After Morgan Freeman spoke a sort of intro to "Bombs Away", Bobby Ray goes very energetic and committed on a massive beat down to business. That he can ennoble a track even by his rape, is the latest since his collabo with Tech Nine in "Am IA Psycho?" known, yet he sings the chorus itself. A good first track, of wanting more.
An electronic beat and a too often repeated Hook awaits the audience in the second song, "Ray Bands" in which the lyrics revolve around the opposite sex. That beat that really is very innovative, you could have done more and has clearly let potential lie. However, this is not so tragic, because with "So Hard To Breathe" BoB ignites a blast that would have fit well on his debut album. Raps with no features and he sings about the music industry, his fame and the associated pressure. ("And it's so hard to breathe, yeah / And even more so to sleep When No-one cares / It was all I can eat / But now I'm sinking so deep, I can not come up for air") The intovertierten and thoughtful BoB this track I personally prefer the first highlight of the album.
Now comes one of the tracks on which I was very excited - the collabo of country star Taylor Swift and Bobby. On "Both of Us" both provide even from a more than decent Part, unfortunately chorus and verses are not perfectly matched. The song is admittedly between the fantastic "So Hard To Breathe" and the eponymous song of the album "Strange Clouds" with Lil Wayne at something. Actually, I do not think much of Lil Wayne's music, but I have to admit that he was successful with his own style in the music business. It is this style coupled with some decent Lines, a powerful beat that comes back very electronically and with a lot of oomph, make this song one of the highlights. Bob brings a good performance, I do not mention well.
With "So Good" We are dealing with the first single from the album. A feel-good beat in its purest form, the BoB raps a few loose verses and Ryan Tedder sings the chorus. Loses despite my first expectation after repeated listening not the charm, I can confidently say on all songs on the album after about 12 passes of the CD.
After this excursion into the pop BoB takes us back to the world of hip hop. "Play For Keeps" is probably related to "Strange Clouds" of the track that you can complete the direction HipHop assign. Lyrically here awaits us something special, BoB raps hungry and forced to hide truly before any MC. "Play For Keeps" reminds me strongly of "Bet I" from his last album. As such, a class track that would fit but rather on his mixtapes; it acts on the plate just somehow out of place. Friends of the voice singing will love the song yet.
In "Arena" located are Bob's label boss TI honor. To strengthen you won even Chris Brown on board who sings a buttery chorus. Again BoB raps at the highest level and it is slow believes that the man everything can just. TI Flowt casually over the beat and carries at least at the diversity of the album.
Nicki Minaj brought last year of fresh air into the rap business, but was constantly worse. Accordingly, I was curious whether they can bring an appealing performance on "Out Of My Mind". To make it short: The song is the total failure of the album and the only skip track. The beat is awfully pushy and overloaded Nicki exaggerates and overturned completely. Bob can not save the song by his performance. Extremely bad. I wonder if Bob was happy with the track and why he grabbed him on the album. Printing of the label? Sales figures? Might be. I only fear of experiencing this song because of the two big names and the generation electro beat than another single on the radio.
After the rather unspectacular but good "Never Let You Go", at the BoB again recites very personal lines and Ryan Tedder again sing a beautiful chorus (the song reminds me somehow of "Coming Up" by Lupe Fiascos album "Lasers") , followed by another highlight.
The me until three days completely unknown Lauriana Mae provides with its chorus all other features with ease in the shade and in perfect harmony with BoB, the lyrics out fires again, where it pays to listen. The best song of the album, without a doubt.
Through "Circles" we are again taken in the time of "The Adventures of Bobby Ray". Without features raps and sings Bobby on a cheerful beat. The song is the perfect transition to "Just A Sign" and "Castles". "Just A Sign" impresses with its relaxed, electronic beat and the good performances of BoB and Playboy Tre, who made his last album again brings a good performance after his appearance on "Bet I". With almost six minutes is the longest song on the album, however, is bored at any time. "Castles" is again a trace more lively and is refined by Trey Songz with an excellent chorus. Finally constitutes "Where Are You" a perfect finish for his second album "Strange Clouds".
So what is to say, if you look at the album as a whole? It is certainly BoB managed again to produce a very very solid album. The album is in many places its predecessor "The Adventures of Bobby Ray" very similar, but also become much more electronic on the other side, which is kind of a general trend. It reminds me of some places of "Lasers" by Lupe Fiasco, the Bobby's new plant recently called on his Facebook page as "dope". ;) My concern that the features may back his style in the background - which has also been criticized by a previous speaker - proved unfounded. They have been carefully selected and complement it perfectly.
Only the song "Out Of My Mind" with Minaj has become really bad, the rest has been produced with great devotion and the texts were mostly written with passion; one way or another large pearl awaits the attentive listener certainly. BoB was with this album (yet) as commercial but still nothing to do with his debut, has his music with the usual pabulum. Unrestricted buy recommendation, especially with the price of 13 euros.
