Reviews (page 3 of 7)
🥺🥺🥺🤧🤧🤧💖💖💖
Beautiful voice. 4.5
un peu de sweet rnb pour ne pas penser au fait que je fais des tests unitaires
Was digging this vibe. Fills the R&B hole in my playlist that is good for chilling in the dark (Imogen Heap, Frou Frou, etc). I could listen to Onanon on repeat.
Good r&b and phenominal production. Im not an expert in this type of music, but been exposing myself more over the last few years and this is just so good.
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Frontline, Onanon
A 2017 album supposedly in top 1001 ever made & i've never heard of it? Oh no, not more dull R&B. So I thought at first. But I listened & listened again. Big electronic/cross genre. It's really very good & well produced.
Cover, Stimmung, boudoir‘esque Intimität erinnert mich an Wild Beasts’ 2016er Album „Boy King“. Anderes Genre natürlich; eben Soul jedoch durchaus davon ferneres Sound Design (Two Step & Breakbeat, weite Soundscapes) wirkt Kelela angenehm anti-generisch. Ihre Stimme nahezu immer unverfremdet und echt. Eine Seltenheit. Imposante Synergie aus Stimmeinsatz und Klanggebilde („Enough“). Gegen Ende wird leider arg geschwächelt. Kathedralische 3.8
This was a slow burn for me. I didn’t care for the start but the back half is smooth.
Oh I'll take you apart Kelela.
Je n'ai pas le temps de m'attarder sur cette review mais je vous présente à tous mes salutations distinguées.
Ultimately forgettable but I thought the production was good.
3.5
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
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.
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!
Hyvin tuotettua ja kaunista musiikkia, mut jäi mulla nyt jotenkin taustahönkimiseksi. Pitäisi ehkä antaa uusi mahdollisuus jossain toisessa hetkessä.
3.5
3.5
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.
Expected to not like it and was impressed by the solid combo of drum/Bass and modern pop.
Chill vibes im adding this
mja t is best redelijke R&B maar hoog achtergrondmuziekgehalte
Muy buena produccion pero letras muy aburridas o sinceramente hasta sin sentido
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
It was ok...not my thing...well produced
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
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.
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.
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.
So goood, smooth and sophisticated and never ever boring. 3.5 on rym
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.
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).
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
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
Tämähän oli ihan okei. Ehkä biisit kuulosti vähä samanlaisilta kaikki, mutta helppoa bassonjylinä-musaa. Kansikuvasta lisäksi plussaa.
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. 💜
Just good. Nice RnB tho.
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
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.
R& B
Ok R&B
It's ok. Pretty repetitive but could be fine in the background. Nothing bad.
There is a strange ethereal quality to this album. Like Pure Moods quietly crept in.
Feels like classic female vocal R&B/hip hop.
chill para poner de fondo
It’s alright. A bit repetitive and long for my liking
Nice in the background but not really my thing
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
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.
Smooth vocals but not sure what sets this apart from similar albums.
Lovely production. Nice voice. No songs. This sounds great but is no substance whatsoever. Sounds like it was written by AI before it existed.
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
This had some great sounds. I actually wish it was more “electronic.” She had good vocals.
Rb isn't always my thing but some catchy tunes
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
Pretty good and listenable.
Perfectly nice but wouldn’t call it game changing
Сара 2 Марко 4.5
Seductive coos over gossamer synths and tasteful beats with just a hint of glitch. All very stylish and sophisticated. Not something I would listen to very often, but perfect for driving fast at night with sunglasses on, or making cosmic love to a stranger in a neon lit club, with sunglasses on.
I liked this more than I thought I would. This was another song I listened to with my 3M worktunes while mowing my suburban yard. Let me just say that this is probably not the intended listening context by the artist. The production really shines on this album. It has interesting enough backing tracks where things are happening that keep me interested even when many of the lyrics are about 20 something-aged people having normal relationships. The singing is also absolutely fine I don't remember cringing over any deliveries or anything. I don't know if I would ever put this kind of music on deliberately for myself or in other contexts but it exceeded my expectations especially since before I started I saw it sitting at a 2.97. I think that is underrated and I'm going 3
approved
C’est pas mal. Pas mon genre mais c’est pas mal
Interesting production and amazing vocals. The songwriting and overall style isn't really my thing though. Faves: Take Me Apart, Blue Light, Altadena
whatever
A new one on me. Good album.
Nie zlé, ale asi sa k tomu už nevrátim.
vähän liian pitkä levy mut ihan MUKIIN menevää
Cool sound in a genre I don't spend much time with. She has a beautiful voice and the electronic club beats give this a sound that makes it stand out from much r & b.
Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby Terence Trent D'Arby
I enjoyed the recording, however found nothing that made the music unique from other artists.
