track two, copy it, paste it here. 4. Enough - 5 Some of the effects on the vocals into the drums and bass is cool. Middle part of the track is particularly a low point and very weak. Otherwise it's the best on the album so far. 5. Jupiter - 3 Just a strange track. Feels in the wrong pitch at times and in the wrong octave in others. 6. Better - 4 It's just generic kind of soft pop. 7. LMK - 2 Instrumentally it's okay, but lyrically it's pretty weak. It's a generic pop track, which I'm not a huge fan to begin with, and then it's not superbly written or catchy on top of that. 8. Truth Or Dare - 1 The beat is so heavy the lyrics are drowned out by them. In the higher octaves, it's impossible to make out the lyrics. 9. S.O.S. - 2 It's more cheesy pop. Complete throwaway track. 10. Blue Light - 1 Pretty poor autotune on the track and lyrically it's very weak. 11. Onanon - 0 More really bad lyrics and in the intro they're paced so frantically and inconsistently you lose half of what is being sung. Then the track goes onanon for far too long at the end. 12. Turn To Dust - 1 Very boring and repetitive track. 13. Bluff - 4 It's not a bad song by any stretch of the imagination and one of the better ones on the album. 14. Altadena - 4 Alicia Keys vibes a little bit. The message is good but the lyrics are essentially two lines endlessly repeated for the length of the entire track. Average Rating: 2.79 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 1.39 Rounded Down: 1 Star

Cool vibe, I wanted to like it more than I did. Voice or singing took me out of it. Music was alright. This one I wish I didn't read anything before because it left me wanting.

I already know people are going to drag this from the cover, but it's kind of a hidden gem.

I’m out of my wheelhouse here. As a very casual R&B fan, I appreciate that this is a well done album, but I’m not at all prepared to compare it to any of its contemporaries. It's futuristic, but like... that FKA twigs album came out in like 2014 so I don't know that I feel like that futuristic sound was wholly novel.

Ei mun juttu! Kuuntelin junassa ko tein töitä ja toivoin useamman kerran että voisin vaihtaa johonki muuhun lol. Kaikki biisit kuulosti samalta. Vähän honk shoo mutta ei 1/5 koska uskon että pahempaakin on eessä

Aivan hyvä levy, mut ehkä just tällä hetkellä tää tuntuu vähän kolutulta saundilta. Kymmenen vuotta sitten ois ollu tosi kova ja varmaan kymmenen vuoden päästä on taas tosi kova, mut just tässä ajassa ei herätä valtavia fiiliksiä.

Upee ääni, tosi krispisti tuotettua, hyvä soundimaailma. Harmi että ite sävellykset tuntu tosi tasapaksulta xd Pari biisiä erottu kivasti edukseen joukosta tosin!

Jotenki tää jäi vähän vaisuksi

Hyvin tuotettua ja kaunista musiikkia, mut jäi mulla nyt jotenkin taustahönkimiseksi. Pitäisi ehkä antaa uusi mahdollisuus jossain toisessa hetkessä.

ei aivan napannut kyllä itsellä, vaikka oli tosi kaunis ääni ja aivan hyvä fiilis..!! tuli vain mieli kuunnella solangea

3.5

3.5

7 - really good, sexy r&d/edm

not my stuff

Kolejny bardzo przeciętny album. Kilka lat później już nikt o nim nie pamięta. Taka cena ambicji, która jest czekiem bez pokrycia. 5/10

This was pleasant and the electronic aspect raised it above the usual rnb pop, but its still pretty thin.

Ok

Totally fine music, but I found it quite repetitive and hard to focus on.

2,1/5

no ma gustao

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

Expected to not like it and was impressed by the solid combo of drum/Bass and modern pop.

Chill vibes im adding this

so mid

mja t is best redelijke R&B maar hoog achtergrondmuziekgehalte

mja. helaas vond ik er niet zoveel aan

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

Muy buena produccion pero letras muy aburridas o sinceramente hasta sin sentido

I liked it there were some great songs in it but there are a few skips

Run of the mill R&B but it’s still super sexy. If only I had a girl 🤓

I love this rnb just soothes the soul and Kelela really brings it. It’s so smooth and the beats are just nice. I like it I woke up to this. Some of the drums on this are nuts truth or dare sheesh. Anyways she has a beautiful voice I will diving into more

I had never heard of Kelela or any of the songs on this album. I've learned over the course of listening to over 150 of these albums now, that it's really hard to rate a lot of them when you just aren't super familiar with the artist or the genre. That's the case here. I also make sure I did a little research on every album, because there have been a lot of times where even though I didn't really personally think the album was that great, for various reasons the album belongs on this list. In this case, I'm struggling to understand how this one made the list. The album is not bad. She actually has a really pretty voice and the music is pleasant to listen to. I think the music is WAY overproduced, which I'm not a fan of, but that doesn't make it bad. I'm just can't see what separates this out from other R&B albums. In fact, if I compare this to Janet Jackson, TLC, Alicia Keyes, or a whole slew of others, this album sounds mediocre to my ears compared with those others. Fine to listen to, but very forgettable.

