Note: This is the second album from Ethiopia-born, Virginia Beach-raised Kenna. He went to high school with Chad Hugo (one half of hip hop superproducers The Neptunes), who produced all of his debut album New Sacred Cow and the majority of Make Sure They See My Face. This time, though, the other, more famous Neptune (Pharrell Williams) contributed some production as well.
Sound: Synth-heavy rock, pop and r&b that’s driven by funky hip hop-flavored rhythms. The vocals have an inspired spiritual passion and the vibe bounces between danceable club bangers and atmospheric meditations. At times the electronic-heavy sounds and knack for infectious hooks can recall ‘80s hitmakers Howard Jones and Duran Duran, but the cutting edge production keeps the sound modern.
Heavy Rotation tracks: “Out of Control (State of Emotion)” (Top 20 Songs of 2007 Candidate); “Say Goodbye To Love”
Medium Rotation tracks: “Face the Gun”; “Daylight”; “Sun Red Sky Blue”; “Loose Wires”
Recommended: Kenna remains one of the most fascinating and hard-to-classify artists of the decade, and his music has the potential to reach so many different audiences. But that’s also one of the major challenges with a Kenna album – they feel all-over-the-place. Make Sure They See My Face has moments of brilliance and moments that feel aimless and out of place. Everyone should sample Kenna, though, and see what works for them.
Grade: B+

Listen to Tracks/Buy CD:
On iTunes
On amazon.com