Quite enjoyed this one - A bit more mainstream version of something like FKA Twigs.
Arr and bee
Favorite Song: none
I wish I liked this more! Being a lover of R&B and soul, I had high hopes. Unfortunately, it felt a little soulless and boring. Kelela has the perfect voice for this genre, I loved how airy her vocals were. I found myself wishing that we had more variance in energy throughout the songs and the album. The tracks stayed lowkey and chill, which is not my personal taste.
Been Waiting For Today 1001 Albums Generator 255 (3/25/2026) Kelela is an artist who really made waves in my online space with her 2023 album Raven and her 2025 live reimagining of her music in a jazz context, In the Blue Light. I have never listened to her, and I was surprised to see her debut album make an appearance here. Unfortunately, I found Take Me Apart to be a largely forgettable affair. I really do love some alternative RnB, but there's something about this album that is unremarkable, for the most part. It starts and ends really strong, but the run in the middle doesn't do anything for me. I also think that a lot of the trap-influenced production comes off as very of-its-time and outdated at this point. Kelela's voice is pretty good, but the album is just too long. Mixed feelings on this one. 3/5. Favs: Waitin Take Me Apart Onanon Least Fav: Turn To Dust
The faster songs are better than the slower ones.
Honestly a lot better than I thought from the description It’s a really interesting mix of Pop, R&B, and Electronic music. Her voice is actually really good and probably the best thing about the album. Lyrics feel very personal while also not being too crazy artsy. I do like how the bass is definitely less grindy than a lot of other 21st century R&B songs, makes it easier to listen to I do think there’s a bit of a lack of variety, and nothing completely stood out to me on this one. Might have also been a hair too long with that in mind. Even though it’s better than the sum of its parts I’m still not a huge fan of any of the genres in the soup so I don’t think I’ll ever be crazy about this one. It’s a solid 7/10, which is a lot better than I thought going in, but it didn’t quite capture my heart
Not even a song in right now and I just know that this type of music is not for me. It sounds good I guess, but it's just boring overall. The music didn't do anything for me, but I can't say that I hate it.
I have never heard of this before. I know absolutely nothing about it beyond that it's an R&B album. The cover is... interesting. As for the actual music, it's mostly standard R&B with a modern electronic bent. Lyrics are pretty standard for the genre, and the vocals are just OK. They're technically impressive, but don't feel as soulful as the classic greats. A lot of the sound of this record is the sound of generic late-2010s Top 40 music. It isn't bad, but nothing here is particularly great. It sounds exactly like you'd think it would sound based on the cover and release date, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, that sound is not a particularly memorable one, and this is mostly a collection of standard pop/R&B songs that lack great songwriting. Granted, it's not as bad as the similarly rated Back to Basics, so there's that.
Meh. Good production but not interested
Some good listening Fave track: LMK
This sure is a late 2010s R&B record that was critically acclaimed. It sounds exactly like every other late 2010s R&B record that was critically acclaimed.
This is not my taste and I thought I would hate it, but it wasn't too bad, some decent songs on it, runs a little long.
6/10
meh
It was fine, not bad gym music.
Alright, this is pretty good. I wasn’t expecting much but the beats are good and so is her voice. It’s better than The Black Album.
I really wanted to like this, but some of it is too fast and some is too slow. She does have a lovely voice.
Better than I anticipated.
2/27/26. It's a shame how little of this genre I listen to, but was surprised I've never heard of this one since it's newer. Cool take on R&B with a variety of style throughout, and Kelela is a great singer. Will keep an eye on her work.
Kelela is an artist I have always admired and adored especially due to her continuously refreshing blend of R&B and some of the silkiest Electronic production in music currently. For her debut album I feel she really starts to hone in on what makes her music so special and addicting to a much more compelling degree. While not always the most consistently engaging album, I will say on a technical level this project is still extremely impressive. This album jumps around a lot in quality with some tracks really hitting a whole lot harder than others, with my main highlights being Frontline, Jupiter, and Better. It is a debut album at the end of the day so the messiness is a bit expected but all in all this is extremely impressive right out of the gate. Kelela obviously has an ear for some killer production and I think even after this album she is definitely someone more people should have their eyes on because she can surely captivate if given a place to.
Take me to church.
It’s a fine album. These kinda soft jazzy albums usually have songs that all sound the same but it was enjoyable.
This is a nice album. I'm not sure it's an all-time must hear, but definitely good music and melody. If anything, now I've heard of this artist, so I'm thankful for that.