It was ok...not my thing...well produced

Fine.

Smooth R&B. Liked it!

Honestly an amazing contender for the most boring album of all time! The production is SO lame, and every song sounds exactly the same. Not unpleasant on the ears, but damn.

This album got spread over a few days and in some car rides that had conversation, so I'm not going to say I gave it as much of a fair shake as I normally try. It was good though

Not to victim blame or anything but this was a lot of repeatedly saying you'd leave or call someone's bluff and then obviously not following through on stated limits and if you do that people learn they can walk all over you. Also, weirdly sexual listen for a day I spent cleaning.

Expected much more after reading about the album on Wikipedia. This is simply modern pop music without any special moments.

yuh, i love the 21st century <3, definitely gonna play this on repeat

Cicada slop

Sounds very British but with an American R&B voice on top. The music is a good vibe, and she's got a good voice. Maybe the tunes aren't quite there, but I quite liked it.

I agree with other reviewers that is better to wait a bit longer (15-20 years?) before adding an album to this kind of list. Not easy to listen. Sometimes there is something interesting in the production, but buried under too much north american pop. 1.5 / 5

La conocimos por su participación en discos de Solange (la hermana de Beyoncé) o Gorillaz. El disco fue aclamado, como el de Solange. A mi me gusta más el de Kelela, aunque siendo sincero, me esperaba algo más de ambos (Kiwanuka pero en femenino, o algo al nivel cercano a Janelle Monáe). No estamos en los tiempos de Bjork y PJ Harvey. Luego publicó, 6 años más tarde, la continuación con Raven, aún mejor. Take me apart y Enough me parecen muy buenas, pero el disco sigue ganando a medida que avanza: LMK, Truth or dare o SOS son magníficas.

She has a pleasing voice, but isn't this just The Weeknd lite. What makes this innovative in 2017? I really dislike the production on most of these songs, the drum beats sound so mechanical and lifeless. I can't stand a depressing feeling R&B songs, which most of these felt like. There are a couple decent tracks, like Enough, that I will add to a streaming playlist but most of this is forgettable background noise.

This sort of hits a lot of areas I'm inclined to like and I respect the innovative take on R&B, adding the cool indie electronic layer. Had meant to get around to a repeat listen but still think it would be the sort of album that would benefit from it late at night.

Ho HUUUUMMM boring nothing new or even remotely interesting and baffling that this album is on the list. 1,5

This is like someone whispering in the corner of a bar. It creates a sense of slight anxiety, who or what are they talking about? But in itself, the actual sound is relaxing. It floats and seems to disappear into the ether.

happy to have heard it. not particularly special BUT - and that is a very big BUT - it is better than most of the other offerings that it shares a lane with. it is engaging enough to make me look for more under the surface on future listens. whether there is more i am not clear on but i think it warrants further listens - just not today.

Was sort of on board with the first track, its a stripped back slightly odd take on r and b, maybe a bit Frank Oceany. Like with other consistently sparse albums, they end up beating this approach to death and Id had enough by the third track There was another sting towards the end I didn't mind but I think it was because it has an actual drum beat and in reality was probably still pretty rubbish. I think I'd rather hear this than some other stuff as it is a bit different but it's not good. 1.5.

That was not for me - too repetitive, too wishy-washy, didn't enjoy the beats, and the songwriting was dull.

I'm not exactly sure what genre you would call this? Closest I can think is RnB, which I don't get along with. I don't get this, doesn't appeal at all, most songs sound very similar. Don't like the auto tune. Makes me feel old and out of touch 1

easy listening but very blah, nothing really stood out

4/7

So goood, smooth and sophisticated and never ever boring. 3.5 on rym

Pleasant enough for background music

This is not my type of music at. Chances are I'll never listen to this again. But that does not prevent me from giving it an honest review beyond the limitations of my music taste. After getting past my initial disclaimer, this is actually quite well put together. Instead of the expected and tired beats that are used and reused on most r&b and contemporary chart pop music, this surprised me for being so subdued and relatively quiet. It employs unusual layers and song structures that are quite dreamy and ethereal. Not dancefloor stuff. This is not what I expected at all. Kudos to her and whomever was behind this.

a couple of passable songs, but other than that, it felt copy/pasted

Ok but not really great

Поп с таинственными звуками.

