"Just Like You" by Keyshia Cole

The distance (and difference) between R&B singer Keyshia Cole's first album, The Way It Is, and her second one, Just Like You, is plainly evident in the tenor of their titles: On her explosive debut, she stated fact from on high, an avenging goddess for lovelorn women, while on this new record, she wants to convince you she's the girl next door, and the songs suffer for it. Cole's voice remains a challenge to reigning queen Mary J. Blige, a blare of sound from the bottom of the stomach that roughens as it increases in volume—but when she's less angry the full range of it isn't present. The smoother, less aggressive tone of this album suggests that maybe Cole has vented enough—but we beg to differ. It's hard to find flaw with tracks like "I Remember," a slow, gentle track constructed with strings and guitar arpeggios, but it does take its sweet time getting to the point and sounds rather like a lot of other girl-power R&B. "Heaven Sent," meanwhile, is a
	Published: 2007-09-28 Provider: Artist Direct