Keyshia Cole | Calling All Hearts

Keyshia Cole | Calling All Hearts
by Brent Faulkner

Keyshia Cole experienced mega success from her first two albums, The
Way It Is and her most critically lauded effort Just Like You. A
Different Me, her third album was successful as well, if less so than
the first two, but spawned ‘minor’ hits through “Playa Cardz Right”
featuring the late 2Pac and “Trust” featuring Monica. That said, it
didn’t garner the success it deserved or that the Cole camp would have
envisioned, despite debuting gallantly at #2 with 322,000 copies sold in
the first week. Who knows if Calling All Hearts is supposed to be a
‘reaction’ to more timid sales or airplay, but some slight cues signify
such (a parental advisory label, a Nicki Minaj feature, etc.) For the
most part, there is not enough change here to signify that Cole is
searching for a new direction as she continues to do what she does best –
adult contemporary themed R&B. ‘Calling All Hearts’ is not Cole’s
best album (some may even argue it is her weakest), but that said, it is
still a strong, worthwhile affair.

“I Ain’t Thru” opens the album strongly, but doesn’t necessarily eclipse
previous any of the previous album openers such as “I Just Want It To
Be Over,” “Let It Go,” or “Make Me Over.” Cole covers the first verse
and then oddly Nicki Minaj’s rap comes in the middle of the song as
opposed to either the beginning or near the end. Regardless of the
somewhat odd organization, “I Ain’t Thru” is solid and benefits from a
simple, though catchy chorus and first-rate vocals from Keyshia. “Long
Way Down” is valedictory, finding Cole at her very best and most
comfortable – more adult contemporary based cuts with classic sounding
production (thanks to J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League). The songwriting is
exceptional and the bridge may be the highlight where Keyshia Cole
‘sings her face off.’

“Tired of Doing Me” featuring Tank keeps a good thing going adding a
nice adult R&B track to the mix. Tank opens up with superb vocals,
followed by Cole holding down the second verse. The chorus is catchy
and well penned: “I’m tired of doing me, cause it ain’t working,
no/while I was doing me, I was just searching, but it ain’t
working/cause was doing you it was so much better, I was doing me
couldn’t find nothing better, I’m tired of doing me, cause it ain’t
working.” “If I Fall In Love Again” is second duet, featuring Faith
Evans, though falls short of the glory of “Tired of Doing Me.” That
said, the cut is well put together, featuring exceptional vocals by both
Cole and Evans, and lifts a clever choice of sample via Isaac Hayes’s
“Walk On By.” “If I Fall In Love Again” helps to keep alive ‘hip-hop
soul,’ something that seems to have fallen by the wayside in recent
R&B times.

“Sometimes” is solid, but not a ‘standout’ while “Take Me Away”, another
Chink Santana/Irv Gotti production might be the ‘second best’ cut of
the album following “Long Way Down.” The chorus is well penned and
memorable: “I’m so in love with you, no lie I’m telling the truth, I’m
your woman, now baby take me away/see you in everything I do, is when
I’m so wrapped up in you, I’m your woman, now baby take me way…” “Take
Me Away” is followed by “What You Do To Me,” a sound cut featuring
beautiful use of strings, acoustic piano, and a ‘fat’ bass line.

“Last Hangover” featuring Timbaland is a tamer production by Timbaland,
but turns out to be an electrifying cut. Cole’s vocal performance
shines here, though Timbaland’s guest spot is somewhat forgettable.
“Thank You,” featuring Yvonne Cole is beautiful, though maybe best
considered a ‘sleeper’ hit from this effort. The production is lush and
‘adult contemporary’ in nature – where Cole shines the most vocally.
Closing cut “Better Me” is appropriately placed at the end of the
effort, though it isn’t the best cut of the album by an means. It is
enjoyable, nonetheless.

Brent Faulkner
The Urban Music Scene