Kelis Wanderland CD

Adrian Young, Tom Dumont, and Tony Kanal are all members of the group No Doubt.

Straight out of Harlem, Kelis has her own vibrant take on contemporary R&B, weaving in to it hip-hop, a bit of rock, and some old-school funk. Her second album, WANDERLAND was issued in 2001 and features contributions from C Minus and Pharrell Williams.

Wanderland unfortunately didn't build on the promise Kelis showed throughout 1999's Kaleidoscope, and it didn't even come out in the States, but quickly dismissing it as a sophomore slump would be rash. In fact, the album's first three songs -- "Young, Fresh n' New," "Flash Back," and "Popular Thug" -- are on an even standing with the best of the singer's debut. "Young, Fresh n' New" is particularly stunning, a buzzing grind with a chaotic loop that could've been lifted from a pinball machine. As a song, it doesn't have much grounding, yet the Neptunes cast their disorienting eccentricities all over it and come up with a production that could've only been suited for Kelis. After that solid beginning, the album continually loses steam and gains it back. The revolving door of guests hinder the album more than it bolsters it; "Perfect Day," for instance, sounds more like a No Doubt album cut with a guest appearance from Kelis than the other way around. Despite the album's bumpiness, it proves that Kelis and the Neptunes should remain linked indefinitely. Until the third album, hope for two things: a more consistent batch of songs and no assistance from those who don't inhabit Kelis' and the Neptunes' world. ~ Andy Kellman

Kelis' second full-length is a testimonial against the treacly fugue of her vaguely experimental hip-hop contemporaries, but it's short of her debut's grand accusatory glare and fresh psychedelia. Cue the flickers of U.K. psychedelia, Tina Turner big-earring fem-rock, and soulless, even workmanlike, duets with harmless MCs named Pusha T. If Kelis was hoping for Macy Gray-level success, particularly with outspoken admiration for British acts like Basement Jaxx or Muse, she resorts to high-strung, low-result collaborations with No Doubt ("Perfect Day") and some guy from Korn ("Easy Come, Easy Go"), effectively sidelining the Neptunes' production talents and patching together a scatterbrained world of empty beats and limp rhymes that never quite cover up her premature absence of ideas. ~ Dean Carlson

Import only pressing of her sophomore album 'Wanderland' includes 2 hidden bonus tracks and was never released in the USA. Kelis reunites with Hip Hop's premier production duo, the Neptunes. The first single, 'Young Fresh 'N' New' includes mixes from Timo Maas & So Solid Crew. The bonus tracks are tagged on to the last track #14 'Little Suzie'. 2001. Virgin.

U.K. release with two hidden bonus tracks.

Recorded at Star Trak, Master Sound Studios, Virginia Beach, West Virginia.

Personnel: Kelis, John Ostby (vocals); Pusha T, Malice, Roscoe (rap vocals); Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo (various instruments); Tom Dumont (guitar); Tony Kanal, Fieldy (bass); Adrian Young (drums); C Minus (scratches).