Kelis
Kelis Was Here
Virgin/EMI

The 'sex sells' concept is nothing new, especially in the music industry. But not too many women can quite pull off brash, in-your-face sexuality like Kelis can. Lil' Kim can do it and Marilyn Monroe did over half a century ago - I'm talking about the ability to fearlessly exhibit their sex drive and demand respect for it.

Maybe it's Kelis' oozing confidence, that unapologetic boldness that made everyone sing along to "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard/and they're like, 'it's better than yours'," instead of labelling her a whore, as many others would be labelled if singing something so 'unladylike'.

'Kelis Was Here' is her fourth album and only reinforces her unrepentant ego by stating early on with the chorus line in Bossy, "I'm bossy/I'm the bitch ya'll love to hate." Only she isn't that hateable but, like Lil' Kim, a complete cracker.

Although Kelis' previous album 'Tasty' was predominately a Neptune's production, she decided to leave her options open for 'Kelis Was Here' and work with a range of producers including Will.i.am, Scott Storch and Swiss Beatz, giving each track a novel spin. Yet she maintains a consistent and individual style, using plenty of banging bass and heavy drums.

Kelis' unforgiving egotism in Bossy stretches into the bedroom with the feisty Blindfold Me and What's That Right There and she has a pretty good stab at rapping in Fuck Them Bitches and Circus.

Clearly, Kelis doesn't have the best lungs for the job as she struggles vocally in Appreciate Me, yet somehow manages to pull it off with that croaky Kelis voice, making it seem almost deliberate. What she lacks in she makes up for with her charming, yet saucy, style. Undoubtedly, Kelis doesn't take herself too seriously and that's the best thing about 'Kelis Was Here', because it's all fun.

Sherree Woodmore