When Kelis first debuted in 1999 with "Kaleidoscope", I fell in love with her. I thought that Kelis was an amazingly refreshing and creative artist with a great 4-star debut album. In 2001, Kelis' second album "Wanderland" (which, by the way, I think is her best album, worthy of 5 stars) wasn't released in the US, only being released in Europe and Asia.

When I heard the song "Milkshake" on the radio and heard it was by Kelis, although I enjoyed the song, I immediately labeled Kelis as a sell-out. Nevertheless, being a Kelis fan, I purchased "Tasty" and was pleasantly surprised. Although "Tasty" is definetely the most mainstram work Kelis has done (that can be a good or bad thing, you decide), I think Kelis is going to be around for a long time.

01) INTRO - This is a funny introduction to a great album. The opening line is Kelis saying to a man, "...so I'm gonna give you some taste, and you tell me what you think, OK?" The rest is just funny. Use your imagination, lol. *9/10*

02) TRICK ME - One of my favorites on "Tasty", "Trick Me" starts off sounding like a cowboy rodeo number but quickly evolves into a heavy, uptempo R&B song, which turns out to be one of the strongest songs on the album. *10/10*

03) MILKSHAKE - The radio smash first single heard everywhere. I don't think I need to explain what this song sounds like, but just give my opinion on it. I like it. A lot. *9.5/10*

04) KEEP IT DOWN - The rock song on the album, "Keep It Down" reminds us of the Kelis we used to know. Her first two albums "Kaleidoscope" and "Wanderland" had some great rock-R&B songs and this one is a little bit of nostalgia for us long-time Kelis fans. *10/10*

05) IN PUBLIC - Kelis and fiane Nas should definetely collaborate again. This is one of the hottest tracks on "Tasty". The song is about, what else?, getting it on in public! (Hence the lyrics in the chorus: "Let's get it on in public / Just let it go I promise that you'll love it"). The rap from Nas also adds a nice touch to the song. The lyrics get hot and the beats get hotter in this not-to-subtle track. This song is also planned to be the second single. *10/10*

06) FLASHBACK - A track taken from Kelis' 2001 overseas-only release "Wanderland", "Falshback" is a breezy R&B gem with an intoxicating chorus ("ooh you make my body go, Yeah Yeah!") *9/10*

07) PROTECT MY HEART - I'm not crazy about this one. It sounds similar to track 6, only not as good. While the chorus is catchy, I'm not a fan of Pharrell's cameo in this song. I also think the song in general doesn't do Kelis and her great voice justice. *6.5/10*

08) MILLIONAIRE - Kelis and Andre 3000 make a great duo! This is one of my favorites on the album for sure. It sounds like a song right out of Andre's "The Love Below" (which by the way people, is a GREAT album). *10/10*

09) GLOW - Another track I am not very fond of. I think it sounds rather cheesy and a little too sugary for me. *5/10*

10) SUGAR HONEY ICE TEA - A slow-tempo soul jam. This one is nice. A good song to kick back to. Kelis' voice just breezes through on this one. Nice. *7.5/10*

11) ATTENTION - Another favorite of mine, this is just a classic R&B song. The beat is hot on this one and the chorus is very catchy. *10/10*

12) ROLLING THROUGH THE HOOD - I like this one. A mid-tempo song written by The Neptunes. *8/10*

13) STICK UP - A darker-sounding song that doesn't really sound like Kelis' style. Nevertheless, it's a favorite of mine. The chorus will stick in your head all day. ("Put your hands up in the air / It's a stick up / I'm gonna take your heart from here / Put your hands in the air / In the air / In the air") *10/10

14) MARATHON - A great song to close a great album. A little deeper than some of the other songs on here, "Marathon" has a different style going for it. The beat is very simple, but Kelis' voice sound awesome on this song. *9/10*

There you have it, Kelis' "Tasty" earns a solid 4 stars from me. Better than her debut "Kaleidoscope" but not as good as "Wanderland", "Tasty" is still worth buying.

OVERALL:
123.5/140 = 88% = B+

BEST SONGS:
Trick Me
Milkshake
Keep It Down
In Public
Attention
Stick Up

WORST SONGS:
Protect My Heart
Glow

Recommended? YES

Those of us who miss the days when soul jams had just as much melody as beats will find "Tasty" difficult to remove from their stereo. Kelis manages to alternately channel Donna Summer ("In Public"), Cherrelle ("Attention"), and Lisa Lisa ("Protect My Heart") and still maintain her own identity. Outkast's Andre 3000 steps in for "Millionaire," which sounds remarkably like an abandoned Prince demo from the early 80's, and Dallas Austin takes the record in two distinctly different directions on the punky rocker "Keep it Down" and the tight hip-hop workout "Trick Me."