Let me paint you the picture: You're all cozy in bed doin' the steamy sexytime, and this album starts playing on your smart speaker. The beats are there to move with, the vocals have that perfect sultry tone for whispering sweet nothings. It's like a smooth jazz track that just.. doesn't grab me by the collar and demand my full attention. It also just doesn’t hit that sweet spot of being both sexy and something I’d listen to outside the bedroom, you know? Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Frontline - Take Me Apart - LMK
2.5/5
There's nothing groundbreaking about it in my opinion (it reminds me of smooth R&B from the 90s and early 00s). Nice singing but the songs started to sound the same after the first few tracks.
What's worse, a bad album or a boring one? Alright background vibes, just don't try to listen or you'll put yourself to sleep
It was enjoyable, but a bit too long for me. I really enjoyed the beginning, but had a hard time staying invested all the way through.
A lovely lovely listen. I'm really not concentrated enough to value this record, that I feel is great. So I'll give it another 3 and try to come back to it later... Yeh, it's just what it is.
This didn’t grab me that much but i also think it shouldnt be penalised for how boring my day is. Keen to listen to this again perhaps on a sunny afternoon with a bevy and nary a care in the world but let’s see if i remember should that situation occur.
Pleasant background sounds, like listening to a babbling brook. (Brief detour while I consider whether Turn to Dust really echoes Taylor Swift's Style [resident Swiftie disagrees]).
petit r&b tranquille, belle voix et tout mais un peu répétitif en vrai
One of the better recent R&B albums I've listened to, this was well done.
She has a soothing voice and I enjoyed listening to this album.
I like the vibes, but it seems to be pretty much purely vibes. Nothing stands out.
Pulled one way, then the other. Agree with korirok, Frontline at full blast is a great opener. Enough is another standout, which to me shares some DNA with Rihanna's Kiss it Better, and I mean that as a good thing. On the other hand, teeing them both up (criminally unfair to compare Kelela's first album but I'm going to anyway) the whole of Anti is similarly massive on production but every song is beautifully focused, and I'm with wiz kid, the electronics and production on Take Me Apart is a lot, which isn't necessarily a problem, it's absolutely what she's going for with conviction, I'm just finding it hard to grab onto. Curious to check out her later stuff, see where she takes it.
Not fully sure how I feel about this. But enjoyable and kinda boring
So is this what R&B can be? I like the deep, atmospheric soundscapes. But the R&B cliches are ever present. I don't care about your boyfriend problems.
It's nice, the music is sexy, her voice is great. It just feels too robotic, too impersonal, more like elevator music than heartfelt music.
I think this one is fine. Not my type of music but I didn't dislike it. 3 stars.
Great album! Synthesizers throughout and mix.
Not really my usual type of music, but it was pretty chill and enjoyable to listen to. And it's pretty sexy, which I definitely don't disapprove of.
Enjoyed more than I thought I would
never heard of this woman, is that ethiopian script? (just looked it up, i guess the language is Amharic. oops) chill synth pads. its ok.
I'm not sure what to do with this particular album. Honestly, I don't really get current music. At some point, music gets so derivative that it's devoid of any attempt at uniqueness... formula as substance. This record isn't meant to be any giant artistic statement, it's the equivalent of urban aural wallpaper. Does that mean it's worthless? No, it certainly does not, but that said, it can be well produced, deftly performed, and yet not be worthy of a relisten, much less some ridiculous claim that it's one of 1001 albums that you MUST listen to before you die. I think this is probably true of a lot of the recent additions to the 1001, the author just wants to refresh the volume so he can get paid.
Apple Music suggested Kelis to follow.
I liked a lot of the music (some of it reminded me of 1975) but lyrics and singing were v meh
01) Frontline - 7,0 02) Waitin - 6,5 03) Take Me Apart - 6,5 04) Enough - 6,0 05) Jupiter - 6,0 06) Better - 6,5 07) LMK - 7,0 08) Truth or Dare - 6,5 09) S.O.S. - 6,0 10) Blue Light - 6,0 11) Onanon - 7,0 12) Turn to Dust - 6,0 13) Bluff - 7,0 14) Altadena - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,46 (65/100) Current ranking: 568/807
I liked it
Competent Pop, R&B, and Soul, but I could stand a bit fewer F$%& in the lyrics, more hooks. Love the futurism of the synths included, but the songs seeming to actively avoid strong hooks was a bit annoying.
I found myself wishing I was listening to A Hundred Drums instead. Good music but not my favorite genre of electronic I think.
surprisingly momewona. idk arianas vibebi rato vigrdzeni lmaoo
This was ok. Maybe this was groundbreaking when it came out, but others have done the same thing. It's very soft, sexy R&B over downtempo electronica. It's bedroom techno. You could bump uglies to this. My Rating: 3/5
Nice rnb
This was ok, but it didn’t blow me away
Temp
didnt care too much
Beautiful voice. Just not for me. Not ‘hooky’ enough, maybe.
