Yahoo! Music Album Review

Released on 24/04/06
Label: SonyBMG

Given that everyone from Eminem and 50 Cent to Christina Milian and Beyoncé think they can act, it's probably only fair the actors get to participate in the cross-media exchange. But before Brad gets any funny ideas about being a jazz crooner or Angelina starts eyeing Madonna's Queen Of Pop crown, they'd do well to listen to the second album from Oscar-winning "Ray" actor, Jamie Foxx. Perhaps the kindest thing to say is that he's a great actor. An Oscar winner no less. You can't have everything.

It's not that Foxx can't sing. It's not the most recognisable voice and it's a bit disappointing that he doesn't do that Ray Charles thing that he did on Kanye West's "Gold Digger", but he can carry a tune - or he could if "Unpredictable" had any. It's not even really the lack of stunning songs. It's the fact that his super slick, super smooth R&B hasn't been either cool or fashionable for more than a decade.

Jamie Foxx's recording career started not with his guest spot on Twista's "Slow Jamz" or "Gold Digger", but back in 1994 with the release of his debut album, "Peep This". Unfortunately, despite the intervening years and the complete rewriting of the R&B rulebook, this belated follow-up picks up exactly where "Peep This" left off. Press play, close your eyes and as the deluge of lady-lovin', satin-sheet stroking crudity starts, it's like Jodeci, Dru Hill and Boyz II Men are still the height of R&B sophistication.

There's also something vaguely seedy about "Unpredicatable"'s obsession with sex. Foxx spends most of the album drooling over girls and trying to tempt them with worn-out pick-up lines. Gyrating, slow and 'sexy' to "VIP"'s deep '70s smooch, one of the album's best, Foxx tells one lucky lady "your night of ecstasy's on me". If that didn't make her want to chuck all over his loafers then "Do What I Do"'s "Baby that's my body calling your name and that's your body doing the same" should do the trick.

What makes the downpour of sickly seduction all the more embarrassing is that the album's guest list includes Timbaland, Mary J Blige, Twista, Ludacris and Kanye West. Admittedly Timbaland's beats for "Can I Take You Home" are half hearted and Kanye doesn't even stop long enough to get behind a mixing desk, instead phoning in a rap. But surely someone could have suggested he stop listening to old R Kelly records and try something just a little less cheesy? Apparently not.

    by Dan Gennoe