A mix of R&B and electronica, which reminds me of FKA twigs' Eusexua. My favourite songs are the ones that are more R&B and melodically focused than leaning into the electronic ambience (ex. Waitin, Truth or Dare). The rest sounded like it was trying to gain momentum which wasn't there (2.5-3).

Bland and forgettable.

Just slipped on by and I didn't really get a feeling for it.

Another "fine but not for me" album

This was pretty decent. It got me to stop and pay attention a few times and I will return to it for more.

Enjoyable and artistic.

-very fitting i’d listen to this right after A Seat at the Table – i liked this one even more. Kelela has such an amazing voice and the electronics made it some of the most appealing R&B i’ve ever heard -3.5 stars for now just because some of it fell a little flat but this is one i’d really like to listen to again one day -Favorites: Frontline, Enough, LMK

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

Enjoyed the blend of rnb with electronic music, first half was stronger in my opinion. Think if id heard any of the songs individually out n about I’d think its great but the longer it went on the more repetitive it felt, the songs are quite same-y and found myself wanting to skip songs towards the end

It sounds well produced, and she has a nice voice, but I couldn’t really connect to any of them until.

Decent R&B. Some really interesting sounds, but after about 7 songs or so, I was kind of done it.

Some good parts, but does sound very similar as you go through it Standout songs: Frontline Better LMK

i liked it.

Bubbles

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.

sounded pleasant and I enjoyed the lyrics as I tried to engage with this run of the mill rnb Nice sounding if forgettable . Trying to work out what it delivers to warrant inclusion

I havent finished it but from the cover to the beats i genuinely enjoyed the album, idk the beats made me enjoy it.

Tämähän oli ihan okei. Ehkä biisit kuulosti vähä samanlaisilta kaikki, mutta helppoa bassonjylinä-musaa. Kansikuvasta lisäksi plussaa.

Älyttömän taitavaa laulantaa, siistejä melodioita ja monipuolisuutta löytyy. Jäätävän hyvän kuulonen levy tuotannoltaan ja soitoltaan. Ei tästä paljoa huonoa sanottavaa löydy, ehkei sitä ominta genreä, mutta kuunteli mielellään.

Vocals are pleasant enough, but it's very one note throughout. I didn't enjoy the production at all. Sounds like PS2 menu music club mix.

Why does modern R&B have to be so soulless? There's just something about it that's overproduced. There's no warmth. It's just dry and bland and this is no different. The songs all blend together. This is no different. Ready to fall asleep by song 7, made it all the way through though. Proud of myself for that one.

This was a good take a on a modern R&B album. Voice was silky smooth. Production felt up to date. That said, this just isn't my thing but I can appreciate it. 💜

Beautiful voice. Smooth. FYI, the songs Spotify started playing after this were really good too.

A pleasant surprise among the morrissey, bob dylan, and old genesis albums we've been listening to in this project over the last few days. Still, I just can't seem to get really into it... I love kelela's voice and the her vibe, but the music doesn't sound harmonious or dissonant enough for me to really enjoy it. It's somewhere between catchy and unwieldy, and I just can't seem to connect with it.

Well produced, with a lot of polish. Beautiful vocals. And it just didn’t connect for me.

Just good. Nice RnB tho.

I'm sure there are folks out there that appreciate this, but I'm not one of them.

not liking it at all. pure noise. i will give it a 2 because they did try. why did people on pitchfork say it was good?

Davvero noioso

gross

Not that it sucks, but it bores me to death because it is really nothing remarkable on. Voice, sound, lyrics, production - all heard a thousand times before - and maybe even better. Skipped almost every track. 1,5

Nice sound, as a whole album kinda sounds the same, I love the vibeee though

incredibly cool and sexy, beautifully sung, about 4-5 tracks too long

I was familiar with one song from the album. The rest is good. It’s not what I normally listen to. I think it’s good overall. The music was interesting and the lyrics were standard r&b stuff. I’m not sure if I needed to hear this before I died but it broke up all the sameness of the Brit pop that’s on the list that is not very interesting.

I liked the first song but the rest of the album wasn't so interesting

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.

My project partner knows well I have an inexplicable, and perhaps ill-advised, affinity for R&B pop songstresses. That they sometimes look very hawt on their album covers may be one factor, but it is one of many. For that reason I gave this one a good shake. In the end, it didn’t break any new ground, and lacked anything to really enliven it. I didn’t hate it or even dislike it, and may even check out more from Kalela, but ultimately kind of disappointed. Especially because that album cover was so hawt.

Not my thing at all. I didn’t actively hate it is the only real feedback I can give. It did make me wonder about Alanis. Have I been unfair to Alanis?

Coole Songs und Stimme, werde mal in die anderen Alben hören

Nicht meine Tasse Tee, zu weinerlich und langweilig.

