Point of No Return is the sixth album from Keyshia Cole and amidst 11 tracks, she lets loose. It is steeped in expressive candor. The Keyshia featured here is frank, direct and pulling no punches.
The opener, “Heat of Passion” finds Ms. Cole reflecting on having taken matters into her hands with a relationship. The production provided is a comfort zone for her delicate yet passionate tone. “N.L.U.” carries a similar magnitude alongside 2 Chainz and despite its weak chorus, Cole manages to pull it off as she has done several times before. There is an elegant and brash uniqueness to Cole’s vocals that make her a timeless talent regardless of the material she’s handed.
The first single, “Rick James” offered from this release was a bit lackluster, not because of her cohort Juicy J or Cole, but because instead of drawing on the fierceness of a scorned lover taking on the persona of an angry Rick James, the listener is left with imagery of Dave Chappelle’s Rick James’ sketch, which was more comical than serious. “Believer,” one of several standouts on Point of No Return, is perhaps the most radio friendly. Having released the music video on October 6, Keyshia seems determined to remind fans why they fell in love with her. Her style of R&B is street slick with a domineering depth that often leaves one spellbound and many of her songs on replay.
The finale “Remember (Part 2)” is introspective as Keyshia laments seemingly over her recent separation from NBA player, Daniel Gibson. There is a gospel-esque quality to the track that upon first listen may sound extremely cliché and leaves one with a feeling that Keyshia’s been there done that – but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It is here that Keyshia drives home the point that she is capable of being both a smooth operator wrapping her voice around mushy, syrupy lovey dovey lyrics as well as a powerhouse that muses on excruciating and tearful experiences.
It is difficult to predict whether the emotional grit that is on full display on Point of No Return will propel her any heavy rotation on radio like songs from her first three albums; but make no mistake about it, Keyshia has not lost her touch and in fact, an argument can be made that she’s become more open to bellowing out her pensivity.
Point of No Return receives a PARL
Rating:
P…Horrible
PA…Tolerable
PAR…Good
PARL… Kinda Great
PARLÉ… Classic
Also Check Out:
Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf – The Game album review
Lights, Camera, “Addicted” with Bille Woodruff
Kill The Messenger movie review
Torrei Hart – Atlanta Exes Star Making A Name For Herself
Souled Out – Jhené Aiko album review
Blacc Hollywood – Wiz Khalifa album review
