(originally posted as a facebook note)
I told myself I was going to retire from reviewing albums after the whole 808’s and Earaches thing, but I’ve been Jordan’d….I have to verbally eviscerate this album…and I have to speak to the steep decline in musical standards.

So people have been raving about how hot this Robin Thicke album is and how it’s baby making music and yada yada! So I resisted my initial urges and went ahead and obtained it.

If babies are made to this album, I fear for their outcome. This album is not good in anyway shape or form.

Rather than go track for track I will tell you that the song with Snoop Dogg “It’s In The Mornin” and the “I Got U” are the standouts on an otherwise mediocre effort. The Nicki Minaj track will make you want to throw yourself off of a jagged cliff.

Most of the tracks are retreads of proven formulas that sound hackneyed and contrived. Sounds that were bastardized include Rakim’s “Mahogany”, Getz and Gilberto’s “The Girl From Ipanema” (TWICE…though I Got U manages to still be infectious enough), and Marvin Gaye’s “Trouble Man”.

When did musicians get so lazy? What happened to albums like Isaac Hayes “Hot Buttered Soul” and Smokey Robinson’s “Quiet Storm”? Where are the Bill Withers of this generation?

I hate to sound like one of those old heads, but this new music is just unacceptable bad! To the point that people are heaping praise on mediocre albums like this, just because they are better than the standard fare that’s out there now.

In short, save yourself the time and/or money on this album. Go get Questlove’s “Babies Making Babies” compilation or Van Morrison’s “Astral Weeks”….thank me later!!!