The only misstep is the ho-hum "Stick Up," which goes for a moody hip-hop sound but ends up sounding disposable. Much better is "Rolling Through the Hood," a song that concentrates on a player at first but eventually sends a message to Kelis' neighbors in the ghetto: "God will never forget you...this is your world, careful what you do with it." The track is a perfect example of how Kelis may appear one way on the surface (the freaky "Milkshake" is a pure pop guilty pleasure), but closer inspection shows she can go far deeper than that. Toss in hook-heavy retro tracks like "Sugar Honey Iced Tea" and "Glow" and you have one of the strongest soul outings of the new millenium. Kelis may have appeared to be a novelty at first, but this set proves she's in it for the long haul. Tasty, indeed.

You can always count on Kelis to be the innovative one in terms of sound, and with this third offering, "Tasty", she pretty much nails a bull's eye. While it's obvious that her voice still isn't developed (as in, she sings the same notes [rarely ever hitting higher ones] & the fact that she sometimes sounds off key), it's evident that it's improving; it's becoming more & more appealing & hypnotic. The album works mainly on the production, which by the way is nearly flawless. In the custom of keeping things `different', Kelis chose a sort of rock r&b/old school funk type of sound.

"Tasty" offers numerous appetizing tracks: "Rolling Through The Hood" is one of the best r&b songs I've heard in a while: It has an innovative sound, a strong hook and flows very nicely as it progresses. It's a song about the bittersweet truth of life, but then goes on to depict a message of "how life goes on":

Baby I want you to know
That how it works in the ghetto
Joy is joy and pain is pain

One day is sooner than you know
We'll be living tomorrow
We'll be laughing about today...

The song ends optimistically, with the yearning of potential possibilities when she chants "...maybe tomorrow". "In Public" featuring her fiancé Nas is one of the better r&b/rap collaborations of 2003; there is actual chemistry between Kelis & Nas in which her sexy and mesmerizing vocals compliments his rapping (and vice-versa). "Keep It Down", which is roughly about gossiping girls, has a heavy rock sound to it, while "Glow" with Raphael Saadiq is a love song that has a slow/mid-tempo melancholy feel. Another track with Raphael Saadiq is "Attention", an upbeat track about being noticed and appreciation. "Trick Me" is a fun sounding song based on the quote "Trick me once, shame on you, trick me twice, shame on me." And who could not like "Milk Shake", a spicy, exciting, bass heavy song about Kelis making the public aware of her `assets'.

There are, however, some minor problems; "Sugar Honey Iced Tea" has a nice mid-tempo flow, but with repetitiveness of the mediocre lyrics, it fails to really go anywhere. The Prince-esque "Millionaire", although unique in its own way, sounded a bit odd during the initial listen. The beat sounds...different, sort of resembling a cheerleader's anthem (you can literally almost hear somebody shout "READY? OKAY!")

But nonetheless, this album is one of 2003's best. Yes, this album has a few tiny flaws, but with that fascinating voice and unique hooks, the album manages to pull together with a breeze. She might not have the widest vocal range, but she knows how to use what she has. Kelis also has an excellent sense of rhythm; there is at least one part in each song that sounds appealing (not necessarily the hook). It's sad that Kelis is still known only as "that girl from the Neptunes", because to be straightforwardly honest, she is one of the better R&B singers out. So good that she makes the line "damn right! Its better than yours" a fact... rather than a belief.

I already had an idea what Kelis' "Tasty" was going to sound like before I even put the CD in my player. One of the CD booklet photos has Kelis savoring a lollipop, which is positioned in a way that shows that she's got much more on her mind than the confection she's enjoying. As the photo suggests, we're in for an album of beat-heavy grooves and lyrics that are almost as sexually frank as anything Prince did back in the day. From the first beat on, "Tasty" is sinfully irresistible. The Neptunes (Chad Hugo and Pharell Williams) do much of the producing on cuts such as the breezy "Flashback," the single "Milkshake," and "Sugar Honey Iced Tea." But Kelis works just as well with other producers such as Rockwilder on "In Public," a catchy jam that's about doin' it, well, in public. The talented Raphael Saadiq also shines in the laid-back "Glow," while Andre 3000 of Outkast gives a Prince-inspired groove on "Millionaire." Another great track is "Keep it Down," a Dallas Austin produced track that has Kelis jamming to a groove that meshes hip hop and amped-up rock. "Tasty" is one of the more consistent records I've heard in 2003. I bought it completely on a whim, and I have yet to regret it.

At least five strong songs on this album. The album really distills the good stuff from the 80s. What stuff? I can't put my finger on it but when you listen to 80s music from Madonna to Run DMC, it just has a wholesome goodness. This is exactly what Kelis brings into her music. Kelis addresses sexuality like in Lodi Dodi, uses some of Madonna's writhing a la "Like a Virgin," and even some Cyndi Lauper type sentimentalism.

I also recommend that you seek out "Oasis" by Kelis (I believe it was unreleased but can be found online) and that you see all of the videos put out by Kelis. She is adorable and the videos are full of 80s nostalgia.