After reading some reviews, I don't think I have anything novel to add to this conversation so I'll just get my thoughts down here rapid fire style, so I can refer back to this later. Common for music I enjoy, this album has a lot going on beneath the surface, so if you're finding the sound a little "samey" or whatever, challenge yourself to dig a little deeper. I agree with a lot of users that 2017 is very recent to be considered for a list that is supposed to have some sort of magnitude to it, but at the same time the list is already missing a lot of women artists and especially women of color. This IS an impressive record but is so far from what this list itself has taught its audience to expect that they think they're supposed to hate it. 2010s is probably one of my least favorite eras for music, because a lot of what was popular last decade is just the norm now. Record execs found what sells well and refined it, so this album already feels dated. Reading what others wrote about this album in 2017 (that it sounded futuristic) is almost laughable today in 2026. Is this a well made record? Absolutely, how could you even argue against that? Is it an album that I would put on just to listen to? Time will tell, I suppose.
What could've been..
Nice voice. Electronica beats. The music current always land on its feet but is still nice.
Nice background music, not my favourite. Bit samey but some catchy songs
Coffee house music, relaxed and inoffensive
Correcto
I think some of you don’t like this album because you are not sexy and fun and no one invites you to go out and be sexy and fun with them. that’s ok! just remember it’s a you problem. that being said this did get a wee repetitive
I came across her release 'Raven' at some point soon after it came out and really enjoyed it. Her connection to Tosin Abasi, both musically and personally, was a surprise! Interesting and enjoyable.
Fun pop
3.5 Wonderful discovery
I do really like the overall atmosphere of this album - it’s got that shimmering, ethereal sound that tends to pop up in a lot of music from this decade, and which I’m a bit of a sucker for. However, it never does enough with that to make it a truly great album; it feels homogenous and a little bland. Kind of disappointing. Favorite: Blue Light
70
good background music
Some nice female vocal neo-soul
Surprised to see this here. Ive liked this album for quite a while, but its not something i go back to often. Listen to the more recent stuff, i like it more then i do this album
Enjoyed listening to this. Felt nice, harmless, an alright record. Don't think much of it will stick but hey, that's fine Songs added to playlist: - Frontline - Enough - LMK
I like the overall vibe of this music but the each song sounds pretty similar so as a all around album, it’s not my particular fave
Interesting production. Few good songs but it didn't seem too groundbreaking.
I'm not the biggest fan of contemporary R&B, but there were some good tracks to be found here. Not the most inspiring choice of album, but far from the worst this project has thrown my way thus far.
Once again, not my cup of tea but I respect it
Enjoyed this more than I expected as I am not the biggest fan of modern r and b music. The production helped to elevate it and it wasn’t unpleasant on the ear.
Hard to rate this one. On the one hand, the synths, beats and general supporting rhythm and vibe would typically be in my wheelhouse. On the other, I’m not convinced by the R&B vocals over the top of it and it just seemed to put me off. Expect this is divisive as I can’t see R&B enthusiasts particularly liking it, and may put electronica enthusiasts like me off too. I like that it’s tried to do something different though as it is a blend not often heard and so should be lauded for that where novelty is harder to achieve nowadays, but am doubtful this is an album people should hear before they die. It ultimately sounded like something FKA Twigs has done but not to quite the same standard.
The production is great. However, this was very hard to rate, as what really caught my attention was the very interesting electronic production, but not the songs by themselves. My favourites on first listen: Frontlines, Enough, LMK
The meeting of R&B with electronic music. Sort of soulless soul. Echoes of Janet Jackson. It's clear that Kelela has vocal talent, but this is so hyper-produced that it socks the life out of it.
Good voice and vibe, but kind of same-y
Decent near-contemporary electro rnb. Not much that’s especially memorable but definitely paved the way for more interesting stuff from the next several years.
Who dis?
3.5 53:46 (debut, 2017, 14 tracks) "Alternative R&B", American Pleasant album - never heard of Kelela. Not exactly my genre, would describe more as neo-soul than "Alternative R&B". It's soul plus electronica (some songs more than others, I preferred the ones with less.) Somewhat sounds like what Sade might sound like if she was born 30 years later. Probably not coming back to this but if someone suggested it during a road trip I'd be on board.
i hear this playing in brooklyn coffee shops or thrift stores. it's got a big of swagger and electronica, but not particularly great by any means.
I thought it was a really good album, very different to what I normally listen to, a bit slow but some great songs on there
It was ok, not my type of music though
i’m not super well versed in r&b, especially contemporary r&b, but this was a nice change of pace. i’m always surprised to see newer albums on this list for some reason lol 3.5
Some songs got cool melodies, but most of them are pretty average
I had never heard this album before, but there are some really good songs, and the production is very interesting.
