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Article: THE ISLEY BROTHERS FEATURING R ...
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- July 18, 2003
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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When R. Kelly starts singing to the lady he's trying to seduce, he
oozes so much sincerity and intensity that he becomes more than a
little ridiculous. He's not unusual in this, for most men grow more
cartoonish the more fervently they woo a woman. The trick is to
recognize one's own absurdity without losing the sincerity, and no
one does that better than Ronald Isley of the Isley Brothers. On the
group's new album, "Body Kiss," Isley sings 11 songs written and
produced by Kelly and gives them the redeeming self-awareness that
Kelly's own recordings never manage.
Despite his messy offstage life, Kelly is a gifted songwriter-
producer who distills the core elements of gospel and soul music, ...