Musiq Soulchild
Onmyradio (Atlantic)
Musiq Soulchild’s style is distinct. Onmyradio (Atlantic), his fifth LP, finds hip hop soul’s e.e. cummings continuing to make his case as a sensitive, humble lover. Musiq’s entry point to the ladies has always been less cocky, with soul-baring words from his mouth to their ears. He’s a literal man more than a literary one—lyrics not complicated with anything super-poetic or idiosyncratic. Instead, they’re straight talk.
“Ifuleave,” which musically sounds like “Teachme” (from 2007’s Luvanmusiq) part 2, is one of his two best vocal works on this disc. It’s a balanced ballad shared with the formidable Mary J. Blige. There’s earnestness elegantly expressed on his part to work a relationship out, with Musiq’s signature respectfulness: the complaining beloved may leave if she really wishes. (“Let's give it a try,” he politely pleads.) “Sobeautiful,” a sublime devotional, is the second breath taker. Musiq’s gorgeous falsetto on it is thrillingly impressive both technically and emotively. Maxwell devotees will want to secretly listen in.
If there’s something the gifted singer-songwriter might want to learn, though, it’s the art of writing more memorable song lyrics. The anomalous track “Radio” beats into our psyches second after second not just because of the assertive bass and brilliantly eccentric synths courtesy of producers Dru Castro and Black Keyz. The stuttering boast of a chorus (“Whatever I like/I put it on my radio…”) is striking with its catchy repetitive lines. It’s the sound of ego exaggerated in simple stubborn lyrics to show off a child as an independent man, whose cherished toy is music. Ha!
Really though, it’s Musiq claiming music as his main identity. He’s fused to it the way his song titles are fusions of two or more words—displaying in manifest form his desire for intimacy and his belief in the possibility of permanent union with someone.
Onmyradio hit stores on 12/9/08
The Track listing for Onmyradio
1. Backagain
2. Until
3. Ifuleave
4. Deserveumore
5. Special
6. Dearjohn
7. Loveofmylife
8. Moneyright
9. Someone
10. Iwannabe
11. Sobeautiful
12. Radio
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