Went into this with high expectations seeing "electro R&B" as the genre. Left feeling pretty whelmed. Singer has a good voice, production is pretty good too, if not a little over produced at times. A little longer than I'd like on top of all of that.
Was alright in the first half I was grooving a bit. Can't lie I fell asleep on the couch for a minute while listening towards the end. But that must be a good thing that it is good napping music
Not my usual jam but the production is fantastic on it. Jupiter specifically. Blue Light has some fun sounds. Some of these songs' instrumentals remind me of some solo Thom Yorke in a way. Getting that from Turn to Dust right now. really enjoyed some of the beats and production. Solid 3.
Note really my style of music.
This R+B/Soul album was not so bad actually.
Should be called "Take Me To Sleep." If you've got insomnia, put this on, and it will put you right out.
Vocals were good, music was ok. Overall better than expected, but unlikely to return to this. 3/5
Lovely! It's very likely I would enjoy this more if I gave my full attention to it, although R&B tends to fade into the background for me, even when I'm doing something as simple as tidying up my house.
I like modern R&B, but my knowledge isn’t deep. I hadn’t heard of this one. It was perfectly fine, but there isn’t a track on here that stands out. Just three star material all the way through.
I guess it was ok, as I didn't skip any songs. Kelela is a good songwriter and singer. It's just not my kind of music, but I appreciate her talent.
Great production and sound quality. Just not my style of.music.
Honestly not my vibe. Definitely some vibes music.
Kinda blended together. Might have to give it another listen.
I liked it
Dreamy, spacey, electronica-influenced R&B. I think it's cool how nowadays, R&B singers reach for electronica and dance beats as often as they do hip-hop beats. The line between the genres can often blur. My favorite R&B artist is Tinashe, and her recent albums have a mix of hip-hop, drum 'n' bass, and other electronica. It makes for great grooves and opens the genre up for a wide variety of sounds. This album has a similar style at times. A lot of these tracks border on being too dreamy for me though. I can get a little restless if the music is too formless or if the structure isn't clear. Then again, this isn't music to listen to while doing the dishes. It's bedroom music. Some of these spacey synths and meandering songs might work a lot better between the sheets. Overall, I liked this! Great style, even if there wasn't a ton of memorable songwriting. "Onanon" was my favorite here. The opening few songs are really good too.
This style of Pop R&B really needs to "wow" me for me to fully love it. I like just about every genre of music but this is one where I've really only listened to the huge names- and it's hard to compare to the Beyonce's, Rihanna's, Alicia Keys when they don't seem to ever miss. Even newer acts like SZA really stand out and do everything right to "wow" me in ways that this record doesn't. That's not to say that I didn't like this album, in fact I just saw Jorja Smith in concert a few months ago and loved it, and this record reminds me of her sound. The production is nice, and I appreciate the electronic elements, but this album came out in 2017 and it's not some groundbreaking stuff, so the songwriting really had to shine here.. and unfortunately it didn't.
I can appreciate this and I found the melodies good but it needed more oomph.
3.4
Slightly too long; sometimes atmospheric, sometimes intense; clean vocals that are elevated by autotune; it is almost experimental. I gave it 3 listens and I think it is alright—or at the very least not a waste of time.
Interesting alt R&B, but it sounds pretty typical of modern dance music.
A pleasant blend of electronic and modern r and b. Usually this ethereal sounding music about the woes of being a woman doesn't impress upon me, but this was a good listen.
good modern r and b album! great production and she has a beatiful voice. not 100% my thing but I really enjoyed it. 3.5
Good stuff. Haven’t gotten an R&B album in a while I sometimes forget how much I love this genre. The production is always so top notch. Some of the album cuts lost me, but the highs are awesome.
Good voice. Alright music for the genre.
this is the sort of genre that kind of continually escapes me. it's nice, i like it when i hear it, she has a nice voice obviously, but it just very easily blends from one to the next (and from one artist to another) so nothing really stands out for me.
Dobre ale nie rób więcej
Pretty good. Easy to listen to.
I initially wasn’t sure quite what to make of this album, but then I noticed that it’s a release on the Warp label which is always reassuring to me. It’s R&B at heart, but married with some gorgeous, understated electronica and immaculately produced. It’s a debut album and she lists her influences as R&B, Jazz and Björk which sort of makes sense if you think about the more laid back and ambient areas of those genres. I’m definitely intrigued by this album enough to listen to this again and investigate more of her work.