Chillige Background Musik

straight bs

R& B

Ok R&B

I'm always worried about these new albums as they haven't been around long enough to know whether they are important or not. This one, from what I think, is not one of them. The description on Wikipedia made it sound much more exciting than it actually is. Bland R&B masquerading as interesting by including the odd glitchy beat. About as exciting as paint drying. This should not be in the book. Don't bother. Best Tracks: Frontline; LMK; Bluff

Objectively I’m sure it’s a good album, but subjectively I wasn’t grabbed by it at all, zoned out from most of it and didn’t enjoy it.

actually incredible production one of the best in the genre

This is a well produced R&B album. Whilst not an extraordinary record, ot remains quite the enjoyable listen. 7/10 [KEEP]

It's ok. Pretty repetitive but could be fine in the background. Nothing bad.

Nice voice, but the album is WAY overproduced. And the songs don’t really land for me. 2.5?

I loved this.

There is a strange ethereal quality to this album. Like Pure Moods quietly crept in.

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

I have no idea why this R&B album is on this list. It's not bad. There just isn't anything interesting about it. Same songs with over-produced some sounds.

Feels like classic female vocal R&B/hip hop.

She can sing but sounds way over produced. Just could not get into it.

chill para poner de fondo

Hemskt

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.

Estuvo genial, lo volveré a escuchar

It’s alright. A bit repetitive and long for my liking

Nice in the background but not really my thing

fine as background music

Rough listen for me. One song of this is fine but so repetitive and winding.

Not for me. Not bad but not in my interest sounded like good musicians playing solid music but disnt really spark my interest enough.

this is fine. i'm not dancing at a club, so i guess maybe the listening environment could be improved? i really don't mind the music, but it is music for a certain time and place and at work is not the vibe. maybe i'll keep it in my back pocket for the right situation. 3 or 4/5

Boring. That album cover though... ooooh la la. Ha!

A lovely voice reminiscent of Ariana Grande. Much like with Ariana, though, there is nothing about these songs that interest me beyond the vocal talent.

Futuristic sounds added to sliding scale R&B? No thanks.

How do some things make it to this list of 1001?

a slightly higher tier of mall music

Meh

Smooth vocals but not sure what sets this apart from similar albums.

nope

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: 3.5/5 Favorites: Frontline, Onanon

I really tried to like this album. R&B is not necessarily my thing, so I gave it my best shot. I got nothing.

doesn't do much for me, don't think it's standing the test of time

This list isn’t the greatest thing in the world in the first place, and it doesn’t help that buddy keeps adding to it. There’s just no way to know something is going to hold up for 20 years without seeing whether it holds up for 20 years. This one was nine years ago, and there’s just no way it’ll be an essential album in another decade. It’s fine, I think, but that’s it. Maybe I’m wrong. I don’t know. How many more albums do I have to listen to

Boring it all sounded the same. It hadnt changed by halfway so off it went. Why is it on here?

The 2010s really had no identy, did they? This is nothingness, barely even background noise. I've no idea who it's for or what sort of music it is. I thought soul had soul, R&B had rhythm and blues. This has nothing! Seriously!

Lovely production. Nice voice. No songs. This sounds great but is no substance whatsoever. Sounds like it was written by AI before it existed.

Nice voice, but I cannot figure iut what made this pop for so many people. I found this one repetitive with very little to distinguish one track from another. A clear reminder that taste is subjective.

Nothing about this really appeals to me. I can see how others would enjoy this, but for me this was mostly pretty boring. The production is good, and the album sounds good, but I feel like it doesn’t really go anywhere.

For so many years. Based entirely on voice. People thought Kelela must have been Len Houmous’ daughter 4.0 7/14 LMK

This really reminded me of something I would hear in the background of a headshop.it wasn't bad.It wasn't great.I wouldn't turn it off, but I wouldn't go seeking for it again

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.

This had some great sounds. I actually wish it was more “electronic.” She had good vocals.

It;'s okay, pretty standard album that just blends together.

what they play in zara

Rb isn't always my thing but some catchy tunes

Nice break from the white-man bands.

not my bag. R&B with typical 2010s effects

Destiny's (Distant) Cousin

Interesante, me gustaron 2 rolas

It's not bad. Her voice is lovely and the lyrics aren't bad. I'm not sure it's an album I need to hear before I die but I'm not upset listening to it. Sounds like a pretty standard R&B album. I would have lik d to hear her with an actual band and not whatever synth software they used. Her voice would do better live with a band I'm thinking.

Overall: 5/10 This was alright, but it didn't really fo much for me. Just a run of the mill R&B album if you ask me. Fav Song: Truth or Dare

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.

Pretty good and listenable.

amazing album by amazing artist.

Perfectly nice but wouldn’t call it game changing