REVIEW

The-Dream – “Love vs. Money”

Rating: 9.5/10

I shouldn’t be too surprised that Atlanta-based R&B artist and producer of The-Dream’s sophomore album, “Love vs. Money,” is so fully realized in terms of scope, depth and smooth, catchy hooks. He has, after all, written and produced chart hits for such megastars as Ciara, Mariah Carey, Usher and Rihanna (“Umbrella”). Still, I am surprised.

Contemporary R&B albums are supposed to include two to three tiny, auto-tuned, ring tone-friendly singles padded out with filler; not 12 nearly flawless club hoppers and slow jams betraying such diverse influences as ‘70s Motown, Prince, Michael Jackson and Timbaland.

“Love vs. Money” starts off with no less than five songs that deserve to be chart-topping singles. Opener and leadoff single “Rockin’ that Sh–” (“Rockin’ that Thang” for radio) finds The-Dream crooning beautifully over bass-y, ascending synths, expressing his disbelief at the stunning beauty of a girl at the club, rockin’ it just right.

The-Dream understands that there is nothing as inspiring as a girl that looks that jaw-droppingly perfect under flashing lights (“there’s nothing left to say”), and likewise this is the best song I’ve heard all year.

On a similar “girl-U-so-fine” tip, up-tempo follow up “Walkin’ on the Moon” has The-Dream sounding like Thriller-era MJ over paranoid synths that evoke Rockwell’s 80’s hit “Somebody’s Watching Me” and features an impassioned guest verse by one Kanye West that’s sure to silence those who hated on the auto-tune and pathos-heavy “808’s and Heartbreaks.”

The lush jam “My Love” featuring Mariah Carey is for the ladies, while “Put it Down” and “Sweat It Out” both cash their chips on golden, three-syllable hooks – evocations of their respective titles – that sound just like Stevie Wonder in his prime.

The second half of the album slows things down and gets more personal but is no less excellent. Posi-jam “Take You Home 2 My Mama” transitions directly into the confessional “Love vs. Money,” where the “radio killa” admits his pursuit of dollars ruined a promising relationship (“I was too busy making it rain”).

It’s fitting that “Love vs. Money” closes with “Kelly’s 12 Play,” a hard electro-funk bedroom jam about making passionate love to R. Kelly’s “12 Play.”

As The-Dream is probably the most talented and visionary R&B maestro since Kelly himself, though, he doesn’t seem nearly as insane.