A bit of a mixed bag - some tracks I really liked and some interesting production choices, but some duller patches. It’s a three-star album with a four-star trying to burst out,
Like it 3/5
Decent production on this album, not exactly my thing but i can see why someone would enjoy it
I found this to be pleasant but everything literally sounded the same. 7/10
This was ok. Not really up my alley but I can tell that it's produced and performed well. My problem with some R&B albums is that they can seem monotonous. No real criticisms but probably won't come back for a visit
Not bad actually, not my genre but was nice to listen to.
Decent enough
Smooth, but boring.
3/5. Objectively, this is good R&B and the production is high tier. Kelela has an amazing voice and what she does with filters and her vocals is unique and definitely stands out. The issue is that I am not really getting the emotion I should from these songs. It kind of hits familiar notes that were touched on but there are still creative liberties taken that help it out. Overall, this is a good one to play to front to back but not game changing. Best Song: LMK, Frontline, Take Me Apart
no conocía a esta artista pero me ha gustado mucho. me encantan los efectos que le mete a las canciones, las armonías y sonidos que hacen cada canción única. el r&b es un género que me gusta mucho. canciones favs: frontline, take me apart, better, LMK,
Not bad at all but I can't really judge how good it is because it's out of my musical jurisdiction
Forgettable, for my taste, but I still had a good time.
It's so out of my musical taste and interest, that I just don't know how to rate this one. Nothing disgusted me on this record, but I also felt nothing! I'll just leave 3 stars here, by respect and good faith!
I have to admit, I am just not a fan of R&B, so this album was always going to be a tough sell for me. That said, Kelela is clearly a talented singer. Her voice is smooth and confident, and the production has a sleek, modern polish that fits the genre perfectly. For me, most of the songs blended together without leaving much behind. The vibe is consistent and stylish, but since R&B is not my thing, it felt more like background music than something I would come back to. Still, credit where it is due. Kelela is skilled, and people who enjoy this style will likely get a lot more out of Take Me Apart than I did. It is fine, just not for me.
Seemed like it would be right up my alley. A beautiful voice blended with electronic music. Not enough variety for my taste, though. Songs started to blend together by the end.
I'm really liking this album because of the trance/glitch hop/trap elements. This album was produced in 2017, and there's a lot of similarities with the modern KPOP that has crossed over into the west recently (2025) and focuses a lot on hard catchy beats as a foundation. Was Kelela the first to do this? Definitely not and songs like Truth or Dare or Altadena sounds exactly like it could be a Janet Jackson song from the 80's. I think the album is a good progression for R&B music that has, in my opinion, completely fallen flat as a genre in the last 20 years. It's cool to see how Kelela set herself apart in 2017 and I think she did so successfully. I'm really torn on this one because although I really like the album, i'm trying to justify it as being an album that you should listen to before you die vs just being an album that I like. The lyrics frankly are uninspired and follow the same R&B cliches of failed relationships and love. There's really no historical or cultural context, but I acknowledge there is historical bias. It's difficult to judge a contemporary album and it's impact unless there is an immediate cultural shift....but i've never even heard of this album or artist. I listened to it like 4 or 5 times today during work trying to figure out how I feel about it. 1001 albums is a lot and they can't all be life changing and sometimes it's just about hearing something new, which is part of why i'm working through this list. I'm glad I listened to this album for it's progressive take on R&B and mixing in electronic/Trap elements and I guess i'll leave it at that.
I enjoyed the first half , not sure if it takes some warming up or it’s just better … gonna play back a few times and find out
Smooth and futuristic background sounds
R&B is just not my thing
R&B is helemaal niet mijn muziek, maar zoals het op dit album is gedaan vind ik het nog wel goed te doen met die grote electronische beats en goede productie. Alles wat interessant is speelt zich dan ook vooral in de beats af, niet zozeer in de zang. Al is de zang prima bijpassend. Dit album toevoegen aan een lijst als deze is zoals we in goed Nederlands zeggen wel een beetje een stretch, maar qua luistergenot staan er een hoop albums waar ik minder uit haalde in deze lijst. Ik kan er geen 4 voor geven en er staat geen enkel nummer tussen wat ik ooit nog zal aanzetten, maar het is wat mij betreft toch een best stevige 3 sterren. Al moet ik er ook nog bij zeggen dat 53 minuten wel een stevige zit is aangezien het toch allemaal redelijk zwaar aanvoelt.
A solid album I enjoyed throughout, but like most all of the albums put in this list from the last 10 years I haven’t heard about, I question their need to be on a list like this. Probably would’ve been fine to not hear this before I died. That being said it was still an alright album.
cool shower music. Would relisten
Ok
This was really good, though not really my thing. Better than most radio R&B, not sure why this isn’t more popular. Not poppy enough I guess.
It's nice
Enjoyable, very vulnerable, and great vibes. Probably not something I’ll spin often but won’t mind if it comes on.
