'Baby Makin' Music' Is Seductive R&B
By OLIVIA MUNOZ, Associated Press Writer
Tue May 16, 11:41 AM ET
The Isley Brothers, "Baby Makin' Music" (Def Soul Classics)
The Isley Brothers' songs have been called baby makin' music for so long, it's hard to believe none of their albums has carried the title officially before.
With their new album, "Baby Makin' Music," you hear the classic sound of their rich past, craftily updated by some of pop and R&B's hottest producers.
The first single, "Just Came Here to Chill," is a slow R&B song with Ron Isley singing some of the most wholesome lyrics on the album: "No need to put your makeup on. I'm not Mr. Biggs — tonight I'm just Ron," Isley sings of his musical alter-ego, the cane-carrying Mr. Biggs. The song is charming but not as enticing as some of the Isley Brothers racier tracks.
But then, this album isn't just about gettin' it on. There are a few genuinely sweet ballads, namely "Heaven Hooked Us Up." Younger brother Ernie Isley plays the electric guitar while Ron Isley sings, "You never judge me for my past, my player ways from way back. You still gave me a chance and I'm glad just to be your man."
Once again, the group has linked with R. Kelly for this album. Kelly, largely responsible the Isley Brothers' recent resurgence thanks to his collaborations and hit songs he penned for them, appears with the band on "Blast Off." But the beat sounds too much like Kelly's song "Step in the Name of Love," and is a disappointment.
Thankfully, "Baby Makin' Music" features a mix of writers and producers, including Jermaine Dupri on three tracks.
One of those, "Gotta Be With You," features rock 'n' roll guitar riffs mixed with a slow bass line and breathy back-up singers. The song has an old-school feel but with updated slang in the lyrics. It's spoiled only by Dupri's need to break in with unnecessary dialogue and interrupt an otherwise fine song.
For years — make that decades — fellas have used the Isley Brothers' velvety R&B songs to get their seduction game on. "Baby Makin' Music" continues in that tradition.