Kelly Rowland Simply Deep CD

This is a Super Audio CD playable only on Super Audio CD players.

Following a game plan in which each member of Destiny's Child temporarily takes a stab at a solo career, SIMPLY DEEP represents the second such project. Unlike Michelle Williams's gospel-pop crossover HEART TO YOURS, SIMPLY DEEP finds Kelly Rowland using an R&B base as a springboard to flexing her stylistic muscles. "Dilemma," a summer 2002 smash Nelly duet based on Patti Labelle's timeless "Love, Need And Want You" served notice on the radio and charts that Beyonce Knowles wasn't the only major talent in DC. Throughout these 14 cuts, the Atlanta native continually impresses, particularly with skills as a ballad singer on the gorgeous "Heaven," opening number "Stole," and Quiet Storm-ish "Haven't Told You."

Other highlights include the swirling "Simply Deep," a duet with Beyonce's little sister Solange that allows Rowland to pour on the vocal melisma a la major influence Whitney Houston. Balancing out these mellow moments are the bouncy "Past 12" and soaring, ethereal alterna-soul of "Train On A Track." Less effective is the bonus "Make U Wanna Stay," a plodding hip-hop-flavored duet with Joe Budden that doesn't find its principals synching up in an effective manner.

One Third Of Destiny's Child

Personnel: Kelly Rowland (vocals, background vocals); Solange Knowles (vocals); Nick Moroch (guitar, electric guitar); Alonzo Jackson (guitar, drums); Dave Deviller (guitar, programming); Sergio Ponzo, Mats Berntoft, Isaac Phillips, Romeo Antonio (guitar); Rob Fusari (acoustic guitar, bass guitar, programming); Billy Mann (acoustic guitar); Bo Soderstrom, Stanka Simeonova, Jan Isaksson, Monika Stanikowska, Svein H. Martinsen, Roger Johnsson, Ulrika Frankmar, Christian Bergqvist, Monika Stankkoliska (violin); Torbjorn Helander, Mikael Sjogren, Tonstudio Bauer (viola); Peter Tornblom, Kati Raitinen (cello); Timothy Christian Riley (Fender Rhodes piano, programming); Mark J. Feist (keyboards, synthesizer, drums, programming); Damon Elliott (keyboards, percussion, drum programming); Todd Mushaw Rhodes, Todd Mushaw, Sean Hosein, Steve Kipner (programming); Jany Schella, Sherrie Ford, Sherree Ford-Payne, Jeanette Olsson (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Dave Pensado; Dexter Simmons; Kevin Thomas; Kevin Thomas; Richard Travali; Tony Maserati; Blake English.

Recording information: Audio Vision Recording Studio, Miami, FL; Enterprise Studio, Burbank, CA; Heeba Jeeba Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA; Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; Natures Finest Studios; Real MF Sound, Chatsworth, CA; Record Plant Studio, Los Angeles, CA; Sound On Sound Studio, New York, NY; Stankonia Recording Studios, Atlanta, GA; Studio 353, Inc., NY; Sveriges Radio, Sweden; The Enterprise, Burbank, CA; The Hit Factory (NYC).

Photographer: Isabel Snyder.

Arrangers: Dave Deviller; Kevin Thomas; K.O. Thomas; Bernie Stevenson; Mark J. Feist; Sean Hosein; Steve Kipner; B.W. Stevenson.

Personnel includes: Kelly Rowland (vocals); Nelly, Solange Knowles, Joe Budden.

Producers include: Jany Schella, Anders Barren, Bam & Ryan Bowser, Sean Hosein, Dane Devillier.

Mojo (Publisher) (3/03, p.112) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...An inventive, well-crafted affair that fuses R&B with pop, rambunctious hip hop, seismic dancefloor grooves and even rock..."