Really enjoyed Onanon, but all the other tracks were a bit of a snooze
Not annoying.
Pretty, chill, electronic r&b
Interesting album. I guess you could call this contemporary R&B? A touch of avant garde about it. Production was pretty excellent, interesting mixture of sounds which were great on headphones. I actually think it would be the basis for a great dance music album - it’s got that sort of ethereal feeling at times that you get some Bicep or some liquid dnb. Ultimately though it doesn’t really go anywhere and I found myself getting bored towards the end.
Enjoyable. But not really memorable.
This one felt pretty mediocre to me. I didn’t find it particularly emotional or special. I’d rather give this place to Ariana Grande’s record. A smooth listen, but not one that stood out.
Can hear the innovation and how this might have stood out in 2017. Got the standard RnB pop feel, but then really uses electronic nicely for a deeper and heavier feel. ‘Take Me Apart’ a clear example. It’s kinda R&B soundscape and a nice unique sound but pretty familiar half way through the album and nothing to keep me hooked. Fair play for the difference but lacking much substance beyond that.
She has a great voice.
She has a pretty voice, but each song is rather nondescript and nondistinctive. It's fine and pretty but nothing that's a standout
Some great tracks at the start but tapers off towards the end
Crazy good production and the singles are bangers - the rest feels like filler
It's fine.
Neither high nor low for me. It's an album.
Cool album. Out of my dumb old rock guy wheelhouse, but I liked it quite a bit. Good for a late night drive.
This was a pretty good little R&B album, said as someone who doesn't listen to this genre very much at all. 3.2/5
Interesting album that I enjoyed. I can't say I loved it, but I did like it quite a bit and am interested in hearing where she goes with this sound. 3.49/5
I remember frontline having a real moment. Wonder whatever happened to Kelela?
Interesante voz, interesante la electrónica, y listo, esito sería todo.
Actually quite enjoyed this!
No idea why this made the list but it’s fine
While not typically my style, I enjoyed this. Her voice was very good and the music wasn't the most simple 3-chord keyboard and cricket drums that are all over pop music these days. It won't likely be on my playlists, but I certainly wouldn't just turn it off like I would for most pop diva music.
Good! Sometimes a bit too electronic for me, but I generally was on board. I wish some of the songs were a bit shorter, as they lost their impact with too much repetition.
Meh
Kinda like Frank Ocean or the Weeknd's early stuff, except that I guess she did it first, which is cool.
Had no idea what to expect from this, but I liked it. Definitely a different sound from similar artists in 2017, so I understand why it made the list, plus her vocals are great and the production is pretty good too. Not sure this has staying power, but it was enjoyable and is a good addition for 2010s albums.
super chill, cohesive. couldnt quite get into it for the whole runtime, but lots of songs I'll add to specific playlists
It was ok to listen to, maybe a little too long, but otherwise pleasant.
Not for me but not bad I guess?
I had never heard of her, and not my thing, but I can appreciate this is a good example of the genre.
Outside my usual genre but fun and clearly well-made.
Perfectly fine. Nothing stands out, but it's well produced. Didn't get much time to give it a proper listen.
I liked the production of it, but it wasn’t really my cup of tea.
Day545 - i didn’t have high expectations going in but i was pleasantly surprised
This is a pretty damn good modern R&B album. It brings vibes, big sensuality, bliss, and hypnotic grooves. The beats are atmospheric and spacy although sometimes the production comes in with a basic hat and takes me out of it, or a lead or something like that. It happened often enough during the almost hour long runtime to bring it to my attention. Some instrumentals are more retro, like Truth or Dare. It's a seductive burner for sure. There are some elements of future garage on here too towards the backend of the album. I think this album could be better if it was a bit shorter only because the song writing does not really carry some of the beats once you've heard a few. On vibes alone it is a fun listen though.
Felt a little too generic to me. I’m sorry. I bet she could do some amazing stuff with her voice but this was just okay. 🫣
Never heard of this artist. It’s fine for background music, nothing really stuck out for me on this album.
I did like this, but found it a little boring overall - some songs stood out (LMK), but overall, this didn't grab my attention. 3/5
Beautiful album! I loved her voice, and I loved how her style of R&B matched up with the electronic instrumentals. The Arca beats especially were sick.
Is turning to glitchy alt-R&B after not making it in indie or prog akin to someone leaving LA for Nashville because they couldn’t make it as a pop singer and going country? This was not bad really, but it’s also not good. Too much emphasis on the vocals, not really any music to speak of. And so incredibly generic that it has no place on this list. There are thousands of albums that sound just like this and are of just as good a quality. This was an absolute non-entity of an album.
