KelisFood
Ninja Tune

Food is introduced by Kelis’ four year old son Knight Jones saying ‘Hi guys! Are you hungry? My mum made food.’
Fans of Kelis sure have been hungry, having waited since 2011 for the release of a brand new album. The wait has been worth it. Food is a smorgasbord of solid tracks. Hit tracks ‘Jerk Ribs’ and ‘Rumble’ feature catchy beats and personal lyrics. ‘Rumble’, for example, discusses Kelis’ tumultuous relationship with rapper Nas, with the singer candidly admitting, ‘You’ve got so many issues/But I guess something’s up with me too.’
The hits aren’t all there is to Food however. The album was released on the legendary Ninja Tunes Label, and has solid tracks that echo funk, soul, Afro-beat and gospel from days past, without ever being overtly retro. The songs are polished and catchy, while still sounding organic and soulful. It’s a far cry from the David Guetta-produced Flesh Tone (2010).
Opening song ‘Breakfast’ features blaring trumpets and backing vocals that optimistically croon ‘Maybe we’ll make it to breakfast’. It sets the tone for the rest of the album, which includes song names like ‘Hooch’, ‘Cobbler’, ‘Friday Fish Fry’ and ‘Biscuits and Gravy’.
The lyrics, while coated in food references, are really lightly introspective and discuss love and life. They are often hopeful while being realistic, such as in ‘Hooch’, where Kelis sings, ‘Welcome all life’s tricks/Eat the peach and spit out the pit’.
The production is polished and the sound is full and rich. It demonstrates musical chameleon Kelis’ musical maturity and evolution (not to disparage the eponymous ‘Milkshake) and has been released at the perfect time, as fellow modern R&B artists like Janelle Monae are making waves. All in all, Food is a delicious offering.

-Kathy Pollock

KelisFood

Chris CobcroftNew Releases Show

Slowdiveeverything is alive

Schkeuditzer KreuzNo Life Left

Magic City CounterpointDialogue

Public Image LimitedEnd Of World

SejaHere Is One I Know You Know

DeafcultFuture of Illusion

CorinLux Aeterna

FingerlessLife, Death & Prizes

Jack LadderTall Pop Syndrome

LIVE
100