Artist: Craig David
Album: Trust Me
Genre: R&B
Release Date: 11/12/2007
Label: Warner

I was surprised to even hear that Craig David was releasing a new album as I have heard absolutely nothing about it. My hopes we're pretty high as he always seems to deliver a handful of solid tracks and even though his last album "The Story Goes..." was pretty much not promoted at all I still found it and enjoyed most of the songs on it.

Unfortunately on this album Craig tends to stray heavily from his signature style into a more subdued role that really doesn't sound like him at all. This happens to be one of my least favorite albums that I have heard in awhile and out of 5 stars I sadly have to give this album 1 star. I can't even justify anyone paying full price for this cd. I would recommend purchasing a few tracks "6 of 1 thing", "Awkward", "Just a reminder" and "Officially Yours" and forgetting about the rest.

 
1. Hot Stuff (Let's Dance): Midtempo dance track with remnants of "Fill me in". The first single off the album yet fails to deliver that signature style that Craig stepped on the scene with. I can't see why this is a single personally. It's more like album filler material.

2. 6 of 1 thing: Definitely much better than Hot Stuff, much more catchy and upbeat. Definitely showcases a pretty solid track with the exception of the horn heavy chorus. Minus that, this would have been a much better prospect for the first single.

3. Friday Night: Another midtempo track with a touch of jazz. Continuing a much different sound than what I'm used to hearing from him, not sure if I care for this song or not. It does have a smooth groove to it, but I still feel like something is lacking.

4. Awkward: I like this one. It has a very strong R&B sound to it and reminds me heavily of a song that Musiq Souldchild would do. Has sort of a 70's type vibe to the melody and also features vocals by a lady named Rita Ora.

5. Just a reminder: I almost wrote this song off as unappealing until I got to the chorus. The catchy lyrics of the chorus are really what make this song work for me. I also like the bluesy groove to the song. Still a very different sound for Craig and I almost feel like someone else could have pulled this song off with more believability.

6. Officially yours: I feel like this is the first and only track on the album that brings us back to what we know and love Craig for, his smooth vocals riding over a smooth groove. Vocally and lyrically this is a great song. My pick for best track.

7. Kinda girl for me: This song is just ok to me. It features the overused sample from the song "You are everything" which I wish people would find something different to use now. Still this sample was used well with the track and creates a pleasant listening experience. Nothing spectacular but not a song you would find yourself skipping over either.

8. She's on fire: A very boring track that pretty much takes away the meaning of the song which is about a girl starts out unappealing and unnoticed and goes from "geek to chic" as we like to say. Although you would never know that unless you can over look the lazy vibe of the beat and the equally lazy delivery of lyrics. It isn't until the beat changes toward the end and gets a little bit of a reggae vibe to it that the song becomes somewhat bearable.

9.Don't play with our love: Has almost a Justin Timberlake pre-sexyback vibe and reminds me of the song "Damn Girl" on JT's Futuresex/Lovesound album. Yet JT's song is much more appealing than this one. This is one of those songs you'll turn on just for the fact that it's danceable and you don't even care what it says.

10. Top of the hill: This track was pure tragedy from the beginning. I wonder if Craig even wanted to sing this song because he sounds very board on this track. This is not his type of song at all and it shows. This would have to be my vote for least listenable track on the album.

11. This is the girl: Definitely diggin' the rapping on the track. It's a pretty nice synthesizer heavy track that is the popular style of a lot of today's popular music. Craig is pretty much featured on this track as he only shows up on the chorus. This happens to be one of the better songs on the album which is still not saying very much.

 

Aaron Fields is the Sales Marketing Coordinator for KSTW-TV in Seattle. All opinions expressed in this column are strictly his.