Pleasant enough as background music, but nothing really stood out.
This is a genre that I am not normally a fan of....modern R & B / Alternative R & B? Damn I didn't even know tha thing. But it is and I like it. At least I like this album. Predominantly elecronic music that is mixed and arranged in such a way as to seem organic. Not a bad little trick. Nowithstanding the studio mastery its the vocals that are the star of the show and there's no mistaking the talent ed pipes that Keleka posesses. The tempos never get up higher that mid, but her voice commands each phrase as to make for a consistently interesting listen to these typicaly un-interessed ears. enough so that I'm tended to delve deeper into Keleka's catalogue. 3.5 stars bordering on 4
Making its presence felt at the perfect time for more explicitly experimental offerings from Black artists, Kelela stakes her claim amongst the fray with this earnest, tension riddled album. Perhaps it is a song or two too many but everything that's needed to be said and done is all packed here, waiting to be indulged and embraced with all fervor. Favorites: Frontline, Waitin, Take Me Apart, Enough, LMK, S.O.S., Blue Light, Onanon, Turn to Dust.
Great voice but I found the majority of this forgettable
At this point I’m just happy when it’s not some weird British band. Good production, nothing that really grabbed me. High 3.
Nice voice and good use of bass and dubstep, but not much variation between tracks.
Alright
New one on me, and decent enough.
Competent.
20th century vox, 21st century pop
I’ve never heard of Kelea or this album before, but based on what I’m reading about this album, I think it’s going to be right up my alley. This sounds like a unique album, and I’m excited to fire it up! While I expected to like this album, it fell a little bit shy of my expectations. I enjoyed the overall sound of the album, and I thought the production work was really outstanding. The sound of this album really enveloped me, which I really liked. Musically, this reminded me a lot of The XX, due to the sound of the production and the way that the sound just put me at ease. Even though I liked the sound, I didn’t find it particularly novel or noteworthy. I think I would have liked it more if it would have had some songs in major keys (at least I think that’s what I mean to say, I’m not very well versed in music theory). Granted, musically, this album’s sound supported the lyrics and songwriting quite well, but it came at the expense of any variation in the sound. I thought “Better” and “LMK” were two of the strongest songs on the album, because I really enjoyed their main melodies. I wasn’t really into the vocals that much on this album, but they also didn’t do anything to detract from my experience either. I wouldn’t mind firing this album up again some time; it was nice to listen to today while I did some admin stuff at work, and I think this is the type of album that could possibly grow on me with repeat listens. My initial impression of this album though is that it’s fine and enjoyable.
Not so my favourite style, but easy listening stuff
Favorite Track: LMK
Interesting. Sultry. Well worth a second listen.
This album isn’t bad at all, in fact it’s pretty solid, but it suffers from a long run time, and not really producing anything super memorable. Kelela has talent, and definitely soul, but I never found that any of the tracks proved to me why she should be on this list. I also felt like they could have trimmed the album down by a few songs and produced a slightly stronger showing. With how much amazing female R&B talent is out there, it makes this album choice a little baffling. 3.25 / 5
Nice
Okay album, not for me 3/5
nice but a bit sweary
17/1001. An R& B Björk? Interesting? The album start is promising, the electronic production is great, her voice of course as well. But the atmosphere, mood, the energy level stay the same throughout the record. It feels there is no real songwriting? Her voice goes up and down, repeating the same-ish melodies over and over. Thanks for 1001 project for introducing this artist, something to keep an eye open for sure.
That was kinda cool!! I danced. But ultimately not interesting enough
Kelela was new to me, but damn does this woman have some great vocal chops! I won't say that R&B and electronic music have never been mixed before, but there's something quite unique about the approach to doing so here. It's less of an R&B album with electronic overlays and more of an album where the electronic sound has been engrained into the R&B sound. Parts of this album sound pretty interesting, and other parts do drag a little bit. All in all, I really did find myself taken in by Kelela's voice, and couldn't help but enjoy this.
Perfectly pleasant chilled out soul and R&B and done well too! It’s not groundbreaking, or by any means one of the best in its field but I didn’t switch it off so that’s something!
Not largely my cup of tea. I think Martin's review is spot on. A few songs I recall mildly enjoying but hard to remember.
I'd never heard of this. It was pretty good. But some of the drum machine stuff was annoying. I reckon I could find 3 or so tracks that I really like, but from one listen I can't pick any out, everything was very similar sounding, but not in a terrible way. Might have to have another go.
Repetitive, kinda, as song seemingly blend from one to the other if you're not paying attention. Feels like it's going for a Janet Jackson vibe so that's ok, but I had enough by "Enough"...
Some interesting beats and I don't hate it, not sure I would listen to it again but maybe, probably a indifferent 3