Keyshia Cole Doesn't Quite Have a Woman's Touch

Keyshia Cole's "Woman to Woman" is weighed down by urban music stylistic cliches. For instance there's no shortage of keyboard that sounds like it was sprinkled on by Peter Pan's fairy, Tinker Bell. No authentic percussion either. What dooms this effort to bargain basement status are the lyrics Keisha has to work with. I'm not sure any red blooded male of any ethnicity would be moved to the pinnacle of passion by the sentiments found in "Wonderland". Basically she loses her mind when her boy toy takes her to his wonderland. Kind of a female street spin on John Mayer's "Your Body Is a Wonderland". It'd make a trippin' female response to that easy percolator anyway. "Hey Sexy" doesn't break new ground in African-American amorousness either. Keyshia psyches herself up about being rocked all night long 'til the break of dawn. How many times has this titillating time frame been espoused upon before across several genres? Makes one want to consider taking a vow of chastity. If songs centered on foreplay come off as stale are the odds any better that the act itself will exceed expectations? Even on tracks like "I Choose You" where the cheese quotient isn't off the colloquial chizz-ain Keyshia can't avoid overpowering the material. Her sin in this case is confusing belting with hollering. The chorus is obliterated so completely that I'm left wondering if being chosen by Keyshia is desirable at all. Turning to "Stubborn" Keyshia claims the only bruise on her person belongs to her ego. Somehow my ego would be subjected to the same fate if I was forced to admit I owned a CD containing hackneyed lyrics like this. As a whole Keyshia is little more than a likable homegirl with barely above average chops. She's not devoid of talent. I'm just saying Beyonce has nothing to worry about. "Woman to Woman" is meant strictly for urban music loyalists.