The-Dream, the chart topping singer/songwriter, has given a whole new meaning to the word “Umbrella” and has diamond ring sales skyrocketing from penning Beyonce’s latest “Single Ladies.” Unfortunately, The-Dream forgot to hit the addictive song/beat button on his songwriting machine recently, because quality songs are conspicuously absent from his second album Love vs. Money.
The album starts with everything but a bang using the track “Rockin That Thing,” the typical R&B recording minus a killer beat or hook. A little light breaks through when Kanye West takes the mic behind a futuristic Prince-like beat in “Walking on the Moon,” overshadowing The-Dream’s less addictive attempt to lead the song. The first single “My Love” featuring Mariah Carey should have appeared on her latest album, since she is at the forefront for most of the song with a breathy huskiness to her vocals. The two do compliment each other well here, but it is easy to forget whose album Love vs. Money is while listening.
The majority of the tracks focus on sex and relationships. The first of which comes off as… laughable. In “Put It Down,” he attempts to croon “I’m all up on you/
Like shawty what’s up/ I’m all up on you/ Like a white tee on a thug.” The chorus of “Put It Down” repeats the same phrase, “Put it down,” an ungodly amount of times, and the same goes for most of the other tracks, including “Sweat It Out” and “Mr. Yeah,” two more hyper-sex tracks that are just not believable.
Toward the middle of the album is where interest will peak and be kept for approximately four songs. “Take U Home 2 My Momma” is simply fun, and where most songs lack staying power, this one avoids the cookie cutter. “Love vs. Money” and “Love vs. Money 2” hit a sensitive note, and here The-Dream becomes real. The title tracks are about the mistakes in buying his lover materials in place of giving her himself, the regret flows through lyrics, voice and beats. Singing, “Cause I am to blame/ Instead of loving you/ I was making it rain” and the hard-to-realize truth about what is really needed in a relationship becomes clear. It was a possible misstep not to combine the two tracks though, since each would fit together well, and disregarding the filler between both would better hold the listeners’ attention. The true gem comes in “Fancy,” a ballad-like recording that spins the tale of a beautiful woman who once loved the man she was with and now loves the money he has.
Love vs. Money does not completely disappoint, but it leaves the listener wanting more, in an “I need the third album” kind of way. A sprinkling of a few solid tracks ensure the album isn’t a total loss, but the so-so effort is forgettable, and while listening you just may find yourself daydreaming of something a little more entertaining.
2 1/2 stars out of 5.
