Keyshia Cole – Just Like You

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 dose of heartfelt syrup that could play over the credits of a modern-day Horatio Alger movie.

Even the club songs—like the Diddy-co-produced “Last Night” and the Michael Jackson-esque synth-fueled “Let It Go” with Missy Elliott and Lil Kim—feel a bit drained of Cole’s former fire, despite their undeniable catchiness. “Give Me More” is an exception to the rule, with bold production by Scott Storch that gives Cole something to play off, and “Fallin’ Out,” while slower in tempo, lets her show off her range admirably. Even muted, Cole’s voice can sell the ups and downs of emotion, but she’s better off when she tells it (loudly) like it is. —Hillary Brown

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