Rap-Up.com || Review Roundup: Miguel – ‘Kaleidoscope Dream’

Miguel puts his own stamp on R&B with his sophomore album Kaleidoscope Dream, available now. The L.A. crooner delivers 11 effortless tracks, with production from Salaam Remi, Jerry Wonda, and Pop & Oak, plus the No. 1 hit “Adorn” and follow-up “Do You…” Did Miguel’s seductive sound make noise with critics? Find out below.

USA Today: The 25-year-old singer smartly continues to distance himself from R&B’s explicit, club-banging clichés with a subtlety seductive second album. The beats are spare, the songwriting is intimate and the overall effect is infectious. 3/4

The Boston Globe: Miguel, who also co-produces, needs to trust his own vocals more, as some tracks are simply overproduced. A good hook (“I’m going to do you like drugs”) on “Do You…” gets washed away by effects, and a gratuitous gimmick (sampling “Time of the Season”) on “Don’t Look Back” fails to serve to the song.

The Associated Press: Miguel’s sophomore effort Kaleidoscope Dream oozes sex with a bit of rock ‘n’ roll and funk, further elevating and pushing the elasticity of R&B like other acts including Frank Ocean, The Weeknd, and Jhené Aiko.

Newsday: His resemblance to Prince goes beyond his ability to shift from growl to falsetto effortlessly. … Miguel’s Dream is a wake-up call to his R&B competitors to step up their game. A-

SPIN: Kaleidoscope Dream is startling and invigorating, a fully formed statement from an artist hungrily surging toward the front of pop music’s creative pack. 9/10

Rap-Up’s Favorite Tracks: “Adorn,” “Where’s the Fun in Forever,” “Do You…”

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16 Comments

Ice
October 3rd, 2012 at 7:55 am
His debut was amazing, this album is 10x that. He’s becoming a classic artist in my book.

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United States
October 3rd, 2012 at 7:55 am
Can be honest. The songs sound the same, I’m talking beats, melody everything! I don’t know, but I’d give the album a B-

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@taimiicel
October 3rd, 2012 at 8:07 am
his music is epic

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Yo
October 3rd, 2012 at 8:47 am
I loveeeeeeeeeeeeee it.

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Jordan Gabriel
October 3rd, 2012 at 8:55 am
I do love what he does but I think it’s a tiny bit over produced…

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Will Reply:
October 3rd, 2012 at 9:28 am
@Jordan Gabriel, Your crazy. Over produced? If anything the album doesnt have over production like other albums its simplistic and classic sounding. Nothing overproduced about the album at all.

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@BoyOUTTAHere
October 3rd, 2012 at 10:00 am
I mean, the sound of the album IS really seductive and makes me you-know-what (Horny). Lol. But honestly, there are only 2 songs I can listen to. “How Many Drinks?” & “Use Me”.

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poe
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:06 am
very overproduced…i hear more music than his voice! I give it a B-

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Lauren
October 3rd, 2012 at 1:54 pm
These reviews are on point!! Love this album ;)

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Manj
October 3rd, 2012 at 1:58 pm
I give it a 9/10. It’s a really great album. My #1 song so far on the album is “Where’s The Fun in Forever” but, that might change in the long run.

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Stephen
October 3rd, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Overproduced? Channel Orange is overproduced. This album kinda is too. The Weeknd is the only one who relies only on his voice alone.

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Quest Reply:
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:23 pm
@Stephen, channel ORANGE is not overproduced. And please….I’ve heard Abel life. His voice outside of the studio is an insult.

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Stephen Reply:
October 3rd, 2012 at 5:13 pm
@Quest, I’ve heard him live too, and you’re right. And when it does come to singing live, Frank wins, I’ve seen him in concert. I’m only referring .to in studio music

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@TBarz365
October 3rd, 2012 at 7:17 pm
I Love Miguel’s First Album, And I Love The Singles From This One. So I Will Be Buying It Tomorrow… I Think He Is An Original Artist. His Music Is Different In Every Day. Adorn Is Such A Dope Track…

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Hugh
October 3rd, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Congrats!

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R to the Y down C sunnie Kye
October 10th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
cool

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