Search - Kelis :: Kaleidoscope

The VA Does It Again!

Tone Ellis | Atlanta, GA United States | 12/09/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the world of copycat R&B artists it is refreshing to hear someone new and different... Recorded in Virginia Beach, VA. the city that gave you New Jack Swing and put the (Kack, Kack, Kack as Missy Elliot would say) in R&B, comes Kelis. Expect to hear other artists bite the beats from this one too. People who are real particular about their music will find this CD-the SH(tuff). There is not a track on this CD to skip over. By the time Kelis' soulful vocals lure you in, the beat hits you and then-BAM! DAMN! You just want to turn it up and jam!If you like Caught Out There, you will love the rest of this CD. Tracks worth mentioning- #9 Ghetto Children (good positive upbeat radio-type song); #14 Wouldn't You Agree (A Jerry Springer Relationship). #2 Good Stuff and #6 Game Show are also good mentionables. The songs and production quality on this piece is top quality! Unfortunately, a lot of people might miss this one because it came out on Notorious B.I.G week. This CD is for music fans who are into Erika Badu, N'dea Davenport, Brand New Heavies, Angie Stone, Dionne Farris, Grenique, Mary J. Blige, Maxwell, Lauryn Hill and other neo-soul artists.Enjoy:)"

I'm a bit parcial but you should listen anyway.

Faryka | Harlem, New York | 12/28/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am Kelis' little sister, and I have something to say. I was very happy to see so many good reviews for "Kelidescope". For those of you who have judged the album on the single "Caught out there" you are in for a big surprise. Kelis is probably the most divers singer of our time. You have to believe me when I say this album has something for everyone. There are 14 amazing tracks, including an adorable intro. #2, "Good stuff" is a nice up beat, bop your head kind of song that you can't help but sing to. Actualy every song will make you want to sing. No matter what your vocal status may be. Everyone has heard #3 the single. If not you need to crawl out of the hole you've living in for the past month or two. Its like the chick anthum. But nothing for guys to get mad at. Most of them love it too. #4 "Get Along With You" is Kelis in a softer voice along with a hot beat that you cant help but love. #5 "Mafia (featuring Markita" is a song you just have to blast,so you can feel its deep base really get into. #6 "Game Show" is another headbopper that catches your attention. #7 "Suspended" is my favorite one. Its a slow that reveals Kelis' jazzy voice. It dicribes her, spirituly. The words will run deeply through you and make you want to close your eyes and hear it over and over again. #8 "Mars" has a slow swaying part, then a chorus that makes you want to jump up and down saying "yo yo yo yo..." on several ocations I have. #9 "Getto Children" is an inserational song with good advise that she sings with Mare Dorsey and N.E.R.D. #10 "I Want Your Love" Is a good song to sit back and listin to. #11 "No turning Back" Always makes me want to dance. #12 "Roller Rink" Is another one you have to turn up and dance to. #13 "In the Morning" Is definately another favorite of mine. Its a really smooth song that makes you want to praform. #14 "Wouldn't you Agree (featuring Justin Vince)" is an increadable way to end the cd. These two really compliment each other. This is another song that is sang with a lot of fealing that you can get caught up in. I'm sure you'll love it. This album erases all bounderies such as age color, musical interest and gender. Please don't miss out on this one. It is a must have that anyone can enjoy."

This Is The Good Stuff!!

