Robin Thicke’s new album is like the perfect summer fling: smooth, sexy and a little cocky. Thicke might not be someone you want to introduce to mom, but that’s kind of the point. Whether he’s swearing he “knows you want it, but you’re a good girl” in “Blurred Lines” or wanting to “shop for your underwear” in “Take it Easy on Me,” Thicke’s pickup line–heavy lyrics are breezy fun. That is, if you can ignore that little bit about wanting to “liberate you.”
The album kicks off with summer staple and title track “Blurred Lines,” and moves from there to “Take it Easy on Me,” which employs club and EDM–style beats. “Ooh La La” and “Ain’t No Hat 4 That” rely on an electronic sound reminiscent of an age of disco balls and bell–bottoms, while maintaining a modern feel. This theme of blending old and new persists for the bulk of the album, which is difficult to confine in one genre. Bolstered by upbeat enthusiasm, the standout number “Get in My Way” was made for the dance floor, but a few other tracks are so bogged down by clichés that they’re hard to take seriously. “Give it to You”’s declaration “I’ve got a hit for yah, big dick for yah,” is sung with such sincerity it’s almost laughable.
The album succeeds because it transforms familiar elements including ‘70s funk, ‘90s R&B, falsetto soul, and a hint of dubstep into enjoyable pop fusion. While Thicke’s other albums failed to impress critically, “Blurred Lines” earns Thicke a place among contemporaries like pop phenom Justin Timberlake and makes up for shortages in substance with unrequited fun.
99-cent download: “Get in My Way”
Grade: B+