As a big fan of Kenna's 2003 debut album, "New Sacred Cow," I was eager to see how he'd develop his unique sound on the follow-up album, "Make Sure They See My Face."
The Ethiopian-born, American-raised singer (born Kenna Zemedkun) teamed up with buddies-turned-big-time-hip-hop-producers The Neptunes (Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams) in crafting a brilliant sleeper pop masterpiece that combined elements of electronica, bubblegum pop, techno beats, and the occasional buzzsaw guitar. The resulting sound was simultaneously new and yet utterly familiar, as if Kenna were the cosmic love child of Depeche Mode and Radiohead.
All of this begged the $64,000 question: With such an impressive start, how does Kenna avoid the dreaded sophomore slump?
Unfortunately, it looks like Kenna's answer to the question seems to be, "By doing the exact same thing all over agin."
Teamed up once again with The Neptunes, Kenna has created an album that sounds like a continuation of his debut. While that sounds like the perfect plan, it simply means that "Make Sure" is just a lesser version--if not a cheaper imitation--of its predecessor. This time around, the same synchopated drum beats and choppy computer editing don't seem as charming. In fact, because so little overall has changed in The Neptunes' arrangements, the sound seems stale, if not downright dated.
That's not to say the album is without its fair share of well-written songs. "Out of Control (State of Emotion)"--popularized in recent Playstation 2 commercials--is the albums standout track. Its snarly vocals and over-the-top urgency play as an homage to Robert Smith and The Cure. Unfortunately, it also comes eerily close to sounding like his own "Free Time" from the debut effort. Other notable songs include the Parliament-meets-Kraftwerk dance tune, "Loose Wires/Blink Radio," and the spiritually-yearning "Sun Red Sky Blue."
If I were to give one piece of advice to Kenna, though, it would be to find a new producing team. Kenna's songs, his lyrics, and his soaring tenor are all strong enough to withstand the removal of all those electronic bells and whistles. I understand that electronica may be his preferred medium, but it would be truly daring to see this innovative songwriter strip down the arrangements and let the songs speak more for themselves.
The good news, I suppose, is that if you loved "New Sacred Cow," you'll be able to enjoy "Make Sure They See My Face." However, if you were expecting to hear how Kenna would develop the signature sound he established in his debut effort, I'm afraid you'll have to keep waiting. In the meantime, download the album's best songs ("Out of Control," "Loose Wire"); they should tide you over until his next effort.
Rated: 3 stars (out of 5).