Smilez | Chicago, IL | 08/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Remember Kelis? The angry girl with the big, puffy hair? In case you've slept on her, you need to wake up. On her debut CD, Kaleidoscope, she blends R&B, soul, rock, and late-night funk into one. All her songs are produced by the hottest production team around: The Neptunes. They not only write all 10 of her songs (Kelis wrote 3 on her own), but they give her some solidly crafted beats that compliment her high-soprano. All of her songs are tight to me, but if I had to pick my favorite song off of the CD, it'd be the Nightmare Before Christmas-influenced "Get Along With You". The beat is tight and you can hear the pain in her voice when she sings "You took my heartbeat from me/This is the saddest story..". She even has a wicked video to go along with it. Like I said, all of her songs are tight, so I'm just gonna give you a run-through of the tracks:1. Intro- Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes talks on this intro. He is saying how he found her. If you listen closely you can hear a young-sounding Kelis trying to get a boy to notice her. 2. Good Stuff (featuring Terrar)- Kelis is telling a guy that she has the stuff he's been waiting for. The good stuff. She's telling him to forget about the other girls and come to her. Hell, she'll even throw her heart in free. And if you don't like it, just send her back in 30 days. This track is hot, but it could've done without Terrar's rap. But it's still worth a listen. 3. Caught Out There- This is the single that jump-started her career. Her first single. You've probably seen the video in which alot of angry woman stomp through the street yelling "Yo!!" Kelis is telling her guy "what the hell went wrong in our relationship? and why are you cheating on me with her?" Alot of women/girls can relate to this song. 4. Get Along With You- This is arguably the best song on her album. From the bass-driven beat to the sad lyrics, it's evident that Kelis has a hit on her hands. I can say alot about this song, but give it a listen and you'll fall in love with it. 5. Mafia (featuring Markita)- Kelis's love is just like the mafia. She'll take care of the kids for you and she'll load up your guns for you. Female rapper Markita blazes through this dark beat with rhymes about a "so-called psycho" as Kelis tells a tale of her lover. 6. Game Show- This is a funny track about marraige. Kelis feels stunned when her boyfriend talks about it. But at the end of the track, there is an interlude in which Kelis is telling people that she wants "this one, and then that one, and oh yea, that one too". She's shopping maybe? 7. Suspended- This is a slow-burner about Kelis dreaming. She doesn't wanna wake up, but Pharrell is telling her to. This is a good song to fall asleep to (though you'd miss out on a good song). The beat is complete with a xylophone (however you spell it) and pounding bass. 8. Mars- This track combines rock and R&B with Kelis's screaming vocals. No, she's not yelling at her man. She's yelling so everybody can hear what she's talking about. In one verse, Kelis and her boyfriend are watching TV while smoking a blunt. On the Channel 3 News, a reporter was talking about outer space. This track is also talking about friendship and bad days. 9. Ghetto Children (featuring Marc Dorsey and N.E.R.D.)- This is a life-lesson song about children. Kelis trades verses with crooner Marc Dorsey, and they both talk to their sexes about growing up and how to live up to expectations. N.E.R.D., Pharrell's rap group, takes some time by talking about life. Remember, ghetto children are beautiful. 10. I Want Your Love- This is a straight-forward love song about infatuation and wanting somebody so bad. She tells the boy "If you have some, you can come spend the night.." This beat is similar to "Caught Out There", but has different elements. This is a song you should play fror your crush. 11. No Turning Back- Kelis tells everybody that it will take a long time to find true love. You can look and look, but when you find it, there's no turning back. This beat could be described as R&B/pop. 12. Roller Rink- Like the title says, you can skate to this song. Besides the fact that it has alot of "naughty language", this track could be a favorite. Kelis talks about UFO's and unworldly things, but invites people to skate and forget about their problems on the chorus. Although it doesn't say, Pharell raps on this track. 13. In The Morning- Have you ever woke up and felt lonely now that you lover has gone away? Well, that's what Kelis is singing about. "But in the morning, when you're gone/I'll just wait and be strong.." Tough chick. The beat is beautiful and reminds me of the sun rising in the morning. 14. Wouldn't You Agree (featuring Justin Vince)- I don't really know much about Justin, but his voice is heard first on this song. This is a love-gone wrong song. The slow midnight-like beat goes well with Kelis and Justin's vocals. Some say this the best duet of 2000. Listen to it, and see what you think. Overall, Kelis delivers a classic uncategorized album. It's a shame that she got slept on. If you are reading this and haven't bought Kelis's album, then go buy it. You'll be suprised at what you hear."