Charlie Wilson
Uncle Charlie (Jive)
Charlie Wilson has quite a task on his hands. With the instantly aging “Uncle Charlie” nickname Snoop Dogg stamped on his forehead, Wilson must create music that fickle twenty-somethings consider relevant. The former Gap Band frontman also has to maintain the hat-tipping approval of loyal fans that have followed him since the funkadelic days. With a wide range of production angles, his fourth solo album, Uncle Charlie, is reaching for all audiences.
Four years ago, the R. Kelly-assisted title track for the album Charlie, Last Name Wilson, painted the Oklahoma native in the contemporary R&B light as his raspy vocals glided across the beat. The new album is largely in the same vein; stocked with romantic odes to the ladies with a vintage feel to them. Songs like "Love, Love, Love," and "Can't Live Without You" create the quintessential formula for a classic two-step and Wilson is sure to dazzle longtime fans with the more easygoing numbers. But sleepier tracks like "One Time," border on clichéd at times.
Hints of Wilson days as a member of the Gap Band pop up on songs like the upbeat “Thinking of You,” which feels like a repurposed version of the 1980s hit, “You Dropped A Bomb on Me.” Even the snare-heavy “Supa Sexxy” with T-Pain and Jamie Foxx feels more psychedelic than expected.
Wilson’s hooks blend perfectly on songs like Snoop’s “Beautiful” and “Signs,” but when the party music lands on his album, the result is less organic. On "Musta Heard," a late-night ditty with a Middle-Eastern flavor, Wilson unconvincingly flaunts his repertoire with the ladies (see: bottles, models and grinding). Some of the trendier material, crammed with auto tune and chanting, Wilson could have passed on. "Let It Out" is a better jab at the club vibe, with a solid verse by Snoop over a thumping baseline.
On Uncle Charlie, Wilson’s musical personas are in competition. In one corner, the fedora-sporting gentleman is wooing his loyals, and in the other, a braggadocios singer is spitting game. Departing from the dating truism, on this album, the nice guy finished first.
Charlie Wilson's "Uncle Charlie" is in stores now
Track listing for Uncle Charlie
1. Musta Heard
2. Shawty Come Back
3. There Goes My Baby
4. Can't Live Without You
5. Back To Love
6. One Time
7. Let It Out - (featuring Snoop Dogg)
8. Love, Love, Love
9. What You Do To Me
10. Homeless
11. Thinkin' Of You
12. Supa Sexxy - (featuring Jamie Foxx/T-Pain)
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