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(More customer reviews)Kem's "Intimacy: Album III" is filled with satisfying, soul-drenched warm-bath ballads that will please his fan base. The result is a winning fusion of of old-school R&B and contemporary jazz.
He uses his expressive, intimate voice with great intelligence. He is capable of eliciting drama where his contemporaries tend to overdo or undersell. His limitations as a producer and song writer are therefore minimized.
The ethereal, distant quality of his earlier material has given way to something more straightforward and sensual, making the album incidentally more palatable.
"When I'm Loving You" is a fine example with its lush, tropical atmosphere, complete with acoustic guitar tropical and ear-pleasing drum patter. Comparisons to Sade are inevitable. "Can You Feel It" and "Human Touch" continue the pattern, with Kem's voice riding the waves of his busy, seductive melodies.
These songs are built less upon radio-ready hooks and more on grooves, texture and the sincerity of Kem's delivery. That said, the cliched yet well-crafted lead single "Why Would You Stay?" has done well on the airwaves, hitting the top 20 of Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart. Its overtly romantic quality and distinctly 90s-sounding production reminds of Boyz II Men. "You're On My Mind" follows suit.
Jill Scott adds a shot of caffeine to the gospel-infused "Golden Days" with her inspired preaching, and Maurissa Rose complements Kem beautifully on the inspired "If It's Love," another R&B slow-burn and potential hit. The best track is "A Mother's Love" with its piano-driven, double-edged melody. It's as beautiful as its title.
Sessions for the album took place over a three-year span - this music was clearly and carefully labored over. There are other artists with similar voices and songwriting ability, but "Intimacy: Album III" shows Kem to be a dedicated, passionate musician deserving of his place on the shelf.
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IntimacyIntimacy was inspired by KEM's deeply personal lessons on intimacy and it will allow fans to experience him unlike ever before musically, lyrically, and visually. For the first time in his career, KEM will lay all of his cards on the table and grant fans the opportunity to get up close and personal while delivering a 10-song collection of timeless music for the grown and sexy. Intimacy features vocal and production collaborations with the likes of Grammy-winning soul diva Jill Scott and the late Motown legend David J. Van dePitt, who famously produced Marvin Gaye's 1971 masterpiece, What's Going On. Scott delivers enchanting verses of spoken word in "Golden Days," while Van dePitt arranged the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's string section on the first single, a gorgeous ballad called "Why Would You Stay." Los Angeles producer Rex Rideout (Luther Vandross, Angie Stone) also joined KEM in the studio to help round out the Intimacy listening experience. The result is a richer sound buttressed by classical instruments and a greater range of musical styles that will certainly expand KEM's audience by garnering success across multiple formats, including pop, R&B, and urban adult contemporary.The first online video to be released offers a revealing behind the scenes look of the making of a promotional commercial for the new album that was filmed at the MGM Grand in Detroit. The second clip will be the actual promotional commercial, which depicts a night in the life of KEM, partying with friends at Detroit's MGM Grand and breaking out in an impromptu performance at the club. It serves as a formal introduction of the new album and KEM's understanding of intimacy. "The moment you realize you're not alone is your finest hour," he says at the start of the commercial. "When you can finally allow yourself to be seen as you truly are--that's what intimacy is to me."Smooth grooves, powerful vocals, heartfelt lyrics, and just plain feel-good music best describe KEM's instantly recognizable sound. In 2002, the self-taught musician wrote and produced his critically acclaimed debut solo album, Kemistry, which spawned the hit single "Love Calls." The classic track went on to break records for longevity on the Urban A/C chart while the disc achieved gold-plus status and solidified KEM's position as a leading man in the world of jazz-influenced R&B music. The success of his gold certified follow-up CD, 2005's KEM Album II--which debuted at an impressive No. 5 on Billboard's all-important Top 200 Chart--proved KEM's staying power in the very competitive world of R&B. Now with the release of Intimacy, KEM is opening up to reveal the elusive man behind the voice. In fact, working on this project not only led KEM, a proud father of two daughters who self-produced his first two albums, to a deeper understanding of the true meaning of intimacy, but it also helped him achieve a greater appreciation for the significance of intimacy in all aspects of his life beyond romantic relationships. "I've spent the past five years working on this project in the midst of many personal trials, which caused me to pause and take a more introspective look at myself, my family relationships, my walk with God, and even how I relate to my music," said KEM. "What I found was that giving each more time and attention is essential."
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