Kelis: Wanderland : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

When Kelis screamed, "I hate you so much right now!" on her 1999 debut single, "Caught Out There," the question of whether she was just a cranky gimmick dreamed up by her producers or a firebrand with her own feisty vision remained unanswered. In her own country, this Harlem girl with the multi-hued 'fro failed to blow up a la Alicia Keys, but in England, her Neptunes-helmed R&B won pop hits and scored awards. Musically, her second album, Wanderland, doesn't venture far from its predecessor, Kaleidoscope: The Neptunes are still matching jaunty beats to techno sonics. But her pen is busier now, and the result is smarter, more nuanced but no less confrontational. "Young, Fresh n' New" is exactly that -- a metal anthem played on synthesizers with digital hand claps. No Doubt rock out on "Perfect Day," while Kelis drops Blondie- esque rapping science for "Daddy." On the last few songs, she mixes Jesus with sci-fi for a jazzy meditation on the meaning of life, God and credit cards. If we Yanks know what's good for us, we'll stay in Kelis' corner this time around.

BARRY WALTERS
(RS 894 